Ramping up to the first US Ultimate tournament
Lessons these days:
- When handling
- Use 10 seconds like this (assuming team is playing Vertical Stack):
- First 3-4 seconds: look up field, communicate with the disc for teammates to clear.
- From 3rd to 9th second: Activate the off-handler by pivoting to face them, stick with them until the 9th second (don’t look up field again).
- The moment marker says “nine”: Look up field, make a flat and hopeful huck to the space.
- => This is a very pro-flowing strategy. Good for windy days. Low turn-over rate. Longer possesion. Higher chance of scoring of course.
- After passing? Almost as a give-and-go, make an immediate strike. If being faked, either clear or dumb.
- How to throw? 99% being forced flick. I throw OK. Just fake with my shoulder to shake the defender a bit. Then step out horizontally and throw a flat disc to the open space.
- What are the usual faults the defender usually commit here?
- Use 10 seconds like this (assuming team is playing Vertical Stack):
- When cutting
- Choosing the right opponent player matters. Observe those who is at the same level to match with them.
- When game is slow, observe the stack, run a setup to create space, and sprint.
- When the game is fast, look for the best-gain space (usually up-line) to run into. But be careful not to double cut.
- If being given the disc, catch with GRE-level focus. Then calm down and handle.
- Commit with the disc!!!
- When defending a cutter
- Always stay on the force side (which is difficult) by (1) shuffling on toes and (2) position almost parallely to the strike direction.
- Use the whole body to stop the cutter is not always a good idea because my hip is then turned.
- Prevent a deep/strike rather than an in-cut.
- For floaty (deep) throws, do math on the landing point that is appropriate to my height.
- Always stay on the force side (which is difficult) by (1) shuffling on toes and (2) position almost parallely to the strike direction.
- When marking: Use FUC’s trick: shuffle in front of the active shoulder, expand arms instead of swinging.
Excited to play the first US tournament of this wholesome team sport this weekend. Hope I will be ready to enjoy and learn from it. My invididual goal: help gaining at least 1 yard or contributing to at least one turn-over of the opponent in at least 3 matches.