How to Win More Faceoffs in Lacrosse
To win more faceoffs in lacrosse, set a low balanced stance over the X, use a motorcycle grip with your hands close together, and explode on the whistle to clamp the ball under the back of your stick before your opponent does. Then pop it to open space, box out with your body, and scoop it clean. The faceoff is a race of reaction, leverage, and hand speed, and all three can be trained.
A faceoff specialist who wins even 55 percent of draws can swing a game by itself, because every clean win is a possession your offense did not have to earn. This guide covers the stance, the clamp, the counters, and the drills that build a dominant faceoff man or woman.
Why Do Faceoffs Matter So Much in Lacrosse?
A faceoff happens at the start of every quarter and after every goal, so a team that dominates the X controls the flow of the entire game. Win the draw and your offense gets the ball in transition, often with numbers. Lose it and you are chasing, defending, and burning energy before you ever touch the ball.
That is why the faceoff specialist, often called the FOGO (face off, get off), is one of the most valuable roles on the roster. The good news for coaches is that faceoff success is driven by repeatable technique and reaction time, not just athleticism. A committed player can improve their win percentage dramatically with focused reps.
What Is the Correct Faceoff Stance and Grip?
Everything at the X starts with the setup. Get these four things right before the whistle and you give yourself the fastest, most powerful first move.
How Do You Win the Clamp?
The clamp is the foundational faceoff move. On the whistle, snap your wrists to rotate the back of your stick head down and over the ball, trapping it on the ground before your opponent can. Speed off the whistle wins most clamps, so the player who reacts first usually gets there first. Once you have trapped the ball, do not just sit on it. Immediately push or pull it into open space, turn your body to shield it from your opponent, and scoop it clean so you come up with full possession.
Custom Lacrosse Clipboard (2 Sided)
Diagram your faceoff wing play and fast break off the win on a full field board, then flip to the blank side for quick sideline adjustments.
What Faceoff Counters Should You Teach?
A player who only knows the clamp gets scouted and beaten. Once the clamp is solid, add a couple of counters so your specialist has an answer when the opponent wins the initial move.
Instead of trapping over the top, pull the ball back toward yourself with the back of the head. Useful when you are a touch slower to the clamp and need to drag the ball away fast.
Win the clamp, then flick the ball out to open grass on your wing side so you or a wing midfielder can run onto it in transition rather than wrestling at the X.
If the opponent clamps first, use your body and a quick re-clamp or jam to tie up the ball, then fight to the loose ball so neither side gets a clean win and your wings can crash.
What Are the Most Common Faceoff Mistakes?
Most lost faceoffs come from the same correctable habits. Name them for your specialist and the win percentage climbs.
Rising out of the stance kills leverage and lets the opponent drive through. Stay low and powerful until you have possession.
Wide hands slow the wrist rotation the clamp depends on. Keep the hands close for a faster, sharper first move.
Jumping early draws a violation, and flinching late loses the race. Train to react to the sound while staying relaxed.
The faceoff is five players, not one. If your specialist never communicates with the wing midfielders, clean wins turn into loose ball losses.
Lacrosse Faceoffs: Quick Answers
FOGO stands for face off, get off. It is the specialist who takes the draw, wins possession, and then subs off for an offensive or defensive midfielder.
The clamp is the first move where you rotate the back of your stick head down over the ball to trap it on the ground before your opponent can, then pull it to space.
Stay low and relaxed, watch the ball, and train with random whistle timing so you fire on the sound rather than guessing when it will come.
The two wing midfielders fight for any loose ball the draw pops out. Strong wing play turns a 50/50 battle at the X into a possession for your team.
No. Legal grips and techniques vary by level and governing body, so always confirm your league rules before teaching a specific move.
Yes. Because faceoffs reward reaction and repeatable technique, a focused beginner can raise their win percentage noticeably within a few weeks of daily reps.
Draw Up Your Faceoff Game Plan
Faceoff wings, fast breaks off the draw, and exit lanes are all easier to teach when players can see them. Map your faceoff schemes on a custom HoopsKing lacrosse board, then flip it over for quick adjustments on game day.
