Midiline1

I am a Middie/Attackmen (mostly middie) and I used to be amazing at face offs. I still am pretty good (I win most of my face offs, about 80%) but am not doing as well as I want to be doing. I set my expectations high on face offs this season and am hoping to fulflill them. In my fall league there was nobody really tough and I won every face off except a few. I scored about 5 goals a game, so that shows not much of a challenge there. In my winter league there was more good players, and I didn't win as many as I hoped for. I still did well in the field, I lead the team in goals, face-offs, and assists but I was hoping I could do better on my FOs. I am small for my age. You'd think I'd mess up against the bigger guys but I find them easier because they are slower. The small guys like me are quick and are more of a challenge. The only time the big guys beat me is when they are very educated on how to use their body against me (a nice box out or so).

All in all I was just wondering, any tips on how to improve my face offs? I am not a big person, below average for my age, but I have very quick hands. What should I work on to get ready for the spring season?

Thanks,
Midiline1

Midiline1

Coem on guys help me out here, I usually don't like to bump but I would really appreciate it if somebody would give me so advice here.

laxman37

Hmm... tough. You say you have quick hands? So, are they quick enough to get you on the ball first, or do you have to win the faceoff after the ball has been first clamped upon by the opponent?

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rglax

id work on arm strength, its helpful for the faceoffs and shots(not as much as the legs). But try and work on your reaction time, quick hands can be negated by the fact that you dont react fast enough

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AIM-shenanigans1821

Midiline1

I almost always get the clamp first if I am using that move. Sometimes I don't. I want to work on getting my hands even faster then they are now, and also like placement of my flick from where it is now (thatsounds sort of weird, but I need to place it because m,ost of the time I'm the smaller guy and get boxed out).

laxman37

As for the quick hands, try this:
Put the ball on the ground, and crouch down into faceoff position. Instead of clamping, put your whole stick over the ball, and onto the other side, keeping it vertical. Basically, you should end up in the same position, just the ball is on the other side of the stick head. Try to go back and forth like that as fast as you can, without touching the ball.

For the flick, it's difficult. You just have to go out, and practice it. Over and over. Talk to your wingmen before a faceoff, so that you know where they are going.

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Midiline1

Thanks so much laxman!! I will get working on that as soon as possible.

StampsD

i have been a centre man since i started Lax, i have noticed in centres that there is also alot of cheating going on aswell, illegal sticks(gone up against heeps) and just sum tricks to help u get through so just because u lose face offs dosnt mean that you arent doing well its just tha the other person has outsmarted you =D thats how i see it anyway, try figuring out your opponent and there style and you can either try to counter that or make them counter u try different styles of face offs aswell, clamp is probably the most common used, try out the others like, rake, jump, quick clamp, fingers anything like that, even try to figure out your own. as for your placement of your flicks, as laxman said u have to communicate with your wingers, they obviously play key roles in the centre draw but neva be afraid to flick it to yourself evry once in a while, u say your pretty small and quick and are pretty good with ur clamps, try flicking out front and running onto it, thats all i can think of right knw :P