Face Off Help - Thoughts?

[tp6]

This is footage from this year, if you can watch the footage and give me your thoughts, and help....Thanks TP

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Se61rMpbQ

[guest]

You do some things very well, like one haded pickups and handling the ball in general, nice job. Video is WAY too long (should be half as long if you are sending to coaches). I stopped watching about 5 minutes in, but only counted 1 instance of using your wings. It's great that you can win so many to yourself, but it suggests either poor competition or inability to go behind. Against better competiton, there is no way you can go forward to youself that much - even the best do it ~50% of the time, relying on wings in scrums or for pullabacks. Maybe there's more later in the video (guessing not), but if it is, move it foward and shorten the overall video. Good luck, some very nice stuff on here.

[fplax27]

stop using the rake! it will not work against good competition. learn the pinch and pop,.

[tp6]

Thank you for your input. Even though I won 181 out of 244 at varsity this year, I know that the closer that I get to college, I will have to have a clamp. I have been working on one with good results. I plan on using both along with with a hop or jam...again, thank you for your input.

[laserlite]

Dont let people discourage you, knowing a rake is awesome especially since no one uses it anymore keep it in your aresnal, but yes you must learn to clamp. And yes you must get comfortable using your wings but the overlooked clamp and pull between your legs to yourself is still the best self serving faceoff. You must also practice using your body. in the second faceoff you are getting pushed back because your too high. Spend some time working on using your legs and getting low to move your opponent off the ball. As far as the tape coaches want it shorter and show the same oppenent for a bunch of faceoffs to show continuity so it does look like a highlight reel but an acurate depicition of your skills. You've got a good future, keep at it

[clutchfoff21]

Start perfecting your clamp now. By the time you reach college your clamp should be mastered.

Things I notice:

You stand a little tall. You look for the break everytime when sometimes you have a pole blocking the fast break. When you get to the next level those poles are gonna be up in you very very fast. So you won't have time to win it forward to yourself and keep possession against a good LSM. Control is Key if you don't have control your odds of winning get less and less. Clamp, pinch, pop to yourself or a team mate.

Secondly. You are trying so hard for that rake that you lift your back hand up, push your top hand into the ground to try and rake it out. Personally, I would love to face against you because I know that I could easily push you off the ball and get my team possession. Stay low, and use your legs to gain control of the ball. Don't lift your back hand up, drive it forward.

Just work on your clamp. The rest will follow

[fplax27]

Jul 19, 2011 12:34:38 GMT -5 laserlite said:

Dont let people discourage you, knowing a rake is awesome especially since no one uses it anymore keep it in your aresnal

if anything discouraging him from it will help him. tell me how many times you've seen in d1,2 ,3 a rake works against a clamp?
it doesnt. it was fine here, when used in moderation. the key is to always have your opponent guessing and by raking it forward every time even if your move does work you dont have control over the ball which makes if a 50/50 for the ball. a pinch and pop gives you complete control over the ball.

[Guest]

FP - as a frequent poster on this site as well as inside lacrosse, certainly willing to share your comments and expertise, I am curious where you are being recruited (if you haven't committed yet).

[tp6]

Again, Thanks to all of you. I am digesting all of the criticism that I have received, this is what I need to get better. I used my rake the most this year because that was the first move that I used in every game and it worked, so I stuck with it unless it did not work. This summer, even though I am 17, I have had the opportunity to play league with a lot of college players, about 4 of wihich are face off guys. I am still having sucess with my rake, because they do not expect it and when they catch on, I switch to a clamp, which I have been working on all this summer, with work, I am getting better each week. I also am using a hop. Again all of the criticism is really helping....thank you.

[clutchfoff21]

I agree with Fp. The rake is going out of style for a reason. It just isn't working anymore. The rake should be in your arsenal, but used very very rarely. Only when the other guy is jumping you successfully, and you need to punch the ball through. Your two moves should be a clamp and a jump. You need to work on your clamp. Against better face off guys in high school, and at the next level, if you don't have a good clamp, you are going to get eaten.

[tp6]

I have been working on my clamp and used it a lot last week at the Elite 80 camp in Seattle, with some success (54%), but I have a few questions.



Watching the MLL All Star Game, I noticed that Geoff Snider lines up with left foot on the line and his right foot off of the line, I also notice a few other doing the same such a Coach Cantabene. I notice that Chris Eck and most face off specialist have their right foot closest to the line. What is the advantages or disadvantages to either.



My next question is when you put it behind you (through your legs), should your goal be to try and take it yourself or should you let your wing men get it?



My dad says that a lot of the time, I look like I am going straight to "scrum" ( my weight going all full out forward), instead of trying to get the ball out and go. My last question is; Although I do not feel that I am doing this, after watching my face offs on DVD, I can see what he is talking about, how should you decide to go to a scrum or get the ball out and go?



Like always, thank you for your time