Most sports fans can name a few athletes that take pride in putting on a show for the crowd and want to showcase their athletic prowess. Whether it’s a home run derby or a point-shaving contest, it’s common to see sports fans go wild and scream with joy as their favorite player or team does something amazing.
But what happens when a player or team goes above and beyond what the fans think is possible? What happens when a fan loves a player or team so much that they become overconfident and show the entire world their best performance?
In hockey, the term “faceoff violation” is thrown around quite often and isn’t necessarily positive. It can be a frustrating experience for fans who want to see their team win and develop good habits, but it also opens up new doors for the athletes who commit these infractions.
Faceoff violations happen when a player deliberately attempts to deceive the officials during a face off. The most common type of violation is the hooking or holding the opponent while they are standing between the circles. This is a dangerous play and can put the opposing team at a significant advantage.
Other tactics that are considered faceoff violations include elbowing, kicking, and head-butting. In the past, these plays wouldn’t have been accepted because they were deemed unsportsmanlike or dirty. But today, they’re commonplace and can even help a player stand out above the crowd.
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The Benefits Of A Faceoff Violation
If a faceoff violation results in a call for a power play, both teams will be given a small break from the action to assemble their units on the ice. During this time, the other team will have the opportunity to score a goal and maybe put the puck in the net. But this isn’t always the case. The faceoff violation can also result in a penalty shot for the offender. In fact, in the 2014–15 season, faceoff violations resulted in the highest number of power play opportunities per game in the league (28.7).
Aside from the above, one of the biggest benefits of a faceoff violation comes in the form of increased awareness. Before a faceoff violation, hockey players wouldn’t have known how dangerous certain plays can be. They would’ve never put themselves in a vulnerable position by steering an opponent or by playing with the puck on their stick. Thanks to video review and scoreboard cameras, the world is now aware of the dangerous plays that can occur during a hockey game. Thanks to this increased awareness, the number of faceoff violations have decreased (29.8) and the league average faceoff winning percentage has also dropped (from 54.9% to 52.9%).
The Risks Of A Faceoff Violation
Aside from the benefits listed above, a faceoff violation presents a number of risks to the offender. These include injury to opponents and referees, as well as ejection from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just like in other sports, players can get hurt during a faceoff violation. Sometimes this happens due to overzealous fans who want to see their teams score more goals than the other team and venture into the dangerous areas near the crease.
It’s also important to note that a faceoff violation is considered a very serious offense and can lead to serious disqualification, including the loss of a license for a player. Furthermore, using illegal or dirty tactics during a faceoff violation will also result in a fine for the offender.
When Do Faceoff Violations Happen?
Like other sports, hockey is a fast-paced game that can transition from faceoff violations to slam-dunks and overtimes. But unlike the others, NHL games finish in less than two hours and the majority of faceoff violations occur in the first three minutes of a game. This is likely because the referee isn’t able to quickly assess the situation and determine if a foul occurred. For similar reasons, the number of faceoff violations increases in penalty games (33.3%) compared to regular season games (26.2%).
How Do You Know If You’ve Been On A Faceoff Violation?
Unlike other sports, in hockey there is no way to look at the scoreboard and determine if you’re on a faceoff violation or not. This is because in hockey, you never really know when a faceoff will occur. This makes avoiding faceoff violations all the more important. Thankfully, there is a way to identify if you’ve been on a faceoff violation or not through video review. Once the referee has called a faceoff, the official scorers will mark the video and notify the parties involved. This is done to ensure that there are no misunderstandings regarding faceoff violations. It also provides the opportunity for fans to review the play and see if it was indeed a foul or just a close call.
So, if you’ve been on a faceoff violation, how did they identify you? The short answer is through a multi-step process involving the review of video from multiple angles followed by a discussion between the officials on the telephone. This is necessary because there are often times when a faceoff violation is not clearly visible from one angle. For example, in the 2015–16 season, there were 9,964 faceoff violations, yet only eight were off-angle violations that could’ve been easily seen by the naked eye. So, by utilizing multiple cameras and expert video analysis, the officials were able to identify faceoff violations that occurred in situations that weren’t always apparent to the naked eye.
What Should You Do If You’re On A Faceoff Violation?
If you’re on a faceoff violation, it’s important to take a step back and assess the situation before making any rash decisions. In the 2015–16 season, there were 10,176 faceoff violations in the NHL. If you are on a faceoff violation, you should always avoid taking the penalty position during this time. Instead, the safest play is to maintain possession of the puck and wait for the play to clear. If you do decide to take the penalty position at any time during a faceoff violation, make sure that you play a smart game and avoid any aggressive or devious moves. This way, you’ll have a chance of avoiding an altercation and possibly getting your player or team ejected from the game.
If you or your team are determined to play the penalty position during a faceoff violation, there are things you can do to even the playing field. You can throw out a pylon (large, metal post) in the defensive zone to block the passing lane and force the offender to walk the full length of the ice to receive the puck. This tactic is known as “pisting” the puck and was used successfully in the NHL from 2006 to 2013. The pylon is a great way to even the playing field because it forces the offender to slow down and play by the rules. This tactic is sometimes used in soccer as a means of discouraging overly aggressive play by creating distance between the puck and the goal line.
Final Takeaway
In the end, there’s no such thing as a perfect game. No matter how skilled or how disciplined you are, there will always be something you can do or say to mess up. When this happens, there’s always an opportunity to learn. Every mistake you make in life is a chance to improve your game and become a better version of yourself. The same can be said for hockey. As long as you play by the rules and watch your temper, you shouldn’t have any problems. Just be sure to avoid any illegal or dirty plays and you’ll be on your way to becoming an excellent hockey player.