Position 6 is the last line of defense. down then initiates the mark (0, 1, and 2 are Teams should also fake transitions oc-
Besides long passes, the defender needs to interchangeable on a live clam). casionally. The sidelines should count the
watch for passes over or around 3 and 4. passes, as usual, and scream to transition
She needs a high degree of certainty that nOnTRadiTiOnaL STaCKS at the designated number; the defenders
she’ll get the block because a missed effort Occasionally an offense places a fourth then flare to cover offenders briefly before
leaves the deep area unprotected, lead- handler close to the disc on the break- returning to their zone positions. To add
ing to an easy goal. Also, 6 has the whole side. Often, the best solution is to simply another layer of complexity, the defense
field in front of her and is often the only ignore the player because coverage is 7 might then transition for real on a set
defender facing the thrower, so she can let on 6 on the remaining players and it’s a number of passes after the fake. As is true
her teammates know about coming passes tough break-mark pass, anyway. Position 4 for all junk defenses, the hope is to garner
or cutters and remind the team of the tran- should probably not come in to cover be- turnovers from the confusion.
sition—including calling off the clam (“We’re cause that just opens up too much space. Straight one-on-one defense and zone
out!”) if need be. Ideally, everyone on the If instead the offense moves one of the defense might be the primary defensive
field should be aware of the pass count, but handlers there and doesn’t move someone schemes that most teams rely on, but junk
it’s not always possible to see every pass, else up in the stack, it might be better for defenses are frequently needed to confuse
and sometimes players get so caught up in one of the front three to go out and cover opposing offenses and break their rhythm.
playing defense that they forget. him. If both handlers line up even with Hybrid defenses such as the clam combine
the disc or if the downfield receivers line elements of both one-on-one and zone
SETTinG iT UP up in a spread offense instead of a center defenses to shut down conventional cuts
On the line before the pull, players call stack, it’s probably better to transition im- from the stack. Transition defenses attempt
out their positions in order, starting with 0. mediately to one on one, as the current to slow down the offense and gather some
Generally, one of the back players should incarnation of the clam is not optimized blocks when the offense fails to recognize
pull, as 0, 1, and 2 need to sprint down to for these stacks. the defense. An offense stymied by well-
set up. Some teams will call off the clam For the most part, the clam is a played hybrid defenses is always guessing
if the pull can be played immediately supplemental defense, not a primary one. and never gets a chance to settle in.
(without a check), so the defense needs It can be deployed as a surprise weapon
to be aware of whom they’re lined up after a few points of straight one on one.
across from. It’s good practice to line up It’s important to get inside the offense’s
normally to avoid tipping off the defense. head, making receivers reluctant to cut
Positions 0, 1, and 2 should line up across and throwers hesitant to throw because
from the likely handlers, while 6 should they’re leery of poaches. You have
line up across from a deep. If the pull is achieved success when you’re playing
out of bounds, and offensive players are your regular one on one, and the offense
moving around as the disc is being walked thinks it’s a clam.
in, defenders can move with them until
the disc is about to be put into play, or can FaKE dEFEnSES
openly say “Switch” to teammates near Another tool that defenses should have
where the offenders are moving to give the available is the ability to appear to set up
impression that the defense is one-on-one. in one defense but go immediately into
(Teams generally learn ways to get better another. A “zone for zero” (zero passes)
and better at hiding the clam.) As the disc would set up in a zone only long enough
is being put in, 3 and 4 need to separate for the opponent to recognize it and fall
themselves from the stack just enough to into a zone offense—then the defense
be able to read cuts from the stack. Position would transition to a one-on-one imme-
From Ultimate techniques & tactics
5 can delay a couple seconds if she wants diately before the tap-in. This generally is
by James Parinella, eric Zaslow .
because it’s unlikely she’ll be involved in the more effective on out-of-bounds pulls or
Copyright © 2004 by Human
play right away. If the clam is being played other walkup situations. Similarly, with a
Kinetics Publishers, Inc. Excerpted
on a “live” pull (no check), then 0, 1, and 2 fake clam (commonly called an “oyster”),
by permission of Human Kinetics,
should sprint down and try to disrupt the the players need to appear to set up, call-
Champaign, IL. Available to order from
first pass. This usually means that the first ing out positions as the disc is about to be
Human Kinetics Canada at
one down runs between the pull catcher checked in, and 3 and 4 can flare out from
www.HumanKinetics.com or by
and the first receiver. The second one the stack.
calling 1-800-465-7301.
8 Ultimate Canada Magazine — www.canadianultimate.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56