Offensive and defensive faceoff plays

Setup

1. Full equipment for everyone and a goaltender in full gear at each end. A coach drops the puck as the official.
2. Offensive play, on an end-zone dot: C takes the draw with their back to the blue line; LW lines up on the inside (slot side), RW on the boards side, LD and RD at the points.
3. The opposition (X1–X5) lines up as it would in a game and starts at controlled effort.
4. Wingers stay outside the circle and off the hash marks until the drop. Check your association's rules on faceoff positioning and who puts the stick down first.

How it runs

1. Offensive play 1: C wins it straight back to LD. LW drives to the net front to screen; RW ties up the opposing winger with legal body position, then goes to the net. LD shoots low through the screen once the goaltender is set.
2. Offensive play 2: if the draw is tied up, the winger on that side jumps in, wins the loose puck and moves it back to the point.
3. Defensive play, at the other end: C wins it back to the strong-side defender, who either reverses it behind the net to the partner or moves it up the wall to a winger. On a lost draw, the winger nearest the point steps out to block the shooting lane.
4. Five or six draws for each play, then rotate centres; rest and water between sets.

Coaching points

• Centres: low, wide stance, bottom hand low on the stick, eyes on the puck in the official's hand.
• Every player has a job on a lost draw as well as a won draw: name it before the drop.
• Wingers win scrums with body position and stick on puck, not by holding or hooking.
• The point shot is low and quick, before the defending winger closes the lane.
• Set plays are a plan, not a rule; change them for the opponent and the score.

Common mistakes

• Wingers entering the circle early, which is a faceoff violation.
• LD drifting off the point, so a clean win slides out of the zone.
• Everyone watching the centres instead of moving on the drop.
• Shooting before the goaltender is set.