Drill - Fast Break

Skill level:

- Intermediate to advanced
- 7 players or more
- 1/2 field

Skills Taught:

Offensive creativity and aggressiveness, help defense, conditioning

Background:

For most people, learning to play ultimate means learning to play within a structure. Players move from beginner to intermediate as they learn to position themselves and time their movements as part of a particular team's structure. At an advanced stage, players learn to react to opponents and interact with teammates in the absence of structure. This drill forces players to push their offensive skills into new areas while simultaneously providing an intense workout.

Rules:

1. Set up a narrow field as shown in Figure 1. Offense will start at the red cones and score in the area delineated by orange cones.



2. All players will rotate through all positions over the course of the drill. Start with three on offense and four on defense.

3. Offense starts with the disc and can arrange its players anywhere along the end line between the red cones. Defense must choose two players to start out of the play, behind the red cones. The other two defenders can position themselves anywhere on the playing field.

4. When play starts (hand check or disc check) the offense has a 3 v 2 advantage. The defenders behind the red cone must complete ten push-ups (or sit-ups, or whatever) before joining the action. Offense attempts to score as quickly as possible to avoid the 3 v 4 situation.

5. Use standard ultimate rules, with play ending and the drill resetting after a turn.

6. Keep individual scores, with each offensive player receiving a point per soce. Rotate players through both O and D. Play games until someone reaches 10.

Suggestions:

- Vary your defensive strategy. Try marking the disc or leaving it systematically unmarked. Try face guarding to force the huck, or play 'prevent' defense. Experiment with force-middle and force-side.

- Experiment with throws you might not use in regular game situations. Practice throwing to space, rather than to a man.

Takeaways:

- In ultimate, an offense can cut down on turnovers by making fewer mistakes or by reducting the number of passes needed for a score. Most teams focus only on the former, forgetting that lack of aggression can lead to many (indirect) turnovers. If you don't take advantage of a defensive mistake, another opening might not come along, and your team could eventually be forced into a turnover. This drill simulates a situation where the offense has a clear advantage. Learn to pounce.

- Although the defense in this drill is on its heels, it is by no means helpless. Look out for things that can buy you time: positioning, fakes, marks, unpredictability. You should also be able to bait the O into unforced errors.

References

Written by: David Young
Has played for over ten years, first at Williams, then UC San Diego, and then with San Diego Open. Has coached college men, college women, and open men.