Skills Focussed:
Other skills for which it can be used:
- CUTTING: In-cut (3.1), Deep-cut (3.2), Timing of Cut (3.3), Clearing (3.6)
Concepts to know before doing the drill:
- Basic catching and throwing
- Basic cutting
- Basic marking (thrower & non-thrower)
- Rules of Ultimate
- Field-sense
- Different positions in an offense
Drill Focus:
- Train offensive coordination between two cutters to create space and avoid crowding.
- Improve defensive awareness, including proper man defense and switching when advantageous.
- Encourage players to develop field sense and communication during dynamic situations.
Set-up:
- Players: 6–8 (two cutters, two defenders, one thrower, one marker; extras rotate).
- Field space: 25–30 meters in length.
- Offensive players (cutters) may set up in any formation they prefer.
- Defenders start matched to a specific cutter.
Drill-Flow:
- The two offensive players coordinate to create complementary cuts (e.g., one deep, one under).
- The defenders play tight man defense but initially no switches are allowed.
- After a few reps, allow the defenders to apply switching when appropriate:
- Defenders reposition to keep both runners in sight.
- They make eye contact or call out “Switch!” before exchanging marks.
- Offense’s goal: get open and receive an upfield pass.
- Defense’s goal: deny throws and apply effective switches when possible.
- After each attempt, players jog back and rotate roles
Coaching Points:
- For Offense: Communicate and stagger your cuts to avoid clogging.
Use timing—if one cut fails, clear quickly to give your teammate space.
When defenders switch, recognize mismatches and exploit them.
- For Defense:Maintain person defense fundamentals first; only switch when it’s advantageous.
- When switching: One defender stays in front of all in-cuts. The other stays behind for deep threats. Along with keeping an eye on the cutter, eyes should be kept on other defenders as well so as to create field sense.
- You can experiment with how close two runners have to be before a switch is possible. If two runners run past each other with twenty meters in-between, a switch won’t be possible. If it’s two meters, a switch will be possible. Where’s the break-even point? What does it depend on? Discuss it with your team.
- Take advantage of stoppages to regain field-sense as both offense and defense.
Progression/Regression:
- Silent Switches – Forbid verbal calls, requiring defenders to use only eye contact and gestures.
- Variable Offense Strategies – Ask cutters to try different patterns (both deep, both under with one on open side and one on closed side, crossing cuts).
- Marker Force Variations – Add a marker forcing straight
Source: Pages 125, 126, 127 UTM