THROWING IN THE PRESENCE OF A MARK
By Jim Parinella


One of the traits that distinguishes the top players and teams from lesser ones is the ability to throw effectively in the presence of a mark. Many teams look for a mark-breaking pass as the first option in their stack offense. Other teams rely on the thrower to be able to put it in the corner regardless of the mark for their endzone offense. However it is used, the break-the-mark pass should be an important part of any offensive scheme.

When I grew up in this game, breakmark throws were a magical thing, only to be used by the wizards we knew as handlers. A couple of the guys could throw these wicked backhand airbounces, and one player used a forehand airbounce almost to the point of throwing nothing else, and a well thrown overhead was a rarity. Now, breaking passes come in a lot more flavors (scoober, inside out, high release backhand, curving throw around the mark, step through the marker and call foul, etc.), and a larger percentage of the players can execute them well. At the club level, being able to throw a ten yard pass against the mark to a wide open receiver should be considered a basic skill. If a player can’t do this, he is a huge liability on offense, especially against a zone.

How exactly to break the mark depends on what you are comfortable with and what the marker is giving you, since several options exist. The well-rounded player should be able to use whichever method is most convenient, but each of us will develop a favorite.

Inside Out (or Invert) Pass

Probably the most popular method is the inside out (or invert) pass, the equivalent of a slice in tennis or golf. This would be, for example, a forehand throw to the backhand side of the field to a hard cutting receiver when the force is forehand.

How to throw it: Good extension is important. Begin by making some sort of fake to get the marker off the forehand (perhaps a pivot to the backhand side, or a fake overhead, or even a slight lean to the backhand side without actually stepping will usually open up some room), then step sideways and release the pass flat or with a slight inside out tilt. You can step forward as long as you make sure that your hand and shoulder goes with you. If it trails behind, your body is then out of position and a bad throw usually results.

When to throw it: When the marker is close and is really exaggerating the force. When the marker is upright.

Advantages: It’s a quick throw that usually doesn’t require a lot of fakes. It can be thrown under the defender’s arm, or the thrower can step out and throw it past the defender. It’s a fairly natural throw.

Disadvantages: When thrown to a receiver cutting across the field, this throw has less of a margin of error, since it is usually a fast moving pass coming from a non-optimal angle. Often, the throw has to go by the defender. When marked tightly, it is often easier to fake and throw around the mark.

Airbounce or Floating Backhand

It is more difficult to master the technique of throwing around the mark, but once done, this is probably a more reliable throw than the inside out.

How to throw it: In the above example, this throw would be done by faking the inside out hard so that the marker tries to block it, then pivoting and stepping around the mark to throw an airbounce or other floating backhand. Again, good extension is important. On the forehand side, most often you should step backwards a little bit and throw a curving pass around the marker.

When to throw it: When the marker is playing more straight up. When the marker is very aggressive and bites on the inside out fake. When the marker is far off (big curving throw required).

Advantages: This throw comes in at a better angle than the inside out. Since it is a floating pass thrown in front of the receiver, there is more margin on the velocity and placement of the throw. Sometimes a quick release will catch the marker off guard.

Disadvantages: The throw is often blind, since the marker might be blocking the thrower’s view. The thrower often has to extend himself a lot, making him off balance. A good marker might not bite on the fakes, making it difficult to get this throw off. This throw won’t travel very far, so it can be used reliably only for short passes.