Faceoff technique and stances

Setup

1. Full equipment for everyone: helmet with full cage, mouthguard, neck guard, gloves, pads and skates.
2. Groups of four at each end-zone circle: two centres (C and X1), a defender (LD) at the blue line to win the puck back to, and a winger (RW) on the hash marks. A coach (CO) drops the puck.
3. Use the faceoff rules of your competition for who puts their stick down first and where the skates go; they differ between associations, so check your association's rules.

How it runs

1. Both centres take their stance: skates square to the lines and outside the dot area, knees bent, stick blade on the ice by the dot.
2. The coach drops the puck. Each centre tries to win it back to their side; C aims for LD at the blue line.
3. If neither wins it cleanly, the centre ties up the opponent's stick (stick on stick, no hooking or slashing) and RW comes in to pick up the loose puck.
4. Three draws, then rotate: the centres swap sides, the winger and defender take a turn at centre.
5. Practise forehand draws first, then backhand draws, then drawing forward past the opponent.

Coaching points

• Wide, balanced stance with the weight on the balls of the feet so you stay strong over the puck.
• Watch the official's hand, not the puck, and move the stick as the hand opens.
• Lower hand low on the stick for strength, top hand guides the blade.
• After the draw, take the body position between the opponent and the puck, using legal body contact only.

Common mistakes

• Moving early, which is a faceoff violation in a game.
• Standing tall so the opponent can push through.
• Swinging the stick high or into the opponent's hands after the puck has gone.