¶ Drill 15: Disc Overload
Skills Focussed:
CATCHING: Two-hand Pancake (2.1)
THROWS: BH Basic (<20) 1.1.1.2, FH Basic (<20) 1.2.1.2
Concepts to know before doing the drill:
- Basic Catching and Throwing Skills
Drill Focus:
- To improve players’ disc processing speed, the ability to catch and quickly release accurate throws under pressure, simulating a fast-paced game environment where defenders struggle to reset.
Set-up:
- Players per group: 3 (or 4 for advanced variations)
- Roles per rep:1 Overload Victim (center), 2 Throwers positioned 4 meters away at a 45° angle to the victim
- Equipment: At least 2 discs per group
- Space: Small area; wall behind throwers is optional (helps with errant throws)
Drill Flow:
- Start: The first thrower initiates with a pass to the overload victim.
- Catch & Release: The overload victim catches the disc and immediately throws it back to the same thrower. At the same moment, the second thrower is already throwing the next disc.
- Continuous Overload: This pattern continues rapidly, with discs arriving alternately from both throwers. The pace is determined by the overload victim’s ability to process discs while maintaining good throwing form.
- Rotation: Each player is overloaded for 50 seconds, then roles rotate. Every player should experience being overloaded twice.
Coaching Points:
- Throwing Pace: Throwers should challenge but not overwhelm the overload victim. The optimal speed is just below the point where the victim starts dropping discs or misthrowing.
- Throwing Accuracy: The overload victim must always throw with spin — no floaty or lazy passes. Overload victim’s throws may be off-target; a wall behind throwers helps reduce disc retrieval time.
- Safety & Focus: All passes from throwers should be at chest height (never at the head).
Progression/Regression:
P: Increased Angle: Widen the angle to 90° or even 180°, forcing the victim to turn their head and react faster.
- Forehand-Only Rule: To train quick flick releases, restrict the overload victim to forehand throws only.
- Three Throwers Variation: Add a third thrower to create an even faster, more chaotic overload (great for experienced players).
- Bad Pass Challenge: Throwers intentionally send low, high, or wide passes to force creative catches and faster reactions.
Source: Page 103 & 104 UTM