CEP Level 3 Manual - Rushmore Hockey Association

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T SChapter 17Face-OffsOBJECTIVES• Understand the objective of face-offs• Outline the responsibilities of players during a face-off• Provide face-offs in various situationsINTRODUCTIONFace-offs involve gaining possession of the puckin order to create scoring chances or eliminate ascoring chance from your opponent.There are many ways to accomplish these goalsby your center winning the face-off, by having yourwings and defensemen move in to gain possessionduring a face-off. All the players reacting positivelyafter losing a face-off so that they have theopportunity to quickly regain possession of thepuck.CRITICAL OBJECTIVES1. Have your best face-off person take the faceoffwhere ever it may be on the ice.2. Have your two best face-off people on theice at all critical times in case one of yourbest gets thrown out of the face-off circle.3. Every player on the ice needs to know eachof their responsibilities whether you win orlose the face-off.4. Be aware of scoring chances created fromface-offs during a game.5. Be aware of your opponents scoring chancesfrom face-offs.IMPROVING FACE-OFFSIf you want to improve your team’s face-offsthere are three critical components to address:• focus• set objectives• having players value the importance of thispart of the gameWays to improve your teams focus and overallperformance are to set face-off objectives. Anobjective can be to win 60% of all face-offs.Talk about the importance of face-off playduring the course of a game. Reward goodexecution. Spend time practicing the tech-niquesand tactics of face-offs.Finally, make face-off success a matter of pridewith your team. It can represent partial victory inany game which was won or lost.ZONE OBJECTIVES• Defensive Zone: limit the possibility ofallowing a scoring chance against your team.You have a chance to start a successfulattack.Offensive Team Tactics | 219