... and a Minor in Ultimate

[ulti101]

Here’s a video overview of offense on a basic level. Use this if you’re just learning vertical/horizontal stack, or need a refresher.

[ulti101]

Defensive Positioning for Shut-down Defense

http://coachingacademy.ultyresults.com/ Buy a VIP pass to the Ultimate Results Coaching Academy Conference for more great webinars from ultimate experts. Ale...

OK - to borrow some terminology from another field of competition. The last post on defense dealt with the ‘micro’ of defensive behavior and decision making - the conglomeration of small details and adjustments in your play which make you an effective defender (squaring your hips, adjusting your blocking angle, etc). This post deals with the ‘macro’ - the bigger picture that informs your overarching decisions on defense. We’re talking about taking in the big picture - what’s the shape of the field? What should I be taking away? What should our whole team be taking away from our opponent’s arsenal of offensive tools?

This is a long video. Watch the whole thing. Watch through the Q+A at the end; it’s all very insightful, if a little drawn-out.

[ulti101]

Basic Concepts Of Person Defense In 42 Seconds | Ultiworld

Matty Farrell marks Vancouver's Oscar Pottinger at 2013 Nationals. Photo: Kevin Leclaire -- UltiPhotos.com During the Denver Johnny Bravo v. Boston Ironsid

Another great article that puts what we know into practice. You know what the offense wants, and you’ve calculated (whether consciously or not) the threat of each option - how do you use that information to play shutdown defense?

This guy does it. Matty Farrell uses the mark and the shape of the rest of the field to determine where to place his body in relation to his check. Cutters are deadliest given large spaces to work with, so we want to compress the field; give them less space to work with and we can minimize their effectiveness.

We can use the field information to go one of two ways - shut down your person, or bait a block. Be smart when you’re making this decision. Baiting is inherently risky, but ultimately more rewarding; however, failing to generate a turnover can mean disaster - especially if your check is a designated thrower or playmaker. On the flip-side, if your entire defense can play just 10 seconds of shut-down defense at a time, your certainly going to give yourselves chances for a turnover.

In the end, it comes down to what your D-line’s goals are for the point. Are you denying the reset to the other team’s main distributor? Are you faster than your cutter and looking to bait a throw to them? Up to you.

[ulti101]

Proactive vs. Reactive - Skyd Magazine

This interview appears in Skyd Magazine Vol. 1, Issue 1 – now available on Amazon. Proactive and reactive. “Active” is about all these two have in common. When people discuss...

A fantastic article. This step is what opened up the game for me and made me realize I loved defense.

Take a new player. They just learned what a stack is, and how to cut for a thrower - now put them on defense. They’re still processing what they just learned for offense, so they haven’t had much time to learn anything besides what a force is. So they’re standing on the open side, and understand that they should prevent their person from getting the disc. Simple - stay tight to your check, and stay on the right side. If you don’t have a good idea of where your cutter will go, you have to play a reactionary defense.

The problem with reactive defense: try to play ‘honest’ defense (try to cover both in and out) against someone who is at least your speed, and you will not be able to shut your person down.

This is why ISOs are effective, and why the pro leagues are so offensively focused. With a big open space, it’s a nightmare to cover someone one-on-one.

Now back to our rookie. They’re playing reactive defense, and they just got beat deep 4 points in a row. They’re seeing a pattern. So, they make the choice to take a few steps downfield, to give a little buffer in case their check makes another deep cut. the deep cut comes, and our rookie has an extra second to react. The deep is covered, the cutter turns, and they receive the under.

There’s your first step. Make an educated guess as to what your person wants to do, and position yourself to get an edge over them. Now you’re dictating what your cutter’s options are. YOU are in control on defense.

There’s more to be said on the subject, but I’ll break it into segments.

[ulti101]

Haven't been active lately

It's cold, college coverage is starting back up, and I'm at roughly 3 months of not having played any ultimate. Self-instituted groin PT is going alright, but damn, do I really really want to get back on the field/court.

I go to winter-league indoor roughly 3 to 4 nights a week, just to throw and work out. I get to see all my team mates, and exasperatedly watch from the sideline (usually from a wall-sit or squats) as games unfold. It's hard to do, but it's the closest I can get, and I think I'd go crazy if I shut it out entirely. It's motivating too, in a way. You should have put more touch on that... I could have made that throw, and I will, come April.

I'll try to get back to posting on here as an outlet, as well. Tumblr is blocked at work, but I'll find a way around that.

Get ready for Spring, y'all.

[ulti101]

Before we learn how to cut, we have to learn how to run.

Sorry for the silence lately; getting settled into a new job and other life things (coaching!). College teams tend to bring in rookies who are not only new to ultimate, but new to sports. We have to build a good base when we begin training, and sometimes that means even relearning how to run.

Tim Morrill has some amazing resources available. Look into them. Look into sprinters exercises. Learn how the body mechanics work and the physics behind putting power into the ground and propelling your body forward (or upward).

Also, Mid-Atlantic regionals are this weekend. Will be there with Runtime. I will be happy when I get all my time back from practices and tournaments.

[ulti101]

Welcome Back

Colleges are beginning classes this week.

If you're a returning player and your team is recruiting, do your share -

Always have a disc

Be friendly

Play/advertise pickup/practices

[ulti101]

So the original portal on Brown's club sports page has gotten rid of the original list of Josh Ziperstein's ultimate tips. Luckily, UltimateStrategy has put together a great little site as a new home for this awesome resource.

[elrenzoooo]

[ulti101]

sometimes I draw

[ulti101]

What is wobble? How does it relate to the spin on the disc? And why are some people so much better than others at throwing upwind? I've been asking around

A pretty brainy (but well explained) analysis of flight mechanics on a disc. Important.

And the follow up.

Both of these are important, but what does it mean for you?

We need to put in the reps to make sure our release is consistently smooth. If you're throwing, have someone watch your form for kinks. Taking video of your throws is also a great practice.

We need to practice versatility, because depending on the conditions and circumstances, you may not always have your standard release point available.

Put the two together. Not only do we have smooth release, but we have it for all of our practiced release points.

[ulti101]

Chesapeake Open thoughts - training grounds and failure

This past weekend was rough. Everyone and every team has had to deal with disappointment and heartbreak. We find ways to make it sting less if we can (blaming the conditions, admitting that the other team is simply better), but the hardest realization is that our performance as a team comes down to, realistically, what we as individuals are capable of controlling.

What this means is that we weren't good enough to overcome or compensate for all of the other detracting factors outside of our control.

The last game of Sunday - the D-line goes out at 11-12; we need the stop to bring it to universe, or we're done. The disc is worked up slowly, patiently by the opposing handler core. I'm locking down the breakside wing, who threatens an in cut. As his cut fizzles, I glance back to see the disc on the open sideline, in power-position, and it goes up. My lapse in focus puts me out of position, but I'm only a step behind, making up the ground as the disc comes to sit in front of us. I need to high-bid, I realize, but my legs won't activate. I keep pace as I watch my man catch the point in front of me. Game, 13-11.

I wasn't prepared to make the play when I needed to.

I can blame fatigue, or say that the throw was placed too well for me to intercept, but, same token, I could have compensated in a myriad of other ways to be prepared for that instance.

Condition harder to play through the last game of Sunday

Tighten my mental focus to never get caught out of position

Start working on high-bids, break the mental barrier

Sharpen my play all-around so that we never find ourselves fighting for breaks at the end of the round.

If we fail, it means we aren't prepared for the challenges that we're facing. The only place we can make those improvements is during our training.

It is hard to come to terms with accountability; no one likes admitting faults, but for me, it's what I need in order to move forward.

We've got a month until sectionals.

[ulti101]

Wildwood

In line for the captain's meeting. See y'all there!

[ulti101]

Don't call it a comeback

So as I said - this is a return to (semi) regular posts about anything ultimate-related that I can think of. Why? Because things:

A year out of school I could not find a job, and through a slew of freelance contracts and picking up a part time job, I hadn't had time to think much about ultimate, or anything else besides, "I need a real job". Having to work weekends barred me from a lot of tournament opportunities, and with summer looming, I figured I really needed to turn that around if I wanted to play club.

I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a major motivator to keep looking for new employment, and, finally, I've found a full time position that will give me back my weekends (and fund my playing). After nearly a full year of uncertainty, it is a major relief.

So! I get to play club this summer. I am also entertaining the notion of coaching a college team. My life is going to be full of ultimate. Here is where all that thought and analysis will be channeled.

[ulti101]

Absence

I haven't been posting here for a while now, though I intend to change that for several reasons. I'll get into it later, but just know I will attempt to update here more regularly.

For now I'm going to bed; observing Chesapeake Invite tomorrow!

[ulti101]

Playing Without a Drive to Win

I am a very non-competitive person. Winning games is not a motivator for me, but I still like to compete at the highest level available to me.

It is the case that a lot of players are attracted to ultimate for its very counter-culture approach to sport. Casual pickup, summer leagues, and beer points bring individuals into a world of competition, and a lot of those people have never played competitive sports in their lives, though some even flourish in the new environment.

How do players learn and get better if they don't care about winning? It should be the case that if you win, then that means you're good. To win over your opponent is solid evidence that you are better than them, right?

I find the reverse to be true: excellence produces results. That may be obvious to many, but the wording is what's important.

While many players focus on the results, paying attention to your process, technique, and individual play are your 'controllables'. Winning is not important; it is the natural result of excellence.

So, for those who are obsessed with winning or being better than your fellow player, I suggest a fundamental change in your perspective. Rephrase the way you think about the game.

"I am faster than this girl." becomes, "I will get open on this cut"

It's a small change, but we focus less on our opponent and more on the completion of personal goals. The other team is just an obstacle; a test of our own skill.

I don't care about winning, or being better than everyone else. I care about personal excellence, which really yields the same result.

[ulti101]

Priorities

Work schedule adjusted to attend practice tomorrow morning. I need a job that affords me weekends.

[ulti101]

An Open Letter to Male Ultimate Players, From a Guy

This is an important thing, not only for players of mixed ultimate, but for anyone who wants to be a positive force in growing our amazing sport.