JMS Hockey

Can anyone explain the faceoff guidelines enforced by referees in AHA? AHA refs are very particular about how you align your body and your stick when preparing for the draw. They essentially make you rest your stick on the ice at a perpendicular angle to the ref (I assume you know what I'm talking about). In the NHL, players don't even have to put their stick down on the ice. As long as a player isn't inside the dot or invading the opponents space, I don't know why it should even matter.

Rule 613 of USA hockey rules explains the guidelines for a face-off. NHL does it differently.

(a) Play shall start when one of the officials drops the puck between the sticks of two opposing players. For face-offs occurring at a designated face-off spot, the players facing-off will stand squarely facing their opponents’ end of the rink and clear of the ice markings. The stick blades of both players shall be in contact with the nearest white area of the face-off spot and clear of the center red area. For face-offs occurring at the center ice face-off spot or in locations other than the designated face-off spots, the players facing-off shall squarely face their opponent’s end of the ice and stand approximately one stick length apart. The attacking player shall be the first to place his stick on the ice, except for a center ice face-off where the visiting team player shall be first to place his stick on the ice. (b) No other player shall be allowed to enter the face-off circle or come within 15 feet of the players facing-off the puck. All other players must position themselves behind the hash marks on the outer edge of the face-off circle or stand approximately one stick length apart from the opponent. (c) At the conclusion of the line change procedure, the Official conducting the face-off shall blow his whistle. This will signal each team that they have no more than five seconds to line up for the ensuing face-off. Prior to the conclusion of five seconds, the Official shall conduct a proper face-off. No substitution of players shall be permitted until the face-off has been completed and play has been resumed except when any penalty is imposed. (d) If a player facing-off fails to take his proper position immediately when directed by the Official, the Official may order him replaced for that face-off by any teammate then on the ice. If a player, other than the player facing off, fails to maintain his proper position, the center of his team shall be ejected from the face-off. A second violation of any of the provisions of this subsection by the same team during the same face-off shall result in a minor penalty for delay of game being assessed to the player committing the second violation. (e) A minor penalty for interference shall be assessed to any player facing-off who makes any physical contact with his opponent’s body by means of his own body or by his stick except in the course of playing the puck after the face-off has been completed.

The other thing the refs in the AHA strictly enforce is FaceOff Interference. No tying up the other center's stick or dropping to your knees on the faceoff. I skated out in a D1 game then played net in a B3 game at the same rink with the same refs... they consistently enforced the stick on the ice face-off rule. If you didn't comply, they'd throw you out of the faceoff.

That probably covers it. Thanks.

My complaint is there are a few of the refs who throw the puck into the face off. I thought it was supposed to be a drop.

http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0042/4269/Basic_Officials_Manual_-_2013.pdf Drop is a misnomer. I reffed for about 15 years. If you just gravity drop it, it takes forever to get down, players flail with their sticks and hit you in the shins, the tender parts, and sometimes even near the face, and often the puck hits sticks on the way down... "At the end of the arm extension, some force should be used during the release instead of letting gravity take over. Use just enough momentum to get the puck to the ice quickly. Otherwise, a “lazy” release may result in the puck hitting a player’s stick on the way down, resulting in a false or unfair face-off." Refs should hold it about belt high and it should go down with enough force to make a light slapping sound and land flat and not move when it lands. If it bounces they are doing it wrong. The refs in the NHL have a different technique but same effect. I am not going to give away all my face-off secrets, but here are a few tips that usually result in high success: Backhand draw 1) Get low on your stick both hands palms down 2) If left-handed, put stick toward back right side of dot - opposite for righties 3) Lean on your stick HARD on the ice (this gets you leverage) 4) Look up at the puck being dropped 5) Make a sweeping straight forward up the side of the dot, under the opposing player's stick, and back toward your defense 6) Rotate your body slightly clockwise (for lefties) after the faceoff to cover the dot 7) If you miss on the first attempt, use your body position and skates to kick it back 8) Avoid slashing other player's sticks - otherwise you may pay the price in return in front of their net Good luck!

Thanks Dan. That is a good explanation. I have seen a few bouncing pucks on face offs. But I have also seen a few refs who try to throw the puck through the face off dot. I don't take to many face offs, I am usually watching from the wing position. I just want to have it be fair for both centers on the face off. Then again, I do realize we are playing in a beer league, not the NHL.