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Archives by Tag 'Face-offs'

Back to Basics: Face-Off Strategies and Essential Ground Ball Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Follow along as Duke University head men’s lacrosse coach John Danowski breaks down effective face-off strategies and ground ball tactics. Then watch as Coach Danowski takes to the field and leads his squad through several live ground ball drills that have become staples of the Blue Devil program.

Face-Off Strategies & Key Tactics

When we face off, the ultimate goal is to pick up the ball. We don’t care who gets credit, we simply want to pick it up and get possession. We can do so effectively by incorporating the following strategies:

Boxing Out

The first thing we want to work on is boxing out. This is all about getting inside position, running hip to hip, and then hopefully coming up with the ball. The goal here is to keep our opposing wing player off our draw man to give him a chance to be successful. It’s also about trying to put ourselves in the best position to pick up a ground ball. It’s a simple concept where your body is in between the ball and your defender, but also one that’s very important.

Switching Hands

Next, Duke lacrosse players (especially short sticks) are taught to switch hands. Make sure your players can pick up the ball with the right and left hands, which allows them to get inside position no matter what. When the ball is on the ground, it’s key that our short sticks read the situation, feel where the defender is, and then when he goes to pick it up, his body is immediately between the ball and opposing player. While Coach Danowski doesn’t teach the long poles to switch hands (as it’s tougher), if your kids can do it, they should do it.

Draw Play

When it comes to draw play, you can push the ball forward, clamp it, throw it behind to yourself, plus a variety of different techniques, but these are tactics to practice skeleton. At Duke, every player will practice this, regardless of position. That even includes goalies and defenders. It’s important that each person gets a feel for what the draw men are trying to accomplish.

Box Play

This is a technique where attackmen must wait for the ball to cross the restraining line before they can go pick it up. For example, you might have to lift at the box and let the ball go past. Start by getting a wide base and solid body positioning. If the ball comes your way like this once a game and you can still get possession in the offensive box, that just might turn the game one way or another, especially if it’s close.

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Live Drills

Drill 1 - For this first drill, players will run through the ground ball from the wing. One at a time, players will scoop it up and then dish it off. The goal here is to simulate getting off the wing and flying to the ball as hard as you can. Pick your head up and move it fast.

Drill 2 – With this one, two players will go at a time. One player will pick up the ground ball and then quickly dish off to a teammate who’s running in stride providing help and an outlet. The ground ball could be on either your left or right side (forcing you to use both hands effectively).

Drill 3 – Next up, the draw men will come down over the ball at their own pace. Push it forward and then go get it. While a certain number of players will do face-offs in game action, everyone needs to learn different technique for picking up ground balls. Remember to get low and bend over, concentrate, and go get it.

Coaching Points: These drills are incredibly important to what the Duke lacrosse team tries to accomplish every year. In fact, these three are some of the first drills the team starts with in the fall and spring practices.

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The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD ”Aggressive Ground Ball Play” with John Danowski. To check out more skill development videos, simply visit our extensive lacrosse library.

A Must-Have Face-Off Warm-Up Progression for Every Level

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tufts head coach Mike Daly is a firm believer that increased face-off work in practice had a direct correlation to his team’s championship run in 2010.

This week you’ll get an exclusive chance to learn Daly’s face-off warm-up progression, an instrumental set of face-off drills that have paid dividends for his squad in recent seasons. Look to incorporate these effective drills in your own practices this year. Hopefully, you’ll see an improvement in your face-off winning percentage and overall transition game.

Face-Off Warm-Up Progression

For Coach Daly and the Jumbos, this warm-up is a key part of their face-off routine. It starts with face-off basics and then moves into counters and more detailed progressions.

First up, after Coach Daly blows the whistle, players get into their face-off positions (squatting and head down), and go back and forth over the top of the ball with their stick head for up to 10 seconds. Take a short break and then the players repeat.

Next, it’s Moves vs. Air, which includes clamps, jams, and lasers. It all starts with a clamp move after the whistle. Then the players practice Jams vs. Air. This is where each face-off guy reaches out across the ball and jams his stick to prevent his opponent from getting to the ball. He can then easily funnel the ball in his direction thanks to key body positioning and effective stick placement. For Lasers vs. Air, there’s an immediate deflection of the ball with the stick and the player can play the ball to space.

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For Dummy Partner, players are simply working on their moves against each other. The dummies provide some resistance and the goal is to get warmed up and go against some minimal resistance.

Finally, the players go live against each other. Competition is important here. If you win, you move up to the winner’s side. If you lose you go back to the loser’s side. You keep moving guys up until you have an ultimate winner. Overall, it’s great competition and something that the Tufts lacrosse team uses in practice and even on game day. It also incorporates toughness into every one of their reps.

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Got any other face-off drills that you use in your own warm-up progression? E-mail us at info@championshipproductions.com and tell us why they are so effective for you.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Lacrosse Face-Offs: Winning Every Draw.” To check out more face-off videos, head over to our video library.

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Drills, Face-offs, Inside the Crease, Mike Daly, Tufts Men's Lacrosse

2 “Special-Situation” Lacrosse Techniques to Create Advantages

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, April 17, 2012

In the latest special situations & game strategies feature, we’ll focus on defensive substitution techniques and then wing play drills for face-off situations. Florida State men’s lacrosse coaches Bill Harkins and Matt Waesche will both lead you through the segments using whiteboard diagrams and live on-field simulations.

Efficient Substitutions: Defense Down the String

This drill recalls a scenario when you’re looking to sub out an entire defensive unit efficiently without allowing any fast breaks or other problems. However, you don’t want to bring out all three guys at once. Simply, if you lose the ball, it’s a 6-0 fast break the other way.

Meanwhile, your defensive unit also can’t afford to leave opponents open on the field any longer than they have to. Therefore, it’s key to slide defenders down the field and then get the new subs to rotate over. This enables you to still get good coverage of the entire field.

On the sideline, have your first sub defender ready to go. When you call “down the string”, your first defender on the field slides down the field (while watching the action) and the new sub works his way on. Our other two defenders come down the string and at the same time, our new substitute defender works his way all the way over to the opposite side to cover the opposite attackman. He should also be watching the action on the opposite side of the field in case we turn it over.

The other two players then slide down. The next substitute defender comes in, the other player comes off, and it repeats until all players have been changed (without leaving their attack uncovered).

Wing Play Drill

With the Wing Play Drill, get two face-off men ready to go at the X. Then get a long pole and a short stick set up on one restraining line, and another set of the same group on the opposite line. There will possibly be three balls in play simultaneously.

The face-off guys first battle at the X. Meanwhile, a nearby coach has two other balls and makes a decision as to how many balls will go in play. If he throws out two balls at once, one side of wing players go after a loose ball while the opposite side goes after the other ball, plus we’ve also got the two guys in the middle battling. You can even throw just one ball and have all the wing men fight for that GB. Or you can keep both balls in your hand and proceed like a normal face-off.

Tip: Look to get at 45-degree angles outside the circle for trail checks and opposite side traps.

With “hip”, this is a strategy when battling a fast opponent. It’s imperative to get your hip on your opponent and drive them away from the ball for two or three steps. This way, we should have an inside track to turn and get to the ball ourselves. Get leverage and go right to the ball.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “How to Run the Box: Substitution Schemes to Create Mismatches.” To check out more videos featuring special situations & plays, simply head over to our lacrosse library.

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Bill Harkins, Face-offs, Florida State Men's Lacrosse, Inside the Crease, Transition

6 Pre-Practice Face-Off Drills That Yield Results

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2011

An elite face-off player can be a major difference-maker on a lacrosse team. To gain an advantage at the face-off X, check out these six pre-practice face-off drills – perfect for use at any level. The following drills are practical, effective and frequently used by the Duke men’s lacrosse program. Follow along with former Duke standout midfielder and current Lehigh University head coach Kevin Cassese as he breaks down each face-off drill before directing his midfielders through a full-speed simulation.

For additional instruction on proper face-off stance, techniques and overall tips, check out our previous face-off feature from March featuring Coach Cassese.

Over/Under Drill

For this drill, when we come out for a face-off, the offensive side of the field will mean “Over” and the defensive side of the field will mean “Under.” These directions tell everyone on the field where the face-off player wants his teammates to be. So when a player goes down and puts a clamp on the ball and there’s an ensuing scrum, he may yell out over. When this happens, he will send the ball out the front side where his wing player can get a step on the opposition, scoop up the ball and transition down field.

Here’s how the Over/Under Drill works. One player starts at the X in typical face-off stance and then signals/yells where the ball is going. He will shoot the ball in that direction. The next player in line steps up to the ball (while on the run), gets down in a clamp position, and directs it either over or under. The next player in line continues with this trend as all players quickly move around the field simulating this maneuver. There is always continuous movement with this drill.

Hands Drills

In this drill, players will line up side-by-side in typical face-off stance. Make sure there is plenty of room between each player. The coach will then blow the whistle 10-20 times in a row. With each whistle, the key here is for everyone to give a short chop over the ball and then make a quick jump back in ready position. We’re simply working on quickness in our hands and wrists, getting back into ready position, and getting to know the whistle a bit.

Ground Balls Forward

This drill is ideal for warming up the legs and getting ready for extensive face-off practice. Players will give a quick clamp and then send the ball forward and through with a grounder. This drill is continuous. After sending the ball forward, players should quickly get back to their starting point and start the drill again on the next whistle.

Ground Balls Backward

Here, we’ll go down with our clamp, proceed with a move and then send the ball backward. Unlike the previous drill, it’s key here to use our right foot as a pivot foot in order to block the opponent out, scoop the ground ball and bring it up towards your head. Notice how the players yell out “Ball” and “Release.” It’s important to communicate constantly on the field. It gives directions to teammates so that you can have an advantage on the competition. Remember to stay legal every time. Practicing illegal face-off moves will only hinder your progress.

Over/Under Ground Balls

Make a line right behind the face-off X. There will be one midfielder to start at the X and then another player out on the wing. The wing man will serve as the outlet man for this drill. Next, the coach will say down and then blow the whistle. The man at the X will give his teammate directions (Over or Under), find the ball and then hit the outlet guy in stride. The outlet guy will then go to the end of the line while the face-off man becomes the outlet player. Remember to listen to your teammates around you, find that ball and shoot it out to them. Stay low at all times and keep that proper form, too.

Goosing Drill

The Goosing Drill works on pushing the ball forward and then pushing the ball to your wing men. After a down call, the coach will blow the whistle and proceed to roll the ball out to a particular side. Here, we’re trying to simulate pushing the ball out a bit too far so that the offensive wing man can take it quickly and move it up field. This “goosing” pass is more of a push pass than a full-out pass. The goal here is to simply get the ball away from trouble.

To following face-off drills can be seen in Championship Productions’ DVD “Becoming a Champion Lacrosse Player: The Face-Off.” Check out more face-off videos in our extensive lacrosse library by clicking here.

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Face-Off Drills, Face-offs, Inside the Crease, Kevin Cassese

4 Useful Face-off Moves with Kevin Cassese

By adam.warner - Last updated: Tuesday, March 8, 2011

A dominant face-off man can change the outcome of a lacrosse game, whether it’s paving the way for fast break opportunities and scoring opportunities or preventing an opposing team from gaining momentum. An effective face-off man can also control the time of possession for his team, which will ultimately give his side a better chance at winning a particular contest.

With current Lehigh University head coach Kevin Cassese as your guide, check out these four useful face-off moves to see how you can start implementing them at your next practice. Hopefully, after learning some of the key techniques, your squad can gain a major advantage at the face-off X.

Power Clamp

Start in your normal lacrosse position. Then, at the sound of the whistle, take your left fist and punch it forward as you clamp. This maneuver will get the ball into the small of your stick and block the opposing player’s stick away from the ball. Plus, it allows the strength of your stick to control the move. Forearm and wrist strength are also key towards having an effective power clamp move.

Quick Clamp

As you go to clamp, shift yourself over the ball. Then, pull your back hand up a tiny bit and rake the ball out the front side.

Down the Line Clamp

As soon as you hear the whistle, move yourself down the right side of the mid-line, pushing forward. Then, jam the ball into the small of your stick and make a big step with your right foot. Rake the ball out the back, turn and box your man out.

Reverse Clamp

Don’t just swing it down the line, get the ball into the small of your stick and rake it back into space where an opposing player can’t get to it.

Don’t forget to about the key elements of a good lacrosse face-off stance: Keep your feet shoulder width apart and your backside down. Your knees should be bent and low to the ground. Your hands should be light yet explosive. Always keep your head and body out of the neutral zone and don’t lean over the ball. Plus, your stick shaft should be parallel to the midfield line.

The previous face-off drills can be seen in detail on Championship Productions’ DVD “Becoming a Champion Lacrosse Player: The Face-Off” with Kevin Cassese. Check out our entire lacrosse face-off catalog right here.