Mich's Guide to Ultimate
Part 4
Transition I see it every time I watch newer players
play Ultimate. They are on offense running down the field
and a turnover occurs. It takes a second or two for them
to realize that, "Hey, my team doesn't have the disc
anymore," and by this time their check has run into
the endzone and is wide open for a few seconds.
Ultimate is a very high paced game and turnovers occur
quite frequently. If you see the disc hit the ground,
you should immediately find your check because he is going
to try and roast you like you have never been roasted
before. The instinct to become a defensive player is not
natural. You are going one way, in control of everything,
and then all of the sudden all the control is taken away
from your team and given to your opponents. But there
is something you can do about this. Get the disc back
by playing some incredibly gnarly, layout, in your
face D.
Transition defense may also get some help from the marker.
As I mentioned in Part I, your
team should have picked a direction to force the disc
in the event that you would wind up on defense. If the
person who is, or will be marking the disc, sees someone
wide open down field, he should put on what is called
a "Straight Up Force" for a few stall counts
in order for that open person's check to catch up to him.
By playing a straight up force, the marker is trying to
prevent the thrower from hucking the disc a long distance.
The marker should try to get back to the original force
direction before too long or he will get broken (see hold
the force), thus giving all the advantage back to
the offense.
More experienced players: You should be reading the play
as it moves down field and if you see a potential turnover
situation you should be preparing yourself to play defense
before the disc even comes close to hitting the ground.
This way you will be prepared to shut down the huck if
someone on your team gets roasted by quick transition.
This does not mean "don't have faith in your teammates".
You may be suprised how your team can come out of an adverse
situation. As an experienced player you should have two
or three strategies planned out for many different eventualities.
If the pass is caught by a teammate you may find yourself
wide open because your defender thought there would be
a turnover.
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