Drill - Triple Box

Skill Level:

- Intermediate to advanced
- 8 to 14 players
- 1/2 ultimate field or more

Skills Taught:

Offense - timing of cuts, breaking the mark, hucking, end zone offense

Defense - holding the mark, switching/sandwiching

Background:

This drill is really more of a modified scrimmage than a conventional drill. Use it when you don't quite have enough players for a 7 v 7 game or when you want to focus on the skills listed above.

Rules:

1. The field of play is shown in the figure below.



2. The game works best 5 v 5. Designate 3 handlers and 2 cutters per team. These designations can change over the course of a game, but not in the middle of a point. The remaining players act as substitutes, entering the game after a turn (replacing the guilty thrower or receiver) or score (replacing the charred defender or marker). Substitutes must enter as handlers or cutters, depending on the player they replace.

3. The field is made up of a single handling zone (shaded yellow) and three socring pods (shaded blue). There is no out of bounds, and players are not retricted to any part of the field. In order to score, an offensive handler mist complete a pass from the handling zone to a cutter teammates in one of the three socring pods.

4. Both teams use the same handling zone and scoring pods, alternating offense and defense on each turn. After a turn, one pass is required before a scoring throw.

5. The stall count is 5. WIth this single exception, the drill uses standard ultimate rules.

6. Each score is worth one point.

7. Play is continuous until the end of a game (first team to 5).

Suggestions:

- Adjust the field to suit the ability level of your group. The distance between the handling zone and scoring pods is the key variable. I would not recommend increasing the size of the throwing pods. Accuracy should be the emphasis at all skill levels.

- Try setting up the field so that all scoring throws are upwind.

- Experiment with different forces. Good defense is possible with force-midlle or force-side, but the upfield defenders will need to adjust.

- Allow each defense to experiement with strict man-to-man and help defenses. In a help situation with 2 defenders and 3 scoring areas, the weak-side defender will need to cover lots of ground.

Takeaways:

This drill is an excellent proxy for endzone offense because:

1) spacing, timing, and hard running are essential to offensive execution

2) cross-field throws are extremely difficult (perhaps you should rethink that cross-field hammer)

-Triple box provides a forum for you to work on throws you might not have the courage to try in practice of a game. In triple box, scoring is difficutl. Once the defense adjusts to the drill, it will take a great deep throw or a split-second force-break to produce a score. To be a great thrower, you will need to develop the abilitiy and confidence to make these plays with regularity. But how can you learn these skills? Far too often, 'serious' ultimate teams and their captains dicourage risk-taking at practice. Nobody wants to lose a scrimmage, and captains don't want loose cannons on their roster. Triple box was designed to allow players to extend their offensive talents without instilling bad Ultiamte habits.

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.