Anthony Wayne Lacrosse

1. Anthony Wayne Lacrosse Face-Offs

2. Face-Off Basics • Men's lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of two squatting players at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to begin play. Each face-off player tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can run after the ball when the whistle sounds. The other players must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball, or the ball has crossed a goal area line, before they can release.

3. Basics (Cont) Equipment – primarily the lacrosse stick and even more important – the head of the stick – varies significantly. You want a head that is not to stiff and has some flexibility – but is strong at the slimmest point. In lacrosse – all face off’s are played right handed – left handed players have to play the face off as a right handed player – and as such – may be at a disadvantage in a face off situation.

4. Rules Face off’s are played right handed Stick must be on the ground – the head and butt end of the stick must be on the ground – and cannot be above the ground • The head of the stick must be clear – the hands cannot be on the head of the stick – no part of the players body may be over the head of the stick – the players head / helmet, their hands, the feet, their knees – etc – no part of the players body can be over the head of the stick – any part of the head of the stick • The stick must be parallel to the midfield line – no part of the stick can be over the line • The players body must be parallel to the midfield line – no part of the players body can be over the line. • The head of each players stick is defined as the neutral zone – no part of a players body can be in the neutral zone – or over the midfield line

5. Stance/Positioning • In your stance, your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, maybe more. Both feet should be pointed toward the opposing player -- not toward the goal or a wing player. Crouch down and get comfortable in your new stance. Your back should be flat, with just a little arc towards the ball. Both elbows should be inside your knees. This allows you to utilize the power in your legs for your initial move.

6. Hand Position The top hand – the right hand should be just under the head of the stick – right below where the shaft enters the head. The right hand cannot be holding the head of the stick but can be at the point were the shaft enters the head of the stick. There are two techniques for the placement of this hand – palms up – the traditional placement – or some players have palms down. We recommend palms up – but, if an individual player feels more comfortable and has a higher percentage of winning the face off – with palms down – then palms down can be used. The bottom hand – should be palms down / knuckles down. The bottom hand should never be palms up. The bottom hand should be 10 inches to 12 inches down from the right hand – this provides strength and quickness. The bottom hand should be a comfortable distance from the right hand – but should not be at the butt end of the stick and should not be any further apart than the width of the player’s body.

7. Process • opposing midfielders face each other, • Referee calls for down – players get in their stance, • Referee calls for set – when set is called – players can not move and 4) Referee blows the whistle – players clamp and scramble for the ball, 5) upon one team possessing the ball – the referee calls possession and all players can move – attack and defense. A referee may skip down – and start with set, or may go with down, no set and just blow the whistle. On down – always be set and ready for the whistle.

8. Clamping Forward • With this move, the goal is to clamp the ball in your stick and create an offensive fast break. When clamping, punch both hands hard into the other person's stick, creating a "wedge" where your stick can get over the ball before your opponent's. After you clamp on top of the ball, push your top hand down, and lift your bottom hand up. This allows you to "pinch" the ball into your stick. Once the ball is successfully pinched, pull it around your opponent and in front of him, creating a fast break off the face-off.

9. Clamping Behind • Clamping behind should have identical technique to clamping forward, with the only difference being ball placement. When clamping behind, clamp and step with your right foot, just as you would when clamping forward. However, instead of "pinching" it forward, after the ball is clamped, slide it through your legs behind you. Then, open up your stance, blocking out an opposing player, and scoop the loose ball. When clamping behind, it is important to remember a few key things: 1. Don't pull the ball out too far. Sometimes clampers lose control of the ball and the ball will go out of bounds or over the restraining line, creating a 50-50 situation. 2. Use your wingmen. If you feel you can clamp and pull the ball to your wingmen without creating a 50-50 situation, then use them. 3. Use your goalie. If need be, use your goalie as an outlet.

10. Jamming/ Jumping • Jamming occurs when a player "jams" the opposing player's stick head and body. Perform this move by sliding your stick over the ball and holding down the opposing player's stick head and arms. Then, you should rake the ball behind him with his stick head. When to use a jam: 1. When an opposing player is successfully clamping against you. 2. When an opposing player is fast-breaking you. Things to remember: 1. When jamming, jam just over the ball, or the opposing player will be able to push you back. 2. Get in and out quickly -- try not to lay on top of the ball.

11. Punch/ Push • Also called a push, this is another fairly simple move; it just takes a little muscle. Using your right hand, you tilt the top sidewall of your head back toward yourself, while pushing the head forward at the same time. This will hopefully push the ball forward, so it ends up behind your opponent. It works best against a jump, but can also work well against a clamp

12. Wing Play • Wing play is one of the most important aspects of facing off. A face off midfielder with great wing play can raise his percentages much higher with proper communication. Always line your wingmen up close to the opposing players so they can attempt to "box out." When boxing out, instruct your wing guy to make his first step off of the line in front of the opposing player, making it tougher for him to get an angle on the ball. On wing play, make sure that the best two ground ball guys on your team are always out on the field. In addition, your wingmen should know to break upfield if you get the ball for an unsettled situation.

13. Reading a Player • No matter if this player is the best or the worst face-off player in the world he is readable. Some are better at hiding what they are going to do, but it can still be done. The most common changes are in the pressure that he has in his hands, the position of the players hands on their stick, and their wrist position. The left wrist position tells a lot about what move he will do. For instance:1.If the players left wrist is off the ground he will most likely jump the ball or punch it.2.If the players left wrist is resting on the ground he will usually clamp.

14. Countering • Being able to counter your opponent’s move is also important for being a good face-off middie. The clamp is one of the most popular moves for the face-off but is also the easiest to counter-act. To counter act the Clamp* you use the jump*. To counter act a move such as the jump you would do something called the punch*.

15. Rock, Paper, Scissor • It sounds kind of stupid, but winning a lacrosse faceoff is a lot like the game: rock, paper, scissors. In order to beat an opponent who is clamping, you jump. To beat someone pushing, then you clamp. To beat someone jumping, you push. • How do you know what your opponent is going to do? • There are a few different ways that you can know what the opposing player is doing. Now, it is important to know that these signs are not always correct, but they are correct about 90% of the time. • If the other person is going to clamp, then they will have their left wrist cocked back. If they are going to power clamp, then his two hands will be positioned the same way, with the top of the hands showing. In football terms, this could be seeing a lineman in four point stance. • If they are going to jump, then both of their wrists will be straight. You may also see their right hand just hovering over the ground. They do this to get a better jump on the ball. • When they are about to push the ball, then you will probably see their left hand cocked forward, with the front of their hand pointing at you. When they push, then you will counter with a clamp down the mid line, and to the right.