Dear BoC,
It's easy to whip out hammers and make up line cross field cuts into end zones when you're dominating a low level team. But when facing teams that are at par with our skills and physical endurance, playing smart and being efficient is the only way to differentiate a good team from a winning one.
Last Monday loss was a clear example of what we are still lacking in executing basic defense and offense, but mostly defense. For those will be in town this Monday Eric and I will be going through a few drills on the fundamentals of Ultimate. I hope the drill we did after last Monday's game has helped us understand more about the following:
THREE GOLDEN RULES OF DEFENSE Don't get broken. WHY?Your team-mates are relying on you as the mark, to hold the force. When you are letting easy passes through, your team-mates are caught on the wrong side of their mark. Consequently free passes on the broken side and into the end zone. If you do get broken yell "BROKEN" so that your team-mates can adjust to continue to contain the disc and hold the force.
Don't get beat force side. WHY? Whoever is marking the disc is relying on their team-mates to get the D on the force side. Holding a force can only work if the running offense is contained as well. If you are on the correct side of the offense, it should be hard for them to get the disc. ALWAYS STAY BETWEEN THE DISC AND YOUR MARK.
Don't get beat up line. WHY? From our drill Monday night, we recognized how easy it has been for the offense to beat us on the up line. We also tend to bid too far and end up on the wrong side of the force. Needless to say, we have to learn to contain the cuts, and help out our team-mates with "no up lines, and dumps" calls. QUADRANT DEFENSE WORKS! If you have to, let them dump, and make sure you're right on the mark (on the correct side of course) to prevent the swing.
I think most of us have a feel for how the game is suppose to look on paper when we draw our lil x's and o's. But when it comes down to playing it on the field, we become lost in the chaos.
Please let me know if you are out of town this weekend. Eric & I will try to hold the fort and recruit a few subs so we can play Monday.
Thanks!
~B
3 comments:
who cant make monday?
Eric
Hey BoC, hope the season's going well. I hear my fellow MONSTER player's team spanked you guys this past monday!
Even though I'm not on this team I thought I'd mention a few things that I've found useful as I've been working hard on my own coverage this season. Also BoC holds a spot in my heart and I'd love to contribute any way I can.
1. Check your ego. This means, if you think you can poach the ins or outs 10yds, fine. If you get punished for doing so even once, PLAY HONEST.
2. If you are defending an in-cut that you recognize is the primary threat, don't chase your man, race him to the disc.
3. On that note, contest every throw. If your man gets the disc, it's a slap in the face to you and it means you need to step it up. Take it personally, and use that emotion.
4. If you are defending an obvious dump, be aware of the stallcount and the handler. Remember that dumps are throws too, so if your man gets the dump it's still #3.
5. Spread out your sidelines and have constant (but focused) talking. Everyone should at LEAST be calling ups. With the disc trapped, close/no break calls add significantly to your team's D.
6. In quadrant D, the ultimate goal is to maintain position and ensure that you don't give your man your back; the minute your shoulders turn away, you're blindsided and he's got the cut.
7. My personal favourite: off the pull, be the first one down there. In fact, be so fast that by the time the pull lands you're standing over the disc counting. This will shake up just about ANYONE, and often results in panicked throws and stifled cuts. It may even lead to a handblock-to-so-damn-close-to-layout-callahan.
Alright, so that's all I've got. Hope somebody reading finds something of use in there. Good luck with the rest of the season BoC! See you in the finals =)
Thanks Shawn!!
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