The faceoff is how possession is contested in lacrosse: two players crouch over the ball at the centre, and on the whistle clamp and battle to win it. It restarts play at the start of each quarter and after every goal, making it one of the most possession-defining moments in the sport. Specialist faceoff players (FOGOs — 'Faceoff, Get Off') train specifically for this skill, and faceoff win percentage is a crucial team statistic: a team winning the majority of faceoffs controls possession and tempo. The technique combines hand speed, leverage and counters.
Key points
- Contest for possession at restarts
- After every goal and each quarter start
- Won by specialist FOGO players
- Faceoff win % is a key team statistic