oFFEnSE TIPS
Cutting for green
you still may not be able to outrun your opponent
in a dead sprint, you will be in position for the
next step.
Three steps to set you free
2. CHOP YOUR FEET. You are now running
BY TIINA BOOTH & MICHAEL BACCARINI low at close to maximum speed, but you want
to change direction to find some open space,
THROWING IS AN important part of Ultimate, but some teams become too focused
and, perhaps, the disc. You do not want to slow
on making good throws and spend too little energy developing the skills necessary
down, stand upright, and then go in another
to secure those throws. No team wants to be one of those whose main thrower often
direction. If you do, your defender will be in
yells, “No one is open!” because a turnover is usually the result. Remember, the goal
your back pocket. What you want to do is slow
down slightly, stay low, and chop your feet, in
of the individual offensive player is to reduce turnovers, and learning appropriate
preparation for moving in a direction that will
cutting techniques is an essential part of the overall plan. surprise your opponent. Put your weight on the
balls of your feet and move them as quickly as
CUTTING TECHNIQUES possible, as if you are stamping out a small fire.
Cutting effectively means that you identify As you are doing this, mentally prepare for the
yourself as an open receiver at the right time direction in which you are going to move. You
and in the right place. So how do you get open may be chopping your feet directly in front
on your defender? You can be an outstanding of your defender and then plan to burst past
thrower, but if you can’t get open, you will not him, to either the right or the left. You may be
be part of your team’s offense. In fact, if you going short or long, and then change direction
are not cutting effectively, you will probably completely to get your defender to overcommit
stymie your team’s offense. Most novice players as you run past him.
merely try to outrun their defenders, and this
tactic may work for a while. But what do you do 3. ExPLODE! In the last stage you explode in the
when you are being covered by someone who is direction that you want to go. You are low, you
clearly faster than you are? If you can’t beat your have chopped your feet, and you are sprinting as
defender to the disc in an all-out sprint, you can hard as you can to open space. If you have done
still get open. Regardless of what type of offense this correctly, you will have left your defender
you are playing, you need to remember three in the dust. No one on the other team knows
things when starting, making, and completing a
strong cut.
FIGURE 4.7
Getting open by running
toward your defender and
then sprinting away.
1. GET LOW. Sprinters do not
stand upright at the starting
line when they are getting
ready to run the 100. They
settle into the blocks and
get low. The same is true for
Ultimate players who want
to sprint to the best of their
ability. If you get your legs
under you and drop your butt,
you will be able to launch
yourself almost immediately
into a full-on sprint. Although
www.canadianultimate.com — Ultimate Canada Magazine 5
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