Skills Focussed:
- MARKING THROWER: Strategic marking skills (4.1.6)
Concepts to know before doing the drill:
- Break side & open side (force)
- Upline
- Basic rules of ultimate
Drill Focus:
- To teach the marker to listen to instructions from sideline for upfield game awareness
- - No around: If a runner is about to come open for an around break pass, coach will shout “no around”. This means marker should shift a bit to put extra pressure on the around throw, keeping your hand on that side high.
- No Inside: If there’s no one even close for an around pass, coach can yell “no inside”. This time marker shift a bit to block inside break throws, keeping your hand on that side low.
- No Huck: It may also happen that a runner is about to get open for a deep pass. In this case coach calls out “no deep” or “no huck”. It means the marker should prevent any deep throw. To do so, marker set up a straight mark two meters in front of the thrower. This makes it very hard to huck a disc past.
- Strike: This means that a runner is about to get dangerously open on the open side. Marker needs to shift the mark to the other side, blocking the open side for a single second, after which mark switch back to a normal mark again.
Set-up:
- Players form pairs: one handler (with disc) and one marker.
- A trainer/coach to make call srom the side.
Drill-Flow:
- The handler only fakes throws (no real throws).
- The marker sets a force to one side and listens for commands.
- The coach (trainer) stands centrally and gives loud, clear calls: “No inside!” “No around!” “No huck!” “Strike!”
- The marker must instantly adjust based on the call.
- Marking continues for 30–40 seconds.
- Players then switch roles.
- Repeat 3–4 rounds.
Coaching Points:
- The trainer should move around and give commands loudly and randomly and provide quick feedback in between calls (e.g., “lower your stance”, “quicker shift on strike”).
- Encourage markers to stay low, active on toes, and react immediately.
- Optional: Add calls like “foul” or “pick” to simulate real game stoppages. During these, markers can reset.
Progression/Regression:
- Real Game Application: Play a scrimmage where sideline players must actively coach the marker.
- Assigned Coaches: Pair each defender with a teammate who coaches them consistently during drills and games.
- Straight Force Coaching: Practice with a straight force setup using commands like “left”, “right”, and “no huck” to train reaction timing.
Source: page 134 UTM