THE FACE OFF THREAD!!!

[RIT37FO]

if i came off as saying stiffer heads are better than that was not my intention
What i ment to say was being at the opposite end of either spectrum will open your weaknesses to your opponent. like FO15 states its all preference. for me its either a boiled clutch or blade

[faceofflax15]

Bingo, Bango, Bongo..

Man, I was scared this thread was going to die when no one posted in it for a month.

[lancerlax3]

what do u guys think of the torque

[laxkid891]

Im pretty sure FO15 broke 2 torques on faceoffs. I dont know though, i like them, but they seem to warp from f/o

[Valaxman17]

ive been having alot of troubles with faceoffs lately I keep forgetting to pinch it im so used to my blade where i barely put any pressure on it and i pinch it and can plunge it right to myself but with my proton its too stiff so now im on to a proton power anyone have experience with it? stiff? Flexy?

[laxkid891]

ive been having alot of troubles with faceoffs lately I keep forgetting to pinch it im so used to my blade where i barely put any pressure on it and i pinch it and can plunge it right to myself but with my proton its too stiff so now im on to a proton power anyone have experience with it? stiff? Flexy?
I faced off a bit with a p2, i liked it. it wasnt stiff but it wasnt flexy either, it was a nice mix. FO15 used a p2 also

[faceofflax15]

I broke four torques.. Still love the head so much.


and Va, Just practice a few more times with it and you'll get your muscle memory right for it's stiffness.



I think a congrats are in order in the FO world. Our very own Jrmelax16 was just recruited to Robert Morris for FOs. He's living' the good life. He doesn't post a whole lot, but his posts are always good.

[Valaxman17]

i love my proton so much so ill try that but i go t this PP today and i really like it so far strung it with some canadian and its just perfect
and congrats Jrmelax quite the accomplishment

[RIT37FO]

i used to like the protons for FO's but after a few games in the warmer weather the top rail concaves in making the head illegal

[roxgaeld51]

Sorry, probably posted about a thousand times, but didn't want to read 12pages. Anyway, I'm just trying to start facing off with my long stick. where is the best spot for my left hand (i go motorcycle grip). Also, when i'm in motorcycle grip, what is the best move beside the simple clamp?

[bulldog24]

i dont think the hand placement should be much different than on a shortie. for the move, i would say the jam, but i dont use moto grip so i would say whatever feels comfortable.

[Valaxman17]

i really like it for essentially everything except faceoffs ive only used it in the cold weather and lets just say it hadsnt been pretty

[bulldog24]

does anyone have thoughts on the proton power as a face-off head? just curious to see how other people like it or not...

[pantherLax]

Whats the move called where you jump-clamp with the face of the head-pinch the ball in so you have it in your stick? Reverse clamp?

I did it today in a tourny. The other guy wasnt that good, but I got some nice "ohhhhhhh's" and some compliments. But then I went down on the fastbreak and missed the shot lol.

[RIT37FO]

from what i know that move is just a reverse plunger

[dodgerlax34]

isnt there also some trick for clamps with cutting out a row of diamonds so when u clamp the ball pops right into the other side of the stick?
if so how much does that effect throwing?

[GBaschski]

That is illegal.

[UVAlaxer432]

isnt there also some trick for clamps with cutting out a row of diamonds so when u clamp the ball pops right into the other side of the stick?
if so how much does that effect throwing?


Too bad it is illegal. I think there is picture on e-lacrosse though

[faceofflax15]

It's illegal, as said. But I can't help but say if I saw someone do that, I'd laugh, really, really hard.

[lslaxer]

Chris Cercy did it, so it can't be that stupid.

[faceofflax15]

Chris Cercy did it, so it can't be that stupid.

No, it's illegal, and not illegal in the cool way, like two-finger, and neutral zone infractions.

[pantherLax]

I dont exactly understand what it is. Can someone find the e-lacrosse link.

[faceofflax15]

How much was your weighted sled Rit

[RIT37FO]

315+45 sled
360

[OPlax31]

does anyone have thoughts on the proton power as a face-off head? just curious to see how other people like it or not...

Bulldog I use a proton power for face-offs and i have to say that i love the head because it has the perfect pinch. I like how versatile the head is because it is stiff enough to clamp and jam people and yet flexible enough to plunger the ball behind me or on a face break move

[faceofflax15]

Wow, that is so much. What is your opinion on it? Worth it. Anyone else own one and have an opinion? It looks like it could deffinitly help form, strength, and increase speed/acceleration.

[bulldog24]

thanks for the input Oplax...heres a question for anyone using the moto grip. what are some of your secondary moves? pretty much what do you do aside from clamping/plungers and jams. thanks

[RIT37FO]

thanks for the input Oplax...heres a question for anyone using the moto grip. what are some of your secondary moves? pretty much what do you do aside from clamping/plungers and jams. thanks

all the moves are the same no matter what grip

[OPlax31]

Yea it's just what moves you prefer out of each grip. like for me i can do clamps well with a motorcycle but i cant do all of my other moves such as fast break jam. I usually prefer regular grip where i can do all of the moves because i feel that motorcycyle makes your game one dimensional

[jlark92]

I don't know if anyone asked this yet, but for the kamikaze do you jump ON the other player or around them?

[bulldog24]

i understand that rit, but i just think some moves are more natural out of either and i was curious as to what others like to use. i understand tho that it is different for each person

[pantherLax]

I do moto, and after a year with it and with lots of reps, it feels natural, and regular feels uncomfortable for me now.

[lacrosse19]

hey RIT, care to show what your clutch looks like strung for FO? i keep having to redo my side-walls because the ball is getting caught.

i'm thinking between these as my next fo head. P2, Blade 2.0, Blade FOFF, another clutch mostly

[Thumper 9C2]

btw, i know of a better way to increase hand strength without squeezing tennis balls..

[RIT37FO]

hey RIT, care to show what your clutch looks like strung for FO? i keep having to redo my side-walls because the ball is getting caught.

i'm thinking between these as my next fo head. P2, Blade 2.0, Blade FOFF, another clutch mostly

very lose lower bottom strings ill get a pic up when i get my stick out of my locker
Also i only use 5D mesh that i cut a special way

[faceofflax15]

Hola Hovitos

Ever improving world of FOGOs.

[laxmiddy92]

is the PP a good offensive stick bc its so freaking light and id rather not replace it once or twice and i have access to a stx dealer so i can get them reltively cheap ?

[faceofflax15]

so what is everyone hoping for, realistically, this upcoming season as a percentage?

[lslaxer]

ddddddddddddddd

[lifeoflax45]

dude thank you for doing this, i'm gonna go out and practice some of these tips ASAP!!

[charmando]

i rake the ball with my sidewall right into my pocket i was wondering if anyone else uses this technique because if done correctly i think it is really affective

[laxmiddy92]

haha yea it does work it throws them off completely i was then able to pop te ball out with the bottom half of my stick

[luckyusafa13]

I've already looked through a lot of the post and didn't find anything on using corner or mesh-x pocket to do faceoffs, or should I just stick to the hard mesh with two U's and one nylon like I'm used to. Also I use a high shallow pocket since I go from faceoff to crease attackman.

[pios38]

I'm hoping to go over 60%... And yourself?

[faceofflax15]

Use what you want to,.


I'm aiming for 80% or higher.

[laxmiddy92]

hey on my stance i lean over the ball a bit with my helmet but my feet and hands are setup correctly is leaning over with the helmet illegal?

[GBaschski]

If you're leaning over the neutral zone, then yes.

[laxmiddy92]

like my height is in my upper body so its hard not to. i havent bin called for it. my helmet is liek right over the bottom of the head liek parallel a i get made fun of for it but i find it amusing when i beat him about everytime with the same move

[conorgillhero12]

alright this makes me mad not to long ago we faced a team that the face off man has never lost and i get in amotorcycle clam then fing around to hit him well i finnaly win the clamp on him and i see my head break and forget to flip around i had to use my back up and that thing has such a small pocket when i clamped he pryed it off the ball

[Nanaimo_Lax]

We are probably a group of the craziest kids you will meet in your life too.

Way to say it,bro. :agree:

Goalies are just insane. No offense goalies, but something isn't right up top!!

[MadCowDisease]

this needs to come back. :D

how's everyone looking so far?
i've been 7/7 on the X.


also, i noticed myself doing something else.
when the ref is calling the faceoff, i watch his face.
when his cheeks fill up right before he whistles i start moving, instead of waiting for the whistle.
anyone else do this?

[faceofflax15]

I'm facing 86% so far.

[laxmiddy92]

ive found that most varsity players will only try adn clamp the ball, the best thing to do is jump the suckers and basically use the shaft to pin their head down then drag the shaft back to get the ball out it works everytime and ive gone 12-17 this year at X

[lacrosseking2]

when ever i face-off i just laser jump the dude and it usually works.
and this year im 3-1, i play defense so i dont face-off much.

[Z man]

Really great guide, the videos are a real help and i refer to them alot, but i have a question that will make me sound like a newb. What does FOGO stand for?

[rynolax]

Really great guide, the videos are a real help and i refer to them a lot, but i have a question that will make me sound like a newb. What does FOGO stand for?

It stands for FaceOffGetOff.

[faceofflax15]

dropped to 83%, Harrisons man has a move that stops my fast-break and prevents me from getting it out cleanly, good for him.

[CSUFlax45]

hey guys,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the tips and vids and stuff. I've only been playing for two years and thanks to this thread I was able to get First Team All-Conference Face Off Specialist in the MCLA's WCLL div. 2 for cal state fullerton. so thanks!

[CrazyAsianAlex]

I personally use a stagger stance and I have my right hand near the throat and my left hand near the butt end.

I usually only use the rake as seeing it works 80% of the time for me but then again I'm new to faceoffs but one of the better ones on my team.

Idk I feel like i get more power to rake it out and pick up the gb and draw and dump or shoot.

Can anyone explain the down the line clamp or a better way to pop it out behind ?

[nood08]

Dude the video isn't working

[faceofflax15]

while at Denver University's Run N Gun team camp, I was involved in a little clinic with ben wahler, DU's faceoff man, he critiqued most of our techniques and gave us some tips. He also taught me a new move called the deflater. He said it's one of the most used moves in college, and it's used all the time.

So, What ya'll think about this move? I'm having trouble mastering it, well controlling where the ball ends up, but if I get it down, it'll be a fantastic 1-2 punch

[RIT37FO]

is the deflator like the deflector?

Flip grip used to catch opponents clamp and then you pull his forward momentum back thus acting like you popped the ball out in.back of you

also Ill be doing a new video run down with more detail and more moves soon

[faceofflax15]

Yeah... That be it.

Just stick your two fingers out catching their clamp and pulling it behind you, leaving the other-guy sorta stunned with you in great position to drop back for an easy GB behind you.

[RIT37FO]

the move is effective but its easy to get caught by a ref if you arent quick enough about it or if the other guy just drops his stick.

[faceofflax15]

But how is a guy going to realize your grabbing his stick and react to drop his stick without you letting go?

[faceofflax15]

I think I might have fliped to the dark side [Moto], my blade snapped in three at topstar [at which RIT, your coach the tall skinny bald one coached my team, he's a dbag] so i used the blade 2.0 and felt way more comftorable in moto, you get a little lower in battles, I agree.

[RIT37FO]

I think I might have fliped to the dark side [Moto], my blade snapped in three at topstar [at which RIT, your coach the tall skinny bald one coached my team, he's a dbag] so i used the blade 2.0 and felt way more comftorable in moto, you get a little lower in battles, I agree.

Ha Gorman, Ah cmon he is a good guy.
welcome to the dark side fueled by the power of bench press and wrist curls

[laxkid891]

I think I might have fliped to the dark side [Moto], my blade snapped in three at topstar [at which RIT, your coach the tall skinny bald one coached my team, he's a dbag] so i used the blade 2.0 and felt way more comftorable in moto, you get a little lower in battles, I agree.
Well Ty, whatever you were doing in the Fabulous Forty game, keep doing it. I think you might have lost 2 faceoffs. You owned the 3 different kids who faced off against you.

Ha Gorman, Ah cmon he is a good guy.
welcome to the dark side fueled by the power of bench press and wrist curls
I thought he was a really chill guy. Especially when I spoke with him at college night, he even had your Riddell's and Oynx Gloves. Let me say they look much better in person.

[BBdefense]

Does anyone have that link to downlaod the mp3 of the ref whistle. I would love to use it this summer and try to face off better with the pole.

[cbhslacrossemid]

Moto-grip is just a fad, like the internet and internal combustion engines, soon people will regain their senses.

But really I'll never go to moto, you can quote me

[BBdefense]

Does anyone have that link to downlaod the mp3 of the ref whistle. I would love to use it this summer and try to face off better with the pole.

Never mind I found it. If anyone else wants it go to page 2 of this thread http://http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=62371&highlight=faceoff+whistle Then find the downlaod link and downlaod it.

I also use the moto grip and I like it much better then the over under style.

[cnlax19]

the move is effective but its easy to get caught by a ref if you arent quick enough about it or if the other guy just drops his stick.

instead of doing that, could you just use your head to push his head out of the way, then rake the ball back.

[RIT37FO]

instead of doing that, could you just use your head to push his head out of the way, then rake the ball back.

he will be locked onto your stick with his fingers

[alldaylong22]

There are alot of good face off guys over the years. Im trying to get some feed back from you guys to see what you think.
My list would go something like this
1. Paul Cantabene- In my opinion snags number one because he dominated for so so long.@ loyola, for the bayhawks, Wings.
2. Justin Berry- berry only gets ranks above alex smith because he taught alex his style at boys latin
3. Alex Smith- towson grad faces for the cannons we all know him
4.Ben Defelice- Towson grad faces for the cannons
5.Stephen Peyser- taught by a great F/o coach Dave Allen I certainly do know forget when he owned alex smith and shut him down

Also anyone know anything about Nolan Godrey.. what do you think of him?

[RIT37FO]

alex smith= udel grad

[GBaschski]

Peyser never "owned" Alex Smith...he went 50/50 against him, and that was mainly because he (peyser) was cheating so badly that the NCAA changed the rules for face offs. You ever wonder why we have to run off the field for violations now?

[WAC_Shoremen]

There are alot of good face off guys over the years. Im trying to get some feed back from you guys to see what you think.
My list would go something like this
1. Paul Cantabene- In my opinion snags number one because he dominated for so so long.@ loyola, for the bayhawks, Wings.
2. Justin Berry- berry only gets ranks above alex smith because he taught alex his style at boys latin
3. Alex Smith- towson grad faces for the cannons we all know him
4.Ben Defelice- Towson grad faces for the cannons
5.Stephen Peyser- taught by a great F/o coach Dave Allen I certainly do know forget when he owned alex smith and shut him down

Also anyone know anything about Nolan Godrey.. what do you think of him?
Doesn't he play for Rochester? :concerned

[alldaylong22]

yeah i accidently switched the two ben defilice with alex smith

[alldaylong22]

1. Paul Cantabene- In my opinion snags number one because he dominated for so so long.@ loyola, for the bayhawks, Wings.
2. Justin Berry- berry only gets ranks above alex smith because he taught alex his style at boys latin
3. Alex Smith- Delaware Grad.for the Rattlers we all know him
4.Ben Defelice- Towson grad faces for the cannons
5.Stephen Peyser- taught by a great F/o coach Dave Allen I certainly do not forget when he owned alex smith and shut him down

[faceofflax15]

Oh, don't you worry RIT i'm going back to Flip pretty soon, think I boiled and pinched a torque to my liking.

[HCLax40]

How hard is it to become the face off man? our face off guy just graduated and i was thinking about trying it.. like is it to late to try to start it sophmore year? cuz ive done it a few times in leage and stuff.. and a few times just for fun and i beat our FO man a few times... but i was just wondering if you guys thought it would be to late...

[GBaschski]

Definitely not too late. I started to focus on face-offs going into my sophomore year and used it as an opportunity to get on the field since our face-off guy had just graduated. It's really about how much you want it and how hard you're willing to work for it. Get out and run, get in the weight room and lift, and most importantly develop your technique and practice, practice, practice. I would search the forum and find the face-off mp3, put that on your iPod and work it every night. The best way to become a dominant face-off man is to develop lightning quick reaction time. Good luck.

[RIT37FO]

doubt its to late I wasnt facing until freshman year in college

[HCLax40]

alright.. well its good to know that you can always be succesfull haha... well i hope i can do it... im not the biggest guy... but id say im one of the quickest...

so youd say practice my technique alot? like in highschool pretty much all guys still do is the clamp... should i practice the counter for it? or do you think i should just try to learn as many moves as possible?

[RIT37FO]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/sooperlaxjlo/photo-5.jpg

my current blade for those who keep asking how i pinch my heads


1. Pre head oven to 350
2. insert head
3. watch for discoloring as soon as it browns the slightest bit pull it out i normally wait 3.5 mins TOPS.
4. I then place a hockey puck in the neck to remove some of the flaring. USE OVEN MITS!!!!
5. I also push down on the top of the head to keep it 6.5 legal
6. Shape the head the way you like.
7. Tie it off with some string
8. throw it in fridge for 30 mins or so
9. untie, remove puck/ string

[I <3 Lax]

looks sick bro.

[BBdefense]

Kind of reminds of a porton power just by the pinch and not the flare. I love the pinch of the pp and the flare of a blade make it a good combo. Marc mesh looks good too.

[RIT37FO]

http://www.lax.com/bimages/1858/276

huh....


I actually played against him a few weeks ago
that move is nearly impossible to stop or get called on he literally takes the ball out of your stick. jumping him was the only way to stop it.

also I think I may have matched up against lost member jedimasterPIMP from bucknell this past weekend at NJ's war at the shore

[RIT37FO]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3248363348997542595&hl=en

here is a video I made for my grandmother who wanted to see me play but cant get to my games. I figured it conveys what I mean when I say throwing your *left* hand forward is critical in facing off. the video is long and I am not good at lacrosse so feel free to make fun

[BluejayBlitz9]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3248363348997542595&hl=en

here is a video I made for my grandmother who wanted to see me play but cant get to my games. I figured it conveys what I mean when I say throwing your right hand forward is critical in facing off. the video is long and I am not good at lacrosse so feel free to make fun

hah love the wu tang...but for your grandma? hah

[faceofflax15]

You mean left hand is crucial... not right.,

And I feel back at home, Flip grip has returned..


Actually I just back and forth whatever the day is and how I'm feeling. But I love flip.

[RIT37FO]

thanks for catching that FO, and the version for my grandmother is with out the music haha

[faceofflax15]

Sorta insulted that you chose wu-tang but you didn't go with shimmy shimmy ya... yeah its just ODB of the Wutang but its the funnest song to listen to

[GBaschski]

RIT, your stance reminds me a lot of Vlahakis. Do you have weight on your hands?

[DJ Death]

I personally use a stagger stance and I have my right hand near the throat and my left hand near the butt end.
your left hand shouldn't be near the butt end. you want your hands spaced apart the same distance that your shoulders are, so your right hand should be near the throat of your stick (and yours is) and your left should higher up on the stick and not near the butt end, depending on how wide your shoulders are.

here's a pic. look at terrence molinari (#30 duke)
http://www.lax.com/cimages/bigs/18/1858-276.jpg

even though he's getting beasted by the cornell guy, that's how your hands should be on your stick.

on a side note, i really like og cybers for facing off. they're nice and flexy and easier to find than those blasted og blades...and cheaper, too...

[Chewie]

Anyone like using a Torque? I'm thinking of getting one.

[RIT37FO]

RIT, your stance reminds me a lot of Vlahakis. Do you have weight on your hands?

yes I do , how ever sometimes I switch my stance up several time in games for no particular reason though just to throw the other guy off.

[I <3 Lax]

what do you mean your not good at lacrosse? how'd you get on the team lol...

[jlappKU14]

Anyone like using a Torque? I'm thinking of getting one.
I use the torque and I love them. they flex and pinch where you need it. I think there the best because of how easily they can be found. I might just being saying this because my whole team got one for free and sold them for cheap but I really do think they are a good investment.

[SuperHyphy]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3248363348997542595&hl=en

here is a video I made for my grandmother who wanted to see me play but cant get to my games. I figured it conveys what I mean when I say throwing your *left* hand forward is critical in facing off. the video is long and I am not good at lacrosse so feel free to make fun

Sick video, nice music. The faceoff at 2:30 is so nasty!

[trinitymiddie22]

Well, its more like a fight, it doesn't always completly move them off the ball, just a slight push them off, makes them lose leverage, so making him lose postioning and leverage and then blocking the ball, genious.





No, that isn't cheating what so ever. This is just purely for better body positioning [It will get them off the ball], and its for the ball. i've never even considered driving my helmet into their knee anything near unnecessary roughness.. I've actually never known a face-off man to object to it, it's a great move, and you'd love it if you did it fast enough and efficiently.
It's just a part of the game, no ref would ever call it, because it's not UNR...

really?! i got called for that once, but if its legal then im gonna start doing that again. and how do you guys feel about this, i normally only clamp(i have a really fast clamp.) but if calmping doesnt work i jam. o and i found a way to improve your reaction which is if your a motogriper use the one hand under thing(one hand reversed from moto at the top) and if your a one hand reversed person(me) use moto for a while, then switch back to your normal grip and you should notice an increase in your reaction time.

[Run-DMC]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3248363348997542595&hl=en

here is a video I made for my grandmother who wanted to see me play but cant get to my games. I figured it conveys what I mean when I say throwing your *left* hand forward is critical in facing off. the video is long and I am not good at lacrosse so feel free to make fun

Those were some pretty cool face off moves. Did you change up sticks in the game? I thought I saw two of them. Crazy song in the background, loved it.

[RIT37FO]

sticks last me a few weeks at most I am always swapping

[Run-DMC]

what do you mean your not good at lacrosse? how'd you get on the team lol...

This is true...lol

[BBdefense]

Does anyone have a list of face off men in college or pros that use a long pole?

and

Does anyone have any good tips on facing off with a pole, because I've been doing them for about 7-8 months and could use some more tips.

[Run-DMC]

Check these:

Long Pole Facing Thread (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/archive/index.php/t-116695.html)

Videos on Facing Off With a Pole (http://www.sutree.com/how-to/21134/Boys-Lacrosse-,-Using-the-Long-Pole--Long-pole-faceoff-2--vi)

Another Long Pole Face Off Thread (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?p=1532498)

And all I can think of is Jake Deane, old UMASS faceoff guy.

[BBdefense]

Yea i remember watching him play, and thanks for the info.

Forgot to mention, I have been watching videos of vlahakis and I tried out his stance. It fit me perfectly i love it. Last night I "won" all the face offs (like 11 or so) but I had terrible wings so I would rake it out and they would just loose the gb. What do you guys do to communicate where you want you wings without giving away anthing?

[faceofflax15]

Yea i remember watching him play, and thanks for the info.

Forgot to mention, I have been watching videos of vlahakis and I tried out his stance. It fit me perfectly i love it. Last night I "won" all the face offs (like 11 or so) but I had terrible wings so I would rake it out and they would just loose the gb. What do you guys do to communicate where you want you wings without giving away anthing?
You lost them. You didn't "Win" them. you flat out lost.

If you rake them out to your incompentent wings and the other team scoops it up, its your fault. Its just a rake to the other team.

Give it to yourself almost no matter what if you can.

[GBaschski]

That's kind of a closed-minded stance. Even the best college face off guys use their wing guys from time to time.

[itsthatkid]

That's kind of a closed-minded stance. Even the best college face off guys use their wing guys from time to time.

If you're a good faceoff guy, and can handle getting the ball on your own, why bring in other people who could screw it up? Much safer to put the ball to yourself, knowing whats happening, then to include a clueless wingman

And those college wings are generally very knowledgeable and just flat out good, unlike a lot of the wings you'll be paired with in high school.

[SuperHyphy]

If you're a good faceoff guy, and can handle getting the ball on your own, why bring in other people who could screw it up? Much safer to put the ball to yourself, knowing whats happening, then to include a clueless wingman

And those college wings are generally very knowledgeable and just flat out good, unlike a lot of the wings you'll be paired with in high school.

Gotta agree with itsthatkid on this one. The more often the wings are involved, the closer your WIN percentage goes to 50%. Alot of players don't realize the difference between winning the draw and winning the faceoff. Winning the faceoff gets your team posession and that's the one that matters more.

[GBaschski]

Well I find that I can get a lot of easy wins when the other team is dropping their wing guys to try and stop my fast break...I do a simple clamp and rake back to my wing guy who is wide open and completely undefended. Easy win.
Besides, if you're a "good face-off guy," you should be able to communicate with your wing men and prepare them for what's going to happen on the draw. My wingmen are never "clueless."

[SuperHyphy]

Well I find that I can get a lot of easy wins when the other team is dropping their wing guys to try and stop my fast break...I do a simple clamp and rake back to my wing guy who is wide open and completely undefended. Easy win.
Besides, if you're a "good face-off guy," you should be able to communicate with your wing men and prepare them for what's going to happen on the draw. My wingmen are never "clueless."

I like to use that strategy also, but I usually feel more secure getting the ball myself, and with BBdefense's description of his face off, it seems that the clamp then rake is the only move he was using...

[faceofflax15]

Yeah exactly. Any quality faceoff man can move the ball where he wants, once you get to the point we can hit men running the fly as well. But It goes in this order
1] Give the ball to myself forward
2] Give the ball to myself backwards
3] Give the ball to myself sideways
4] Give the ball to myself anyways
5]..
6-9]
10] Give it to a WIDE-OPEN competent wingman.

[GBaschski]

Yeah, I'll agree with that. The fast break forwards is still the prettiest thing in face-offs.

[AlbanyPower25]

LSM Chris Schongar, sometimes faces off for UAlbany, haha straight outta my high school.

[RIT37FO]

something new ive been trying
it works surprisingly well

[Run-DMC]

Dirty looking move. Are you pinching the ball into your head?

RIT gloves are flippin SWEET.

[RIT37FO]

yea the ball is pinched in there and the gloves are really nice

[Run-DMC]

You call it something? and what kind of head is that?

[RIT37FO]

no dont have a name for it, the head is a clutch.

[faceofflax15]

Someone brought up that stance and hand position a while ago, yeah I agree it gets a lot of leverage for a plunger.. But it only hurts besides that.

[laxtender101]

My buddy uses that move, he says its next to impossible to read and almost as hard to beat. Works pretty well for him.

[mattlax16]

Rit, it looks like you flipped the hand positions on your stick, you seem to be doing a one over one under but with opposite hands. Is that something you would do for this move only, or just something you were testing out?

[RIT37FO]

just something im fooling around with
If i find the weaknesses in it ill let it be known.

[MidwestLAx101]

Check these:

Long Pole Facing Thread (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/archive/index.php/t-116695.html)

Videos on Facing Off With a Pole (http://www.sutree.com/how-to/21134/Boys-Lacrosse-,-Using-the-Long-Pole--Long-pole-faceoff-2--vi)

Another Long Pole Face Off Thread (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?p=1532498)

And all I can think of is Jake Deane, old UMASS faceoff guy.


ironically enough he is my travel team coach if u have any questions i can ask him

[itsthatkid]

So, question for the more knowledgable out there...

I've come to a point where I'm competing for varsity with a kid (me being a freshman). He has quick hands, we pretty much split winning the clamp/initial move. But this kid (3 years older) is smaller than me, and a good bit stronger. When it comes down to a struggle, he gets lower than me, and uses his arms and legs to his advantage.

So, I need to know some drills/workouts to use to target the muscles I need to contend with this kid, like what is specifically worked in a battle over the ball between the two X-men.

[GBaschski]

A lot of that will come from getting in the gym. Lift regularly, make sure you're working your chest, triceps and forearms hard. Also make sure your technique is sound when you're facing off. You'll need good technique to push a stronger guy off the ball.

[BBdefense]

Cleans and squats are a good way to target the legs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUX7DvuA3Zo

forearm rolls are also a good workout for getting those quick hands (not me in video)

[faceofflax15]

A lot of that will come from getting in the gym. Lift regularly, make sure you're working your chest, triceps and forearms hard. Also make sure your technique is sound when you're facing off. You'll need good technique to push a stronger guy off the ball.

I completely disagree, you need legs and formarms before the others. Yes you need all those, but legs are number 1.


And Why are you guys flipping out about that move? It appears to be a simple plunge with reverse flip grip.. Which was explained like.. 8 pages ago.

[Shawanamomma]

the videos dont work for me :( does anyone else haev this problem

[laxtender101]

the videos dont work for me :( does anyone else haev this problem

Nothing came up for me either

[Run-DMC]

I completely disagree, you need legs and formarms before the others. Yes you need all those, but legs are number 1.


And Why are you guys flipping out about that move? It appears to be a simple plunge with reverse flip grip.. Which was explained like.. 8 pages ago.

For the guys who don't faceoff it's cool.

[lslaxer]

How do you use your legs in a faceoff? Sounds like a stupid question, but it seems like I don't even think about using my legs. Do you just drive forward to win the clamp or what?

[faceofflax15]

Oh, well alright then..


And when your in a tough battle, and are trying to gain ball control, you use your legs to drive into the other person trying to move him away from the ball. And if your power clamping... your getting power from legs.. More than likely you just don't even think about it.

[SuperHyphy]

Hey guys, I just came back from my fall game and I was just having one of those days. First half I was getting smoked at the X, second half I was winning most of the draws but having trouble winning the actual faceoff persay. I was wondering how to you guys get your mind right after a slump?

[GBaschski]

I'm going to say that hands are the most important...if your hands are quick enough you can get the ball out before it becomes necessary to dig in and drive with your legs.

[faceofflax15]

Don't go there.. Hands are a given. haha

[RIT37FO]

In order to be effective you should have all the areas covered

Fast hands are a must if you cant get to the ball in time it does not matter.

Legs are a close second if you get pushed off the ball every time you are also not effective

[lax4life777]

nice this helped a ton!

[BBdefense]

How do you use your legs in a faceoff? Sounds like a stupid question, but it seems like I don't even think about using my legs. Do you just drive forward to win the clamp or what?

Legs are used as said before in power clamps to drive foawrd while clamping. They are also used during a 50/50 clamp, where the ball is stuck in the middle of both heads, to over power. The amount of legs used is based on the differnt stances people have. Like valhakis is a very low stance that uses his legs to drive forward. While an alex smith stance uses less legs and more hands to win.

[GBaschski]

That's a good way to look at it BB. My stance is very similar to Alex Smith's so naturally I don't think of the legs as more important as the hands.

[faceofflax15]

They aren't. Hands are first.

Then legs.

[BBdefense]

I think it is all about what works for you , even though I do try and mimick valhakis' stance i have used it only as a starting point to which i can tweak to my likings. If you have a bigger upperbody you should use it to your advatage. So whats important can be different between all the styles we all have.

What do you guys think is better and which do you think you are more of? A possesion style face off man, or a fast break style?

[Run-DMC]

Last year we had a fast break style face off guy who could get us six or seven goals purely on fast breaks. I'm not going to choose because I don't know as much, but fast break style worked for us :P.

[lslaxer]

Anyone else going to the National Faceoff Combine November 15-16?

[GBaschski]

I think if you want to be successful and excel at the next level you have to be a complete face-off man, not a "posession" or "fast break" guy. A good face-off specialist will be able to posess it if necessary or run the break if necessary.

[faceofflax15]

We all get that to be dominant you must be both. but those who are dominant, have their own style [fast break/Alex Smith}

[itsthatkid]

Anyone else going to the National Faceoff Combine November 15-16?

I am, as is super hyphy. Should be a good time.

[RIT37FO]

I might be there working it as well as well as the on in NJ in jan

[SuperHyphy]

Yeah like itsthatkid said I'll be there, GBaschski told me he was going too.

[Chewie]

Wow tell me this isn't crap - I'm my teams main face off guy and not to brag but I win like 99% of the time, so this one time I beat the kid to the clamp and was about to rake it out when he steps over my stick kicks out my ankle I fall on top of both our sticks and got called for something I don't recall what it was, but it was total crap!

And here is a little tip for those of you that like to place your hands on the plastic of the head on face offs, I have a black shaft so I got black tape and taped up to the head, make sure you make it rather thick at the bottom that way it looks more like the head, I haven't been called for holding the head yet.

[SuperHyphy]

2nd Annual National Faceoff Combine (http://thefaceoffclub.com/FOcombine.html)roster is out.

[nz lax junkie]

Hey ive got a question. the other day i was facing off against this dude an he was jus sorta fighting for clamp but he would always trap my stick with his shoulder, its hard do describe but he pretty much put his body-(shoulder making contact) on my stick so i didn't know if i had ball or what and even if i did i couldnt rake it out coz his body was trapping my stick. and he did it heaps and i complained to refs and they just ignored me. i dunno if its legal or what coz the ref of the game coached the other team and called absolute BS on us and nothing on them.

Also i some times clamp and flip my stick so as i start to sprint out off the face off the ball is sitting on the backside of my head, an i then pop it in air an catch as i leave face off, is that legal? coz i kept getting called for having ball trapped in stick even tho ive seen other kids do it and nothing was called. so whats the deal?

[mcoope13]

How effective is the plunger in a game situation? I can do it fairly quickly but haven't tried it in a game yet because it seems any attempt at a clamp would not let me get it off. Would you say the most effective three are clamp, jam, and laser?

[itsthatkid]

Rit, thatd be pretty sweet if you're coaching at the combine. I've always respected your input on these forums and hold you very highly as far as fogo knowledge goes, so it'd be cool to see you take a couple draws/help kids out.,


I'm Jason Barsky on that list, the freshman from New Hampshire.

[itsthatkid]

How effective is the plunger in a game situation? I can do it fairly quickly but haven't tried it in a game yet because it seems any attempt at a clamp would not let me get it off. Would you say the most effective three are clamp, jam, and laser?

My plungers about as effective as my clamp. If I can get a grip on the ball, I generally can put it where ever with a rake or a plunge.

[RIT37FO]

How effective is the plunger in a game situation? I can do it fairly quickly but haven't tried it in a game yet because it seems any attempt at a clamp would not let me get it off. Would you say the most effective three are clamp, jam, and laser?

as effective as anything else, depending on hand speed....

[faceofflax15]

My plunger is my most effective move.

[Run-DMC]

Anyone else going to the National Faceoff Combine November 15-16?

Aren't some playing in the IAS Showcase as well?

I use my plunger in the bathroom.

Hyphy your link doesnt work, take out the first http://

[BBdefense]

Still working on my plunger too, but with a pole its hard not to leave the butt end out after the move.

[BBdefense]

On the jam, after you jam their head with your shaft, is there any different way to move it out other then raking it with your shaft?

[GBaschski]

You can pull it back with your fingers, you can pick it up and move it, you can drop your head and rake it around the other guy forward.

[Calleymn]

thank you soo very much for this
i love the pic to