¶ Drill 28: Horizontal Stack (with switching and handler rotation)
Skills Focussed:
Other skills for which it can be used:
- CUTTING: In-cut (3.1), Deep-cut (3.2), Clearing Space (3.6), Timing (3.3), Handler cut (3.9)
- MARKING: Marking Thrower (4.1), Marking non-thrower (4.2)
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
- If switching is incorporated into defense, then basics of switching.
Drill Focus:
- For offense: Introduce resting zone, a place where cutters can stand still. Cutting and Running pattern in horizontal stack.
- For defense: Incorporating switch defense when needed
Set-up:
- Cutters line up horizontally across the field: 2 in the middle (active) and 2 near the sidelines (resting).
- Handlers set up behind the cutting line in
- Add defenders after few repetitions when the offense has understood the cutting pattern in horizontal stack
Drill-Flow:
- Middle cutters alternate cuts (deep and in) to maintain constant threats.
- Sideline cutters rest, maintain spacing, and watch for opportunities to enter. Usual entry point is after the middle cutters have made roughly two cuts and are running at less than 100% intensity. This means they should go to the sideline. While doing so, they should shout “Go!” to the cutters that are resting there. Then it’s their turn to run.
- If a cutter catches and cannot dump quickly, they transition into a handler while another handler (the farthest from the disc) becomes a cutter.
- For few beginning reps, don't allow deep passes.
- When defenders are added: Plays tight person defense with the option to switch when advantageous.
Coaching points:
- For Cutters: Always run cuts at 100% intensity; rest only in the sideline zone. Clear quickly after cuts and avoid clogging. There should always be one person on each sideline. If there is a sideline without a player resting there, it means the field is overcrowded. A cutter that sees this should fill up the sideline spot immediately. Recognize opportunities to attack space from the sideline when your defender is distracted.
- For Handlers: Maintain spacing and swing the disc to reset the stall count. Adjust positioning dynamically when cutters rotate into the handler line.
- For Defense: Apply switches only when it clearly strengthens the coverage. Stay aware of sideline cutters trying to re-enter and poach smartly without losing track of assignments.
Progression:
- Start without defenders, handler-cutter shifting, and deep-passes.
- Once the cutting pattern is learnt, introduce handler-cutter shifting and incidental deep-passes.
- Add defenders in the last stage when cutting pattern is established.
- Play the drill at low speed first to understand positioning, then increase to full game intensity.
- Run a scrimmage using only horizontal stack principles, freezing play occasionally to analyze decisions.
Source: Page 28, 132 & 133 Ultimate Trainers Manual