Uphill Scrimmage

Skill Level:	Intermediate to advanced
14 or more players
Full Ultimate field

Skills Taught:

Playing with and against a defensive side force

Background:

This controlled scrimmage illustrates the key strategies of the sideline force, both on O and D.By using this format, your team will learn what makes a force successful and what it takes to beat it. Note that it is not necessary to explain these factors prior to the scrimmage. You may want to consider a discussion of 'lessons learned' after you're done.

Rules:

1. Set up a standard Ultimate field with an additional line (painted, if possible) as shown in the figure. The area between the extra line and the sideline is known as the hilltop.
2. Scrimmage using all standard Ultimate rules, with the following exceptions: -any pass completed to a player on the hilltop is worth one point (and the offensive player should feel free to cry out with glee)
3. Each team keeps a running total of points for hilltop passes until a goal is scored. The goal-scoring team is then awarded 5 points for the goal, plus all of its accumulated hilltop points. The other team gets no points, and both teams reset hilltop points to zero.
4. Games are played to 25 points.

Suggestions:

Although you don't need to make this explicit, both teams should employ a defensive force away from the hilltop.

It is legal to score points immediately after catching the pull. Do so until the opposing puller makes an adjustment.

This drill can be used for zone practice if you run a trap with a strong side force.

If one team does not even try to complete hilltop passes, adjust your scoring system to de-emphasize goals.

Takeaway Pointers:

When playing against a side force, many teams find it helpful to pretend that they are playing on a sloped field. Uphill is against the mark, and the hilltop is the best lace to be since it allows for easy (downhill) throws. Anytime a thrower is unmarked (or the mark is weak), he/she should try to complete an uphill pass in order to place the disc in a better offensive position. Weaker throwers usually complete only downhill throws. That's OK as long as someone eventually get the disc back uphill.

Defenses should do everything they can to encourage downhill passes; force in the direction of the wind (to make the break throw difficult), overplay the mark, and allow short passes to the open side. The defense is in the strongest position once the offense is pinned against the force sideline.

To run a successful side force, each player on the defensive side of the disc must:

1. Stop the disc; every time the disc moves, the defense must adjust to cut off new angles.
2. Hold the mark; this is especially difficult immediately after a catch (see 1), but it also becomes crucial at high stall when clogging reduces the available number of open-side offensive options
3. Trust his/her team mates; a defense is designed to work if the team plays together, with each player shutting off a limited number of options.

To be successful against a side force, an offense must:

1. Keep open space for cuts (and throws) on both sides of the stack
2. Time break-make cuts to give your throwers an easy option immediately after the catch occasionally break the mark at a high stall count, just to keep the D honest.