Practice 9/16/04


Tonight we worked on the straight up defense. Last week we learned the straight up mark. This evening we practiced skills involved in the down field aspect of the straight. The basic concept of the straight up defense is this: The marker prevents the thrower from throwing good huck. Any huck that is thrown against the straight up mark must be blady or floaty. While the marker is doing this, the down field defenders are taking away receivers in cut. The straight up defense is a team defense, which means each player either down field or marking must do his job for the defense to be successful.

Specifically we worked on three skills this evening: fronting, setting the mark, and defending hucks. When you are down field you want to front you player, taking away the in cut to the wide side of the field with your body positioning. By doing this you are allowing two possibilities. One, the player you are defender may make a horizontal cut to the strong side of the field. If he does this the sideline will make this throw hard. If the pass is completed, it will be for a minimal gain, and you must set the mark. Quickly setting the mark after your man catches a horizontal is critical to stopping a huck. Take the right pursuit angle, seal off the up the line throw, and then close into the man you are marking. Two, the man you are defending my cut deep, assume he is cutting in, until you hear an up call, then it's time to sprint, find the disc, and defend it. The pass will either be uncatchable because it is blading, or it will be floating so you will have time to catch up to it.

One important thing that we have not talked about is what do near the endzone. Near the endzone the straight up mark is ineffective. Within 15 yards of the endzone, you should switch to a force middle defense, in which you are still fronting. More on this in future practices.

Posted: Thu - September 16, 2004 at 10:45 PM          

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