Basic Concepts to Help You Grow as an Ultimate Player
Here are 5 tips to keep in mind as you learn how to play Ultimate.
These ideas will help you succeed as an Ultimate player even if you aren’t a great thrower, fast runner or have years experience. Follow this advice and you’ll be better in no time. (This can also serve as a reminder for experienced players).
Offense
1. Value the Disc
The best part about being on offense is that you don’t have to be playing defense. As long as you maintain possession the other team can’t score. When deciding what throw to make think about what the odds are that your pass will either be complete or a turnover. If you’re going to take a risky chance you’d better be ready to play defense.
2. Play Within Yourself
Know your limits. If you can’t make the big huck in the wind or you’re not sure about busting out your hammer…then don’t(not yet). Stick to what you know will allow you to succeed and as you add to your skill set you can do more and more(I spent the majority of my first year playing throwing less than 15 yards and usually throwing backwards).
3. See the Space
When you are cutting on offense be aware of where the open space is on the field. Generally, the best place to cut into is on the force or open side 10-20 yards immediately in front of the thrower or in to the space deep, behind the defense. It’s difficult to get open when you start in this space, so make sure to set yourself up so you can move into the open space.
4. Clear Out!
Remember that whole thing about open space. Yeah, well, your teammates need it too. So, when you’re cutting you can’t be hanging around in the open space that your teammates need to get open. If you stay there you’re allowing your defender to clog up the most valuable real estate on the field. Clear out fast, deep and to the break side(opposite of the force or open side).
5. Make Eye Contact
If you don’t have any open throws up field then you need to find a dump(a short, easy pass). Find a teammate, generally a Handler, and make eye contact with them. This makes it easier for you to know where they’re cutting and to make a simple pass to them. If you look away you risk missing their open cut and wasting more stall counts trying to find another cutter.
Ultimate Terminology Glossary:
Force Side or Open Side: The side of the field the defense is encouraging the offense to throw to.
Break Side: The side of the field the defense is trying to stop you from throwing to.
Cutter: Up field offensive player looking to catch and complete passes that gain yards.
Handler: Offensive players that stay horizontal to the thrower.
Dump: Short, easy pass to a handler.
