Does anyone have any tricks or weird things they do in a faceoff either to win, tie up, or piss off the other player?
The art of the faceoff
- Thread starter Chanbing96
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RussianBum86
Registered User
Push the puck forward and skate past the other center. Kinda throws everyone off. Don't do it in your own end. Works best at center ice.
When you're in the offensive zone and your forehand is facing the goalie, take a quick shot right when the puck is dropped. Works well when the other center doesn't realize what you're doing.
CornKicker
Registered User
- Feb 18, 2005
- 11,837
- 3,797
never do the same thing twice in a row against the same guy. always mix it up, gauge if he is quicker than you and if so tie him up, if not win that draw to a winger/dman. have a subtle code with your wingers letting them know if you are going to try to win it clean or if you are going to tie up the guy and they need to come get it. As a winger this is great because then you know semi what to expect. i dont take many draws anymore cause i was wrecking a stick every 3-5 games.
Frankie Spankie
Registered User
I basically have three moves at the faceoff circle, all of which my hand is down almost touching the blade itself to give myself more leverage for anybody who tries to hit my stick away at the faceoff. Also, having your hand really low, helps you handle bouncing pucks more easily I think.
1 - Back hand to the left defenseman (I'm a lefty) -- I watched the ref's hand and once I see him make the motion to drop the puck, I know my reaction time is just about the time it takes for the puck to hit the ice so I start to make my move once I see him drop it and I usually win it cleanly to my left defenseman.
2 - Back hand in between my legs -- I really only do this when it's in the defensive zone and the net is to the left of me, I don't want to accidentally win it into my own net. Same strategy though, look at the ref and make a move once I see him start to drop it.
3 - Tip it forward in between the other center's legs and quickly make a move around him. This one I only do once or twice a game, 9 times out of 10 it catches the whole other team off guard. I also only do this under the perfect circumstances. The ref has to be to my left so I can quickly move around the center, the center has to be square to the faceoff or preferrably looking towards my left. If his left foot is further away from me, it's hard for me to tip it by him and put it into a position for me to easily skate into it. Also, although not nearly as important as the two things I mentioned already, I look at who the defenseman are. My momentum in the move brings me to the right side and if their best defenseman is on the ice and on the right side, I usually don't make this move.
This is all beer league by the way, I'm not talking about guys who study other players or take the game really seriously. If you're in a more competitive level and/or play with/against people who are taking the game really seriously, I would suggest always doing something different.
1 - Back hand to the left defenseman (I'm a lefty) -- I watched the ref's hand and once I see him make the motion to drop the puck, I know my reaction time is just about the time it takes for the puck to hit the ice so I start to make my move once I see him drop it and I usually win it cleanly to my left defenseman.
2 - Back hand in between my legs -- I really only do this when it's in the defensive zone and the net is to the left of me, I don't want to accidentally win it into my own net. Same strategy though, look at the ref and make a move once I see him start to drop it.
3 - Tip it forward in between the other center's legs and quickly make a move around him. This one I only do once or twice a game, 9 times out of 10 it catches the whole other team off guard. I also only do this under the perfect circumstances. The ref has to be to my left so I can quickly move around the center, the center has to be square to the faceoff or preferrably looking towards my left. If his left foot is further away from me, it's hard for me to tip it by him and put it into a position for me to easily skate into it. Also, although not nearly as important as the two things I mentioned already, I look at who the defenseman are. My momentum in the move brings me to the right side and if their best defenseman is on the ice and on the right side, I usually don't make this move.
This is all beer league by the way, I'm not talking about guys who study other players or take the game really seriously. If you're in a more competitive level and/or play with/against people who are taking the game really seriously, I would suggest always doing something different.
Seth Lake
Registered User
I do several things to win faceoffs. I agree with the advice that you have to have a mix of techniques to change up things and keep your opponent off guard. I have several techniques that I'll share.
1) Backhand sweep - Keeping eyes focused on the puck in the official's hand, you set up with the toe of your stick on the near right corner for a lefty or near left corner for a righty of the faceoff circle and push out across the dot and then sweep back through the dot as the puck is dropped timing the sweep with the point where the puck is hitting the ice. A tip that I found and mastered over time was actually picking up my stick as I swept back about a 1/2" off the ice to add that 1/2" to the width of my stick blade as it came through the dot to increase my odds of getting the puck. Takes a lot of patience, hand-eye coordination, and practice to master this technique.
2) Slap and pull - Eyes always should be on the puck in the official's hand. As the puck is released, I quickly swing across the circle and slap the opponent's stick shaft about 4 to 6 inches above the blade and effectively block him from moving his stick forward until the puck settles on the ice where you can then release and pull the puck back as you wish in one motion.
3) Block and pull - Much like the Slap technique, I use this against opponent's that are weak on their stick and looking to simply push their stick forward, turn the blade, and sweep back across along the ice. As the puck is released, I push the blade of my stick quickly across the dot as the opponent is moving forward and before they turn their blade. The face of the blade of your stick should meet the toe of your opponent's stick and block his stick from having any access to the faceoff circle. Again, when the puck hits the ice, I will release my block on their stick and pull the puck back in whatever direction I wish as I have inside positioning on them and they cannot get to the puck or block my path without picking up and repositioning their stick.
4) The Wall - I typically use this when I'm not sure of their strategy. The technique is known as building a wall, because you are going to put all of your body weight down on your stick as you reach across the dot. As the puck is dropped, you push your stick blade (face of the blade pointing straight ahead so that it's as wide as possible) across to the far side of the dot and lean down on your stick as your read what you're opponent has done. If they have tried to come low, you'll generally block them out of the circle. If they have picked up their stick or gone around your stick and now have inside position though, you are going to hold firm and build a wall to prevent them from winning the puck back. If they have gone around your stick low, the shaft of their stick is usually blocked by your stick and provides them no leverage as you block their attempt to win the puck and then pull straight back. If they have picked up their stick over yours and have their shaft and blade inside of yours, again you will hold firm on your stick to block their attempt to win the draw back and then use your leverage down on your stick to win the puck back in the process pulling the puck underneath their stick by using your weight down on your stick to use the rocker at the base of the heel of their stick to effectively create a ramp.
Unlike techniques 2 and 3, The Wall technique does not control your opponent's stick and therefore is vulnerable if your opponent looking to move the draw forward and step around you.
Those are my main techniques. Always watch the puck at all times. Keep watching it from the time it is presented in the official's hand to the time you win the draw to your teammate(s). Last note, any time I miss the puck on my first attempt at it, I will immediately seek to recover by lifting or pinning the opponent's stick. Once the puck settles, if I can get to it first I will release the opponent's stick and win the draw or if it is bouncing or my stick is not free, I will use body positioning to shield the puck for my teammate to come in and take it or kick it a teammate.
You definitely titled the thread correctly. Taking faceoffs is truly an art form. Everyone is different, but when you can master a technique, it really is a beautiful and handy tool to own...
1) Backhand sweep - Keeping eyes focused on the puck in the official's hand, you set up with the toe of your stick on the near right corner for a lefty or near left corner for a righty of the faceoff circle and push out across the dot and then sweep back through the dot as the puck is dropped timing the sweep with the point where the puck is hitting the ice. A tip that I found and mastered over time was actually picking up my stick as I swept back about a 1/2" off the ice to add that 1/2" to the width of my stick blade as it came through the dot to increase my odds of getting the puck. Takes a lot of patience, hand-eye coordination, and practice to master this technique.
2) Slap and pull - Eyes always should be on the puck in the official's hand. As the puck is released, I quickly swing across the circle and slap the opponent's stick shaft about 4 to 6 inches above the blade and effectively block him from moving his stick forward until the puck settles on the ice where you can then release and pull the puck back as you wish in one motion.
3) Block and pull - Much like the Slap technique, I use this against opponent's that are weak on their stick and looking to simply push their stick forward, turn the blade, and sweep back across along the ice. As the puck is released, I push the blade of my stick quickly across the dot as the opponent is moving forward and before they turn their blade. The face of the blade of your stick should meet the toe of your opponent's stick and block his stick from having any access to the faceoff circle. Again, when the puck hits the ice, I will release my block on their stick and pull the puck back in whatever direction I wish as I have inside positioning on them and they cannot get to the puck or block my path without picking up and repositioning their stick.
4) The Wall - I typically use this when I'm not sure of their strategy. The technique is known as building a wall, because you are going to put all of your body weight down on your stick as you reach across the dot. As the puck is dropped, you push your stick blade (face of the blade pointing straight ahead so that it's as wide as possible) across to the far side of the dot and lean down on your stick as your read what you're opponent has done. If they have tried to come low, you'll generally block them out of the circle. If they have picked up their stick or gone around your stick and now have inside position though, you are going to hold firm and build a wall to prevent them from winning the puck back. If they have gone around your stick low, the shaft of their stick is usually blocked by your stick and provides them no leverage as you block their attempt to win the puck and then pull straight back. If they have picked up their stick over yours and have their shaft and blade inside of yours, again you will hold firm on your stick to block their attempt to win the draw back and then use your leverage down on your stick to win the puck back in the process pulling the puck underneath their stick by using your weight down on your stick to use the rocker at the base of the heel of their stick to effectively create a ramp.
Unlike techniques 2 and 3, The Wall technique does not control your opponent's stick and therefore is vulnerable if your opponent looking to move the draw forward and step around you.
Those are my main techniques. Always watch the puck at all times. Keep watching it from the time it is presented in the official's hand to the time you win the draw to your teammate(s). Last note, any time I miss the puck on my first attempt at it, I will immediately seek to recover by lifting or pinning the opponent's stick. Once the puck settles, if I can get to it first I will release the opponent's stick and win the draw or if it is bouncing or my stick is not free, I will use body positioning to shield the puck for my teammate to come in and take it or kick it a teammate.
You definitely titled the thread correctly. Taking faceoffs is truly an art form. Everyone is different, but when you can master a technique, it really is a beautiful and handy tool to own...
shoeshine boy
Registered User
- Aug 14, 2008
- 758
- 127
cheat, cheat and cheat some more. there are different ways of cheating so you'll have to find out what works best for you. for me it's keeping my stick off the ice an inch or two. I've never had a ref or linesman notice and I usually end up getting the puck before it ever hits the ice.
also, know what your weaknesses are. for me it's going against left-handed centers but I've found that if I get super low I do better against them.
a lot of people have mentioned going forward with the puck. this is fine if you can keep it from going to the other team's D but otherwise you're just giving them the puck.
also, know what your weaknesses are. for me it's going against left-handed centers but I've found that if I get super low I do better against them.
a lot of people have mentioned going forward with the puck. this is fine if you can keep it from going to the other team's D but otherwise you're just giving them the puck.
Siamese Dream
Registered User
Feed Me A Stray Cat
Registered User
TheSkatingDead
Registered User
Excellent points above... my staple is the backhand draw. If I'm in the defensive zone on the right side (I'm lefthanded), then I'll go with slap/turn/pull the corner draw. Just remember to get your body low, choke up and watch the puck.
Some excellent tips and vid here - How to Win Faceoffs in Hockey – Face Off Tips via How To Hockey
Some excellent tips and vid here - How to Win Faceoffs in Hockey – Face Off Tips via How To Hockey
Dont be that guy who goes forward on EVERY single faceoff (and loses 75% still and the ones he hits just go to the other team).
We have so many of those on my 2 teams
We have so many of those on my 2 teams
I like to whack the other players st as hard as I can and take the puck to the boards or I shove my stick in between his legs and tie him up
I'm a righty, and if we're in our defensive zone on the right side, we have a play setup with my super quick d man. He lines up far left and as soon as the puck drops be sprints. My job is just to whack the crap out of it to my far left. I'd say 40% of the time he picks it up on the far wall for a fast break and he's pretty good at those. Easy points for me.
SCBruCrew4
Registered User
biturbo19
Registered User
- Jul 13, 2010
- 25,158
- 13,058
On a less Steve Ott note though, something that seems to be lost on a lot of people, is that there are a vast number of ways to tie up a stick or 'scramble' a draw. Trying to lift your opponents stick is just one of a huge number of ways to neutralize a faceoff right off the bat.
In a lot of cases, you can 'tie up' or 'block' their stick by coming down from the top/sides as well, at the right time and angles. There are different angles of attack available.
In a lot of cases, you can 'tie up' or 'block' their stick by coming down from the top/sides as well, at the right time and angles. There are different angles of attack available.
Ozz
Registered User
I'm not good at engaging anybody in a tie-up, but if they get me first then I'm great at winning control whether it be w/my stick or skates.
I just win cleanly, usually as someone said by swiping it right out of the air, and swap between going forehand and backhand depending on my opponent's handedness.
I just win cleanly, usually as someone said by swiping it right out of the air, and swap between going forehand and backhand depending on my opponent's handedness.
Recast
Registered User
By no means am I a face-off ace but I have a few tricks and I seem to win more than 60% of my draws (a lot higher if the other centre doesn't really know what he's doing which admittedly is most of the time). Mind you, this is beer league so take that for what it's worth. I've watched a few videos and I remember a few things but it's easier for me to go out and try stuff and see what works.
By the way, I'm a leftie, 5'9 without skates, and use a Hall/Draper curve.
1) Standard back-hand sweep. I just grip where the blade meets the shaft, get in a really low stance, and swat at the puck. Quite often I get the puck before it even hits the ice and still surprise myself everytime. If I don't win it clean I just keep swatting at it. Often, if I miss the initial sweep I'll drop my right knee, blocking the other centres stick and just keep swatting. There's other times where I win it but I don't get enough power on it to get it to my defenceman. If this happens I usually turn my back to the other centre and depending on the initial sweep I might be standing or on one knee or I might only have 1 hand on my stick trying to push it to my defenceman.
2) Other centre lines up like I wrote above. There's a few things I try but the main one is to line up with my stick aiming straight (my blade is pointing towards the middle of his stick), and time it so just as the ref drops the puck you push with your stick forward into his stick. A lot of the times it seems when I do this the puck goes straight behind me to my defenceman so, maybe the other centre is getting a piece of it and knocks it behind me.
3) Other centre lines up like in #1. Do exactly what he does (this only works if you're the opposite hand he is... I think) but instead of sweeping for the puck in the dot, get your stick behind his and "smack" the back of his stick with yours. This prevents him from winning it backwards and because of you hitting his stick, he actually pushes the puck behind you. If he wises up it'll just end up being a draw and it becomes a matter of will & want and not speed and strength.
4) This one is good for centres that don't really try or aren't really good at face-offs. If he lines up with his blade pointing between your legs just wait for the ref to start dropping it and right as he's about to drop it just slap the other centre's stick away and sweep it backwards.
5) I only use this one when I'm on the right side in the defensive zone. Other centre can line up anyway he wants. Grab your stick like your going to take a slap-shot and slide your hands down so your left hand is right where the blade meets the shaft (obviously your right hand will move down with it). Just before the puck hits the ice, take a slap at the puck trying to win it back to the defenceman behind you. If you don't think you can win it straight back just try to smack it into the corner or to the boards. If you smack it to the boards and you don't have a winger there (really defensive alignment) you have to go after it.
6) When in doubt, just tie him up. Use your stick like you would when you try to lift someone's stick to get the puck from them. Aim just above where the blade meets the shaft of the other centre's stick. Push into him and try using your feet to kick the puck to someone or you could try to trap the puck with your feet and just wait for a winger or d-man to come get it.
7) The last one I only use if I know the other centre is going to try and push it through my legs, a rare occasion for the most part. Although, in saying that, there are centre's out there that only do that move. Anyway, I won't even try for the puck. I'll make a 90 degree angle with my skates when the ref drops the puck and the puck always ends up in between them. There was another part of this that worked really well but I can't for the life of me remember it.
By the way, I'm a leftie, 5'9 without skates, and use a Hall/Draper curve.
1) Standard back-hand sweep. I just grip where the blade meets the shaft, get in a really low stance, and swat at the puck. Quite often I get the puck before it even hits the ice and still surprise myself everytime. If I don't win it clean I just keep swatting at it. Often, if I miss the initial sweep I'll drop my right knee, blocking the other centres stick and just keep swatting. There's other times where I win it but I don't get enough power on it to get it to my defenceman. If this happens I usually turn my back to the other centre and depending on the initial sweep I might be standing or on one knee or I might only have 1 hand on my stick trying to push it to my defenceman.
2) Other centre lines up like I wrote above. There's a few things I try but the main one is to line up with my stick aiming straight (my blade is pointing towards the middle of his stick), and time it so just as the ref drops the puck you push with your stick forward into his stick. A lot of the times it seems when I do this the puck goes straight behind me to my defenceman so, maybe the other centre is getting a piece of it and knocks it behind me.
3) Other centre lines up like in #1. Do exactly what he does (this only works if you're the opposite hand he is... I think) but instead of sweeping for the puck in the dot, get your stick behind his and "smack" the back of his stick with yours. This prevents him from winning it backwards and because of you hitting his stick, he actually pushes the puck behind you. If he wises up it'll just end up being a draw and it becomes a matter of will & want and not speed and strength.
4) This one is good for centres that don't really try or aren't really good at face-offs. If he lines up with his blade pointing between your legs just wait for the ref to start dropping it and right as he's about to drop it just slap the other centre's stick away and sweep it backwards.
5) I only use this one when I'm on the right side in the defensive zone. Other centre can line up anyway he wants. Grab your stick like your going to take a slap-shot and slide your hands down so your left hand is right where the blade meets the shaft (obviously your right hand will move down with it). Just before the puck hits the ice, take a slap at the puck trying to win it back to the defenceman behind you. If you don't think you can win it straight back just try to smack it into the corner or to the boards. If you smack it to the boards and you don't have a winger there (really defensive alignment) you have to go after it.
6) When in doubt, just tie him up. Use your stick like you would when you try to lift someone's stick to get the puck from them. Aim just above where the blade meets the shaft of the other centre's stick. Push into him and try using your feet to kick the puck to someone or you could try to trap the puck with your feet and just wait for a winger or d-man to come get it.
7) The last one I only use if I know the other centre is going to try and push it through my legs, a rare occasion for the most part. Although, in saying that, there are centre's out there that only do that move. Anyway, I won't even try for the puck. I'll make a 90 degree angle with my skates when the ref drops the puck and the puck always ends up in between them. There was another part of this that worked really well but I can't for the life of me remember it.
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I have one of two moves when I take faceoffs (I'm actually pretty good at them on a relative scale in the levels I play - unfortunately that's where being good at center starts and ends for me, I get lost once I win or lose the faceoff).
1) Standard backhand sweep. The tip I use for helping this is that I don't necessarily just try to get my stick blade on the puck first. I try to jam it under the heel of my opponent's stick and then draw the puck backwards.
2) Forehand sweep. I really only use this one when I'm taking a defensive zone faceoff on the right side of the net since I don't want to backhand draw it towards my goalie. Half the time I "win" the contact in that I get my stick to the puck first, but I also "lose" the draw in that it angles off my stick blade more towards an opposing player than a teammate. I don't really have any special tips for this one, other than to be really, really quick.
Another general tip has been said already in this thread, and I'll reiterate: cheat, cheat, cheat. I almost never advocate cheating, but 99% of amateur hockey officials really just don't give a **** about enforcing faceoff procedures properly. I'm one myself, and I'll readily admit that I let most stuff go unless it's blatant. I do require sticks on the ice and some portion of the stick blade in contact with the circle, but that's about it, and I almost never eject anyone from the faceoff circle, unless they don't listen to my instructions on how to line up.
1) Standard backhand sweep. The tip I use for helping this is that I don't necessarily just try to get my stick blade on the puck first. I try to jam it under the heel of my opponent's stick and then draw the puck backwards.
2) Forehand sweep. I really only use this one when I'm taking a defensive zone faceoff on the right side of the net since I don't want to backhand draw it towards my goalie. Half the time I "win" the contact in that I get my stick to the puck first, but I also "lose" the draw in that it angles off my stick blade more towards an opposing player than a teammate. I don't really have any special tips for this one, other than to be really, really quick.
Another general tip has been said already in this thread, and I'll reiterate: cheat, cheat, cheat. I almost never advocate cheating, but 99% of amateur hockey officials really just don't give a **** about enforcing faceoff procedures properly. I'm one myself, and I'll readily admit that I let most stuff go unless it's blatant. I do require sticks on the ice and some portion of the stick blade in contact with the circle, but that's about it, and I almost never eject anyone from the faceoff circle, unless they don't listen to my instructions on how to line up.
I sometimes try to just tie the center up. Make sure to tell my wings what I am doing first of course
