Session D1

This session will teach the skills of passing to teammates who are in motion, and how to call for a stoppage in a self-refereed game

Preparation: Use cones to set up one field for every ten participants (25m wide, 35-40m long goal-to-goal, plus 12-15m long endzones). These fields can also be used as playing areas for activities.

Introduction

• Set the expectations for the session – area and equipment used, and what skills will be taught
• Outline any safety considerations for the session

Warm-Up

Skill – One Hand Rim Catch & Step Into Catch

• Explain and demonstrate the one hand rim catch
  • Above the chest – thumb should be underneath the disc and fingers above
  • Below the waist – thumb should be above the disc, and fingers underneath
  • Watch the edge of the disc they are going to grab
  • Take the disc out of the air, rather than waiting for it to meet your hand
• Explain and demonstrate stepping into a catch
  • Extend arms out in front to either clap catch or rim catch
  • Step forward as you meet the disc
  • Take the disc out of the air, rather than waiting for it to meet your hands

Use the Attack Drill to practice this skill in groups of 5-6.

Activity – Throw To A Moving Target

Passes should be made to players who are moving rather than stationary, otherwise defenders can easily intercept the disc.

A disc stays in the air for longer than a ball, so players should try to “float” the disc out in front of where their team mate is running to, rather than try and throw directly to them.

To practice this, use the “Archery” drill.

• Divide into two groups who will compete against each other.
• For each group, set up three concentric squares, with the outside square being 5-6m wide, the middle square 3-4m, and the inner square 1-2m
• Have two lines of players – one in front of the squares about 5m away from the outer edge (throwers) and one at an angle on the opposite side of the squares (cutters)
• The cutter should run towards the inner square in a straight line, and the thrower attempts to “float” a throw that will meet them in middle.
• A catch in the inner square is 3 points, in the middle square is 2 points and the outer is 1 point. A drop or miss is 0 points.
• Players join the opposite line after the rep – thrower goes to the cutter line, cutter joins the thrower line.
• Go until every player has thrown twice and total up the scores.

Extra Skill (for longer sessions) – Deceleration and Changing Direction

Ultimate is played on a narrower field than other sports, so sharp changes of direction are important to find space.

To do this, ultimate players practice a movement called “chop stops” to slow down quickly and be ready to take off in another direction.

Set up two lines 15m apart. Have the players jog at 50% from one line to the other. Once they reach the line, tell them to sink their hips and take as many little steps as possible to slow down their speed to a stop. Though it’s usually not necessary to use more than 3-4 steps to come to a complete stop, everyone should exaggerate the number of steps and the drop of their hips so that it’s more natural at faster speeds.

Keep an eye on players to make sure their knees are staying lined up over their toes as they drop their hips. They are risking injury if their knees buckle inwards.

Increase the speed slightly each new rep as they become more comfortable with the action.

Extra Activity (for longer sessions) – Out-In Drill

• Set up two lines facing each other about 15-20m apart. The front 4-5 players should have a disc each. One player at the front of one line starts without a disc as the “cutter”
• The cutter from one line runs away from the opposite group for 5m, performs a “chop stop”, then turns and runs back towards the opposite group).
• The front of the opposite group throws a pass out into space for the cutter to run on to and catch.
• The thrower then becomes the next cutter and mirrors the action going the other way for a pass from the opposite line.
• Players join the back of the line they are running towards.
• Repeat until a set time or set number of catches

Activity – Self-Refereeing: Pausing and Restarting Play

In a self-refereed sport, all players should get comfortable pausing play if they think there has been a foul or other breach of the rules. Players should also learn to stop whenever someone on either team calls for a pause so a conversation about the breach can happen.

The action for pausing play is to wave both arms above your head. If a player sees someone else do that, they should repeat it until everyone is aware that play has paused.

To restart play after a pause, the closest defender to the disc checks both teams are ready, gives a loud “3-2-1” countdown and taps the disc. If a defender isn’t within reach of the disc, the thrower taps the disc to the ground instead.

To practice this, play a game called “The Mole”

The Mole is Keep Away but with the following variations

• The coach/teacher secretly gives someone on each team the job of “The Mole” for their team. The Mole has to try and make sure their team loses the game without being obvious about it. They can try and be “bad” at the game, or try to cheat (eg: taking too many steps with the disc)
• If someone wants to accuse a teammate of being The Mole, they have to pause the play (waving arms above their head).

• Once the game is paused, they can discuss with others first before making an accusation.
• If they are incorrect, then play restarts via a disc tap
• If they are correct, start a new round and pick a new Mole

Strat Chat

How can we use the skills we just practiced in a game?

• Trying to catch on the run so defenders can’t intercept
• Use chop stops to change direction and run into open space
• Throw to cutters who are moving
• Pause play if we think there has been a breach of the rules, even an accidental one

Play Ultimate!

• Keep teams small – no more than five per side on the field
• Don’t explain tactics, just get everyone moving!
• Make an effort to ensure everyone is involved
• Use the CHANGE IT sheet to make adjustments if needed

Finish up

• Ask participants to return all cones and discs
• Thank them for playing!
• Tell them about the Ultimate Victoria website to find out more about the sport