faceoff

Face-off, also written faceoff, is a term used to describe a confrontation between opposing sides and, in sports, a formal procedure to begin or resume play. It can also function as a verb meaning to oppose or confront someone directly.

In sports, the best-known use is in ice hockey. A face-off involves two players from opposing teams facing each other as a official drops the puck between them. Possession is awarded to the player who gains control after the puck hits the ice. Face-offs occur at designated spots on the rink, such as center ice or in a team’s defensive or offensive zone. Referees and line judges oversee the process to ensure proper stance, positioning, and timing, and violations can result in a re-drop or penalties. The face-off sequence is a routine element of game flow that restarts play after stoppages related to infractions, goals, or other interruptions.

Beyond hockey, the term is used more broadly to describe any formal confrontation or competition between opposing sides, such as debates, matches, or political contests. In popular culture, the title Face/Off (stylized with a slash) refers to a 1997 American action-thriller film directed by John Woo, in which two men swap identities in a high-stakes pursuit.

Overall, face-off conveys both a specific sports mechanism and a general sense of direct confrontation, balancing technical usage with metaphorical applications in everyday language.