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Facing off is an intricate part of
lacrosse and is a separate battle within the game all on its
own. When games are won and lost on possessions and
momentum; face-offs can help bring a team back to life, help
to create positive momentum swings, or prevent adverse
momentum swings by your opponent.
Here are some general tips on how
to take control of the momentum in a lacrosse game and
generate possessions for your offense:
1) Always watch the ball all of the way into your
body or stick when making a save. This will increase the
likelihood of making some of those tough saves and help you
keep sight of your rebounds.
2) Approach the line and the ball on a 45 degree
angle. The more force you can generate over top of the ball
and into your opponent drastically increases your chance of
gaining control of the ball.
3)
Keep your weight off of your hands. You can't be quick if
all of your weight is pushing your hands into the ground.
Get in a comfortable, athletic position and lower your
center of gravity so not to lean on your hands and stick.
4)
Pay attention to the officials. Most officials will have a
certain "cadence" or routine when they administer the face
off. Be aware of their tempo and be as quick as you can to
react to the whistle.
5)
Don't quit! If you feel like your opponent has an edge on
you over the course of a game or in one particular instance,
make sure to get scrappy and do whatever it takes to get the
win. Even if you don't win the draw, you can chase down the
ground ball.
6)
Practice in a competitive setting. Practicing on your own is
great in developing a face-off routine and speed, but
nothing is better than going live against another
individual. By practicing in a competitive setting you are
forced to read your opponent and get scrappy. |
