¶ Drill 25: Endzone Set Play
Skills Focussed:
CUTTING: Handler cut (3.12), Making space for other cuts (clearing) (3.8), Dump Cut (3.7)
OFFENSE: Setplay (5.5)
Other Skills for which it can be used:
MARKING (THROWERS): Force (4.1.2), Pressure Thrower (4.1.3), Call 'up' (4.1.4), Footblocks (4.1.5), Strategic Marking skills (4.1.6)
MARKING (NON-THROWER): Person to Person for Handlers (4.2.1.1), Person to Person for Cutters (4.2.2.1), Switching (4.2.3)
Concepts to know before doing the drill:
- Basic Rules of Ultimate
- Basic Throwing with pivot and Catching
- Open and break side
- Different positions in offense
- Maintaining force
- Basic marking for thrower and non-thrower
Drill Focus:
- Navigating the near end-zone area
- To integrate endzone positioning, transition setup, and scoring flow into a single game-like drill that trains players to quickly organize, create isolation, and execute high-percentage scoring options under pressure.
Set-up:
- 14 players (two full lines of 7).
- Field marked with endzone and a starting cone 10 meters outside it.
Drill Flow:
Phase 1 – Transition & Setup: Begin with team A moving the disc casually outside the endzone while team B shadows.
On a coach’s call (""Turn!"") or forced drop, team B gains possession, calls ""Turn!"" and then ""Endzone!"" to trigger immediate role-filling:
First 3 players → sprint to back line to clear defenders.
Fourth player → establishes as front cutter.
Remaining 3 → handlers organize outside.
Phase 2- Passing: Option 1: Direct throw into the endzone to the front cutter.
If denied → dump on the open side to reset and get an upfield pass into the endzone.
If still denied → swing disc back to middle to attack from the closed side.
If closed-side pass is blocked → use inside pass as final scoring option.
If all options fail → recycle and repeat flow.
Coaching Points:
Quick organization: Players must fill endzone roles instantly during transition.
Spacing discipline: Back-endzone players stay deep to remove defenders from the play.
Front cutter timing: Use long cuts and jab steps to gain separation.
Handler decision-making: Dump early if stuck, swing to create new angles, and avoid forcing risky throws.
Defensive variation: Defenders alternate between tight coverage and poaching to challenge reads.