I've had a number of people ask me why I signed the petition.
It's a pretty simple thing in my mind. Women are humans. Men are humans. Humans should have the same opportunities regardless of random chance during conception. Currently not all humans have the same opportunities so I support pushing for them to be equal, and I don't just trust that it's 'moving in the right direction'.
Equity of gender/race/any other arbitrary distinction you want to come up with shouldn't be a process, it should be a flip of the switch. Unfortunately I know this isn't reality, but it should be.
The fact that the AUDL does not simply flip the switch to a mixed league or gender equitable format of some kind is obnoxious and the fact they won't even commit to working towards it is abhorrent to me.
Friday, December 15, 2017
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Demanding the best
Despair
A truly terrifying emotion
Conceivably a consequence
Of complete and utter dedication
To a goal with no recompense.
ARC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demanding the best
For me this has seemingly always been part of my mentality. From the first time I picked up a basketball in 1st grade, I have always held myself to the highest standards I could. I've always known that I'm not good enough to achieve what I want. Don't get me wrong, there have been moments when I've fallen off that wagon, as there are with every human being, but I always had someone to kick me in the ass and rattle my head around a bit to get me back to the place I need to be. For most of my life, it was my step-dad, who was a great athlete in his day. In college, it was Bruns telling me I was fat and bad at frisbee. It occurs to me that this isn't true for everyone. Complacency is the norm and my mentality is the exception and people don't always have those people to nudge them back in the right direction.
So how, as a coach or leader, get your players to demand the best of themselves?
Most of the time, you can't just yell at them to do better. See Jevons. I've yelled at him a hundred times for jogging on the field, but it still happens all the time. I think the demand for one's best has to come from someone within their circle of trust, someone they believe is in the arena with them, taking hits and protecting their back - see Daring Greatly for an in depth explanation of what I mean here. I want to get to a point where I am that person for my players like Bruns was for me. It doesn't seem like I'm there yet with most of the players on NUT.
The answer for me then is simply to become Bruns - everyone loves him. No, but seriously the answer is to have your players believe you are in this with them so they trust the things you ask of them are important I guess. More work to do here.
Why is demanding the best something to strive for?
Year after year, NUT leadership has said they want NUT to reach the next level of competition. To do this, we have to get better at playing frisbee. If you don't demand the best from yourself and those that follow you, you fall into a place of complacency. From 2012 to 2014, our regionals finishes went from 10th to 5th to 3rd (after losing in the 1st and 2nd place games). From 2015 to 2017, our regionals finishes have all been 5th (aka losing in quarterfinals).
Perhaps there is more than just correlation here. 2012-2014 correspond to Ben's leadership years on NUT. Ben didn't accept losing as a legitimate option. And though he may not have held himself to the same standard, he held NUT to this standard of not losing. There hasn't been the same demand for the best from each and every player since he left. There has been more of an acceptance of failure and losing. Some times this acceptance is by choice - leadership choosing to prioritize development in the fall and winter over winning games has created an environment in which NUT players are used to losing games. Other times this acceptance is by ignorance or apathy - no one holding players accountable for jogging in drills, perhaps not even noticing.
ARC
A truly terrifying emotion
Conceivably a consequence
Of complete and utter dedication
To a goal with no recompense.
ARC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demanding the best
For me this has seemingly always been part of my mentality. From the first time I picked up a basketball in 1st grade, I have always held myself to the highest standards I could. I've always known that I'm not good enough to achieve what I want. Don't get me wrong, there have been moments when I've fallen off that wagon, as there are with every human being, but I always had someone to kick me in the ass and rattle my head around a bit to get me back to the place I need to be. For most of my life, it was my step-dad, who was a great athlete in his day. In college, it was Bruns telling me I was fat and bad at frisbee. It occurs to me that this isn't true for everyone. Complacency is the norm and my mentality is the exception and people don't always have those people to nudge them back in the right direction.
So how, as a coach or leader, get your players to demand the best of themselves?
Most of the time, you can't just yell at them to do better. See Jevons. I've yelled at him a hundred times for jogging on the field, but it still happens all the time. I think the demand for one's best has to come from someone within their circle of trust, someone they believe is in the arena with them, taking hits and protecting their back - see Daring Greatly for an in depth explanation of what I mean here. I want to get to a point where I am that person for my players like Bruns was for me. It doesn't seem like I'm there yet with most of the players on NUT.
The answer for me then is simply to become Bruns - everyone loves him. No, but seriously the answer is to have your players believe you are in this with them so they trust the things you ask of them are important I guess. More work to do here.
Why is demanding the best something to strive for?
Year after year, NUT leadership has said they want NUT to reach the next level of competition. To do this, we have to get better at playing frisbee. If you don't demand the best from yourself and those that follow you, you fall into a place of complacency. From 2012 to 2014, our regionals finishes went from 10th to 5th to 3rd (after losing in the 1st and 2nd place games). From 2015 to 2017, our regionals finishes have all been 5th (aka losing in quarterfinals).
Perhaps there is more than just correlation here. 2012-2014 correspond to Ben's leadership years on NUT. Ben didn't accept losing as a legitimate option. And though he may not have held himself to the same standard, he held NUT to this standard of not losing. There hasn't been the same demand for the best from each and every player since he left. There has been more of an acceptance of failure and losing. Some times this acceptance is by choice - leadership choosing to prioritize development in the fall and winter over winning games has created an environment in which NUT players are used to losing games. Other times this acceptance is by ignorance or apathy - no one holding players accountable for jogging in drills, perhaps not even noticing.
ARC
Monday, November 6, 2017
Tournaments II
Update to Tournaments
Playing
2016
Lei Out - Visser Three
First Lei Out experience. Fun meeting Ben's HS friends. Girls had to play savage all weekend.
AUDL Season - Wildfire
Commuting from Madison the whole season. We were awful.
Elite-Select Challenge - Black Market
I only really remember spending time with Haj and Mick. I think we lost to MKE twice?
Select Flight Invite - Black Market
I remember dropping a disc after a tap in and someone else posting about it on Reddit.
Club Sectionals - Black Market
Finals got rained out.
Great Lakes Club Regionals - Black Market
What a trash heap of a weekend
No Wisconsequences - Yolo Swaggins University Alumni aka Pharmer Boone: Return to the Pharm
Got to the finals and lost to eventual college champion Carleton 13-10.
2017
NaperChill - BoomHouse
Mostly Illinois folks with some NUTHOS and assorted extras thrown in. 3rd place I think. Lots of
fun
Lei Out - NUTHOS
Died of food poisoning. Terrible weather. Justin was also super sick.
AUDL Season - Wildfire
Trent is awesome. We stunk.
Potlach - Pussy Control
Most fun 'fun' tourney I've ever been to. Camping around the fields. Great team. Can't wait to go
back.
Pro-Elite Challenge - Machine
Much stiffer competition than Potlach the weekend before. Felt great to be playing for a team I
believe in and care about again.
Elite-Select Challenge - Machine
Felt like I played worse than the previous tournament. Kleptos claim Hater tanks for life.
Pro Championships - Machine
Tons of fun making it all the way to the finals. Loved playing a ton in that game.
Great Lakes Club Regionals - Machine
Tourney win over High Five in the Finals.
Club Nationals - Machine
Disappointment with the way the team played. I have to be better next year. I don't like riding the pine.
Coaching
2016
All Bets Are Off - Madison West HS JV Team
First coaching experience at a tournament. This was outside in Madison in February and was
beautiful somehow. The kids played well esp considering they were playing mostly against Varsity
teams.
Wisconsin High School Spring League - Madison West HS JV Team
Weekly games against other JV and Varsity teams from the Madison area. The kids got so much
better playing against better players each week.
Wisconsin High School State Championships - Madison West HS JV Team
Some of these kids are gonna be good someday.
Windy City Invite - NUT Split Squads
First experience coaching NUT. Team did pretty well. Definitely had some moments when I forgot I
wasn't still a player.
Missouri Loves Company - NUT 2017
I remember being blown away by Jeff's improvement. In April at Regionals, he was a nonfactor, and
now he was dominating good players.
2017
Florida Warm-Up - NUT 2017
Every person on the team played a bit better than I expected. Each person really bought in and
pushed to improve.
Midwest Throwdown - NUT 2017
Got to the finals mostly by playing lesser teams. Our weakness throwing in the wind came into play
all weekend, and then completely exposed us against Purdue in the finals.
Indy Invite - NUT 2017
I remember thinking during the Michigan game that competing with them come regionals was going
to be very tough outside of Spielman going crazy. Poor throws in the wind again killed us.
Huck Finn - NUT 2017
No one wanted to be there. Disaster of a weekend minus 3/4 of the Minnesota game. Unbelievably
frustrating to play Grey Duck to 14-11 with a chance to tie at 11s and lose to Illinois by like 6.
Illinois Sectionals - NUT 2017
Story remains the same. Playing lesser opponents. Still got the 3-peat thanks to Illinois falling off
the map.
Great Lakes Regionals - NUT 2017
Disappointing weekend. Played a good game against Purdue, but came up short. Specs had like 8
blocks in this game.
Missouri Loves Company - NUT 2018
Great competition. Sometimes we looked like we belong with the top teams, and other times we
look like that JV team I coached.
ARC
Playing
2016
Lei Out - Visser Three
First Lei Out experience. Fun meeting Ben's HS friends. Girls had to play savage all weekend.
AUDL Season - Wildfire
Commuting from Madison the whole season. We were awful.
Elite-Select Challenge - Black Market
I only really remember spending time with Haj and Mick. I think we lost to MKE twice?
Select Flight Invite - Black Market
I remember dropping a disc after a tap in and someone else posting about it on Reddit.
Club Sectionals - Black Market
Finals got rained out.
Great Lakes Club Regionals - Black Market
What a trash heap of a weekend
No Wisconsequences - Yolo Swaggins University Alumni aka Pharmer Boone: Return to the Pharm
Got to the finals and lost to eventual college champion Carleton 13-10.
2017
NaperChill - BoomHouse
Mostly Illinois folks with some NUTHOS and assorted extras thrown in. 3rd place I think. Lots of
fun
Lei Out - NUTHOS
Died of food poisoning. Terrible weather. Justin was also super sick.
AUDL Season - Wildfire
Trent is awesome. We stunk.
Potlach - Pussy Control
Most fun 'fun' tourney I've ever been to. Camping around the fields. Great team. Can't wait to go
back.
Pro-Elite Challenge - Machine
Much stiffer competition than Potlach the weekend before. Felt great to be playing for a team I
believe in and care about again.
Elite-Select Challenge - Machine
Felt like I played worse than the previous tournament. Kleptos claim Hater tanks for life.
Pro Championships - Machine
Tons of fun making it all the way to the finals. Loved playing a ton in that game.
Great Lakes Club Regionals - Machine
Tourney win over High Five in the Finals.
Club Nationals - Machine
Disappointment with the way the team played. I have to be better next year. I don't like riding the pine.
Coaching
2016
All Bets Are Off - Madison West HS JV Team
First coaching experience at a tournament. This was outside in Madison in February and was
beautiful somehow. The kids played well esp considering they were playing mostly against Varsity
teams.
Wisconsin High School Spring League - Madison West HS JV Team
Weekly games against other JV and Varsity teams from the Madison area. The kids got so much
better playing against better players each week.
Wisconsin High School State Championships - Madison West HS JV Team
Some of these kids are gonna be good someday.
Windy City Invite - NUT Split Squads
First experience coaching NUT. Team did pretty well. Definitely had some moments when I forgot I
wasn't still a player.
Missouri Loves Company - NUT 2017
I remember being blown away by Jeff's improvement. In April at Regionals, he was a nonfactor, and
now he was dominating good players.
2017
Florida Warm-Up - NUT 2017
Every person on the team played a bit better than I expected. Each person really bought in and
pushed to improve.
Midwest Throwdown - NUT 2017
Got to the finals mostly by playing lesser teams. Our weakness throwing in the wind came into play
all weekend, and then completely exposed us against Purdue in the finals.
Indy Invite - NUT 2017
I remember thinking during the Michigan game that competing with them come regionals was going
to be very tough outside of Spielman going crazy. Poor throws in the wind again killed us.
Huck Finn - NUT 2017
No one wanted to be there. Disaster of a weekend minus 3/4 of the Minnesota game. Unbelievably
frustrating to play Grey Duck to 14-11 with a chance to tie at 11s and lose to Illinois by like 6.
Illinois Sectionals - NUT 2017
Story remains the same. Playing lesser opponents. Still got the 3-peat thanks to Illinois falling off
the map.
Great Lakes Regionals - NUT 2017
Disappointing weekend. Played a good game against Purdue, but came up short. Specs had like 8
blocks in this game.
Missouri Loves Company - NUT 2018
Great competition. Sometimes we looked like we belong with the top teams, and other times we
look like that JV team I coached.
ARC
Monday, October 23, 2017
Machine - Post Season Thoughts
I was afraid I would never have fun playing competitive frisbee again until this season of Machine. All the competitive Ultimate that I played between graduation and this season was disappointing in terms of enjoyment to say the least.
This includes Madison Club, and Black Market club teams as well as two seasons of Wildfire in the AUDL.
Machine was finally a team that had everything I had been missing since leaving NUT.
Buy in, organization, competitive goals, teammates to push me (accountability), coaching/leadership to inspire, and friends to play with.
Nationals was a ton of fun but also very disappointing. We played poorly as a team.
Alex said something that really resonated with me. Great teams don't get super pumped up when someone makes a great play because that is par for the course and they expect it based on the work they know they put in and the type of players they are.
Don't get me wrong, it's still important to cheer for your teammates, but he's right. It doesn't make sense to make such a big deal out of something if you knew it was bound to happen because your team is filled with great players who make plays.
I need to work harder. My personal goal this year was to work my way onto D1. I played some D1 points here and there, but those were mostly because of injuries to guys ahead of me. I need to be better. I will be better.
I did meet my Nationals specific goals which was great, though I still felt unfulfilled with my play so I need to work on my goal-setting. But I also realize that I hold myself to a very high standard so I'm trying to stay positive.
I asked Walden to cut this year and I am mostly happy with this decision. I think I might want to transition back to handling in the future, but I think it was a fantastic way to push myself harder to learn a new role. At the beginning of the season, Walden was very hesitant and said he didn't think it was a good idea, but leadership ended up having me do it anyway. Midway through the season, Walden said it was working out better than he expected but that wasn't saying much based on his initial expectations. I need to ask him about it now at the end of the season and see what he thinks. I think it was pretty successful. I definitely felt out of place for a while at the beginning of the season on offense, but I felt very comfortable by the end of the season cutting and felt like I was often making threatening cuts and generating good space on the field.
The work never ends.
ARC
This includes Madison Club, and Black Market club teams as well as two seasons of Wildfire in the AUDL.
Machine was finally a team that had everything I had been missing since leaving NUT.
Buy in, organization, competitive goals, teammates to push me (accountability), coaching/leadership to inspire, and friends to play with.
Nationals was a ton of fun but also very disappointing. We played poorly as a team.
Alex said something that really resonated with me. Great teams don't get super pumped up when someone makes a great play because that is par for the course and they expect it based on the work they know they put in and the type of players they are.
Don't get me wrong, it's still important to cheer for your teammates, but he's right. It doesn't make sense to make such a big deal out of something if you knew it was bound to happen because your team is filled with great players who make plays.
I need to work harder. My personal goal this year was to work my way onto D1. I played some D1 points here and there, but those were mostly because of injuries to guys ahead of me. I need to be better. I will be better.
I did meet my Nationals specific goals which was great, though I still felt unfulfilled with my play so I need to work on my goal-setting. But I also realize that I hold myself to a very high standard so I'm trying to stay positive.
I asked Walden to cut this year and I am mostly happy with this decision. I think I might want to transition back to handling in the future, but I think it was a fantastic way to push myself harder to learn a new role. At the beginning of the season, Walden was very hesitant and said he didn't think it was a good idea, but leadership ended up having me do it anyway. Midway through the season, Walden said it was working out better than he expected but that wasn't saying much based on his initial expectations. I need to ask him about it now at the end of the season and see what he thinks. I think it was pretty successful. I definitely felt out of place for a while at the beginning of the season on offense, but I felt very comfortable by the end of the season cutting and felt like I was often making threatening cuts and generating good space on the field.
The work never ends.
ARC
Styles of Defense - Shutdown
I see a few different types of person defense in my head. These can each be used at any point during play, and switched between within even the same possession.
Shutdown
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
This post will examine the shutdown style of defense and how to execute it. Let me start by saying that I think everyone at the college level should strive for this style of defense before any of the others.
Your job in this style of defense is to prevent your mark from getting the disc. This can directly lead to blocks, but does not more often than not. Preventing your mark from ever being targeted can be just as good as actually generating a block and is how this defensive style manifests most often.
Shutdown defense can work in all situations.
Shutdown defense can work in all situations.
The biggest factor, in my experience, in determining success at this style of defense is your footwork and athleticism. A good way to play this style of defense is to always stay on your mark's hip. This requires great footwork in order to stay with your mark through juke moves or hard driving cuts as well as speed and quickness to adjust to changes in their path.
You need to always be able to beat your mark to the disc. If you are closer to the disc, that means closer to your mark. A good rule of thumb is if you are within 1 pass, always be touching your mark.
You need to always be able to beat your mark to the disc. If you are closer to the disc, that means closer to your mark. A good rule of thumb is if you are within 1 pass, always be touching your mark.
Examples:
Your mark is cutting under and you stay right on their hip such that the thrower sees they are not open and therefore holsters the throw.
Your mark is cutting in the handler space and you force the thrower to look elsewhere for a reset.
Your mark is cutting out and you stay in position such that if a throw goes up, you will have the best path to the disc.
Probably video examples to come.
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Styles of Defense - Help
I see a few different types of person defense in my head. These can each be used at any point during play, and switched between within even the same possession.
Shutdown
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
This post will examine the help style of defense and how to execute it. Let me start by saying that I think everyone on the field should be looking to help most all of the time. But playing help defense is not always possible.
Your job in this style of defense is to leave your mark and help a teammate in order to make their mark's job harder and or generate blocks.
A key difference between poachy and help styles lies in when you leave your mark. When attempting to poach, you are leaving your mark preemptively to try to get a block or prevent a throw. When attempting to help, you are leaving your mark after a throw has gone up and you realize you may be able to make a play or make the offender's job harder by being there.
A key difference between poachy and help styles lies in when you leave your mark. When attempting to poach, you are leaving your mark preemptively to try to get a block or prevent a throw. When attempting to help, you are leaving your mark after a throw has gone up and you realize you may be able to make a play or make the offender's job harder by being there.
Here is the most prevalent example situation in which a help style is likely to work.
An opponent is going deep and you see that your teammate is beat.
An opponent is going deep and you see that your teammate is beat.
The biggest factor, in my experience, in determining success at this style of defense is your field awareness. You must have you head up and on a swivel. You need to be able to see things developing and be ready to leave your mark when the time comes.
Examples:
Leaving too early -
I anticipated that the throw would go up, but the thrower pumped it for one reason or another, and my mark got a free under because of it.
https://gfycat.com/ExemplaryCaringIrishwaterspaniel
Leaving too late -
Couldn't end up making a play.
https://gfycat.com/FearlessKindlyCopperbutterfly
Leaving on time -
End up giving up the inside position trying not to get skied, but I made his job harder than it would have been.
https://gfycat.com/HeftyFlawedCaudata
The throw ends up being poor and would've been a turnover anyway, but my teammate was beat and would've needed help had the throw been accurate.
https://gfycat.com/SeriousWarmFallowdeer
Styles of Defense - Poachy
I see a few different types of person defense in my head. These can each be used at any point during play, and switched between within even the same possession.
Shutdown
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
This post will examine the poachy style of defense and how to execute it. Let me start by saying that I think a poachy style of defense is best used VERY sparingly. At the elite club level, you will absolutely get burned if you are poaching more than a few seconds here and there. Poaching can also be dangerous if done poorly or by someone with poor field awareness, so please be careful if trying this out. Always be mindful of the field, your body, and other players' bodies.
Your job in this style of defense is to generate blocks or junk up a space by jumping into a lane or space that a thrower expected to be wide open. I think the most natural first iteration of poaching doesn't generally generate blocks but prevents throws upfield by doing the following. Imagine that you have just covered an open-side under cut and your mark is clearing/cutting back to the stack. Your mark is not a threat so you can stay in the lane and force the thrower to turn to look at their dump.
A key difference between poachy and help (post still to come) styles lies in when you leave your mark. When attempting to poach, you are leaving your mark preemptively to try to get a block or prevent a throw. When attempting to help, you are leaving your mark after a throw has gone up and you realize you may be able to make a play or make the offender's job harder by being there.
A key difference between poachy and help (post still to come) styles lies in when you leave your mark. When attempting to poach, you are leaving your mark preemptively to try to get a block or prevent a throw. When attempting to help, you are leaving your mark after a throw has gone up and you realize you may be able to make a play or make the offender's job harder by being there.
Here are a few example situations in which a poaching style is likely to work.
The above example when your mark isn't a threat.
You are marking someone (not currently a threat) in the vert stack and someone else is cutting down either the open or breakside lane and you see that you can jump in front of them and intercept the disc. This example is most likely to cause injuries if you just run or bid sideways out of the stack/deadspace. Don't do this. Look around and make sure you can make the play safely first.
You are hidden from the thrower's view.
The above example when your mark isn't a threat.
You are marking someone (not currently a threat) in the vert stack and someone else is cutting down either the open or breakside lane and you see that you can jump in front of them and intercept the disc. This example is most likely to cause injuries if you just run or bid sideways out of the stack/deadspace. Don't do this. Look around and make sure you can make the play safely first.
You are hidden from the thrower's view.
The biggest factor, in my experience, in determining success at this style of defense is your mark not currently being a threat. This state can change on a dime. Offenses everywhere stress the importance of recognizing when you are poached and what to do in that situation. So you must stay aware of your mark's threat level and this is why it is best used sparingly. If you do it too much, your mark will take advantage and your risk will no longer be worth it. You must be able to recognize your mark's threat level accurately to successfully poach (assuming a competent opponent).
Examples:
From the 2016 World Games Final between USA and Japan. Alan Kolick jumps into this space that he sees is open and that someone is cutting into and then finds the disc. The thrower had no chance of seeing this. This demonstrates an incredibly high field awareness and game IQ to realize in that split second that the space is open, the cut is open, his mark is not a threat, the thrower can't see him, and that he can beat the opponent to the spot safely.
https://gfycat.com/QueasyCapitalBlesbok
Styles of Defense - Lazy
I see a few different types of person defense in my head. These can each be used at any point during play, and switched between within even the same possession.
Shutdown
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
This post will examine the lazy style of defense and how to execute it. It's more of a 'fun' style of defense, not a serious style, and therefore will be a much shorter post.
Let me start by saying that this should really only be used in league play (summer/fall etc) or 'for fun/drinking' tournaments.
Let me start by saying that this should really only be used in league play (summer/fall etc) or 'for fun/drinking' tournaments.
Your job in this style of defense is to get cheap blocks or else hope your team generates blocks so that you can then play offense. There are a few strategies for this, but I'm partial to one in particular - The Tiger Trap.
Here are a few example situations in which a lazy style is likely to work.
You are playing a very weak team. Your other defenders are capable of generating blocks.
You trick the other team into thinking there is a free receiver open near the endzone.
How to execute the tiger trap. Many people think that you have to lie down on the endzone line for this, but I've found that success more often follows when you have a teammate standing near you, and you stand right by the corner and just pretend to be talking to them. (This usually happens, either way, right after the pull, but can be done during a point if you try hard enough)
The rest of your team needs to know that they are supposed to let someone go deep, otherwise they will just dink and dunk it up the field and your tiger trap will be wasted.
Then wait for the thrower to chuck it deep and go play spoiler.
How to execute lazy person defense. Just make sure your person catches unders (rather than deeps) until someone else forces a turnover, and then play offense.
You are playing a very weak team. Your other defenders are capable of generating blocks.
You trick the other team into thinking there is a free receiver open near the endzone.
How to execute the tiger trap. Many people think that you have to lie down on the endzone line for this, but I've found that success more often follows when you have a teammate standing near you, and you stand right by the corner and just pretend to be talking to them. (This usually happens, either way, right after the pull, but can be done during a point if you try hard enough)
The rest of your team needs to know that they are supposed to let someone go deep, otherwise they will just dink and dunk it up the field and your tiger trap will be wasted.
Then wait for the thrower to chuck it deep and go play spoiler.
How to execute lazy person defense. Just make sure your person catches unders (rather than deeps) until someone else forces a turnover, and then play offense.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Styles of Defense - Baiting
I see a few different types of person defense in my head. These can each be used at any point during play, and switched between within even the same possession.
Shutdown
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
Poachy
Baiting
Help
Lazy
This post will examine the Baiting style of defense and how to execute it.
Let me start by saying that I think you must first be able to play shutdown d before you can play a baiting style of d.
Let me start by saying that I think you must first be able to play shutdown d before you can play a baiting style of d.
Your job in this style of defense is to trick the thrower into thinking your mark is open. You then rely on your superior athleticism, path to the disc, or read on the disc to generate a block. This does not rely on poor throws, and if you are relying on that, you are not playing a baiting style, you are either playing a lazy style or you need to work more on shutdown first. However, this generally does rely on non-perfect throws. A perfect throw will almost always beat a baiting style of defense.
Here are a few example situations in which a baiting style is likely to work.
There is a strong wind in the face of the thrower and you force your mark deep because you know that even a good throw will hang up in the wind and you will have extra time to make up the ground.
You know that you are more explosive than your mark so you let them get one step open on an under and you bid past them once the throw is up.
You are hidden from the thrower's view.
There is a strong wind in the face of the thrower and you force your mark deep because you know that even a good throw will hang up in the wind and you will have extra time to make up the ground.
You know that you are more explosive than your mark so you let them get one step open on an under and you bid past them once the throw is up.
You are hidden from the thrower's view.
For each of these scenarios, there is a very fine line that you have to walk. You have to know your own abilities just as well as the person you're marking. If you bait a throw and don't come up with the block, it can be very costly.
With that being said, you may feel comfortable giving your mark even more space to ensure that the thrower is fooled. As you play at higher levels, throwers will be fooled less often or else execute a perfect throw more often.
With that being said, you may feel comfortable giving your mark even more space to ensure that the thrower is fooled. As you play at higher levels, throwers will be fooled less often or else execute a perfect throw more often.
The biggest factor, in my experience, in determining success at this style of defense is seeing the throw come out. The closer you are to the thrower is directly correlated with the importance of seeing the disc come out. Assuming you have gauged your mark's and your own abilities accurately, and you have fooled the thrower, if you don't see the throw come out of the thrower's hand, your chances of success still drop immensely. On top of seeing the throw come out, you have to be able to read the path of the disc in that split second.
Baiting unders:
I like to start on the outside shoulder as the cutter starts under.
I let them in front by taking a half step so that I can then switch to the inside shoulder. This also accomplishes the idea of being hidden from the thrower, and gives you a shorter path to the disc. (Baiting from the outside shoulder is harder imo)
It is important that when bidding past your mark that you don't 'backpack' them. You need to be able to bid past without contact. Assuming a force flick and inside shoulder bait, the easiest way to ensure a safe bid is to bid with your left hand reaching for the disc. Bidding with your right hand generally requires more body control to avoid hitting your mark. See that I have to twist a bit to avoid contact and so I don't land flat.
Examples:
I don't end up getting a block, but I got a hand on the disc and this illustrates the technique above.
https://gfycat.com/PrestigiousFlashyArmyworm
This next one illustrates being hidden from the thrower quite well as well as making your mark think they are open. Yiding thought he was wide open so he did not feel the need to run through the disc and Murray punished him for it.
https://gfycat.com/FakeAgonizingDeermouse
I like to start on the outside shoulder as the cutter starts under.
I let them in front by taking a half step so that I can then switch to the inside shoulder. This also accomplishes the idea of being hidden from the thrower, and gives you a shorter path to the disc. (Baiting from the outside shoulder is harder imo)
It is important that when bidding past your mark that you don't 'backpack' them. You need to be able to bid past without contact. Assuming a force flick and inside shoulder bait, the easiest way to ensure a safe bid is to bid with your left hand reaching for the disc. Bidding with your right hand generally requires more body control to avoid hitting your mark. See that I have to twist a bit to avoid contact and so I don't land flat.
Examples:
I don't end up getting a block, but I got a hand on the disc and this illustrates the technique above.
https://gfycat.com/PrestigiousFlashyArmyworm
This next one illustrates being hidden from the thrower quite well as well as making your mark think they are open. Yiding thought he was wide open so he did not feel the need to run through the disc and Murray punished him for it.
https://gfycat.com/FakeAgonizingDeermouse
Baiting outs:
I have less thoughts about baiting outs. You can afford to see the disc a bit later on outs, but seeing the release still gives you your best chance. There is a lot more variability with baiting outs as the throws will be more variable and are in the air longer. Tracking the disc on the inside shoulder is generally preferable to outside shoulder as it gives you a shorter path and forces the receiver to make a play over the top of you.
I have less thoughts about baiting outs. You can afford to see the disc a bit later on outs, but seeing the release still gives you your best chance. There is a lot more variability with baiting outs as the throws will be more variable and are in the air longer. Tracking the disc on the inside shoulder is generally preferable to outside shoulder as it gives you a shorter path and forces the receiver to make a play over the top of you.
More Video/Visual Examples still to come.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Self-Officiation and Spirit of the Game
Thesis: Self-officiation and Spirit of the Game as selling points are bad for the continued growth of our sport
USA Ultimate has made growth a top priority (See page 14 of the report). They claim that their goal is to 'Develop and oversee a broad spectrum of programs for a diverse community of youth players and administrators.' However, I will argue that their current plan is leaving out a large portion of the populace from their target audience and thus making their goal impossible.
The current
'Elevator pitch', so to speak, of Ultimate that is given at the beginning of
every ESPN streamed game goes something like this (Can't find the exact
wording): Ultimate is a sport that relies on self-officiation, spirit of the
game and integrity.
I think it should go
something like this: Ultimate is a sport that is fun, fast-paced, safe,
healthy, and constantly pushing for gender equity.
My reasoning:
The prevailing
perception of our sport is that of a joke. Exhibit A. This is not just a feeling I alone have. We are
being actively referenced with a joke from a movie. And we are being thrown
into the same bucket as Bags. Personally, I'd
rather be seen in a different light than Bags as I think we probably do a bit
more work than them to master our craft.
Self-officiation,
which we falsely claim that our sport relies on, only perpetuates this perception. If we want to grow our sport, we
need to make a strong effort to change this. As it stands now, I believe that self-officiation is a big reason why people continue to have a
negative opinion and a closed-mind about ultimate. See the following conversation with a relative during
the ESPN2 game from Sunday.
Her: So are there
like set offensive plays that you run? Like football?
Me: There are yeah.
Most set plays are off the pull or another dead disc.
Her: This whole call
your own foul thing is a lil much
Me: I don't like it
but most of the frisbee community thinks it's our biggest selling point which
is asenine imo
Her: Yeah it kind of
makes it less legitimate. And like... you have these observers who make calls
anyways...
Me: Agreed. They can
mostly only rule if players choose to ask them
These national
broadcasts are a huge tool and a huge opportunity. We all make efforts everyday
to introduce the sport to new people through our daily interactions, and that
is fantastic. But these broadcasts are the rarest of chances, when we have a huge population of sports fans tuning in out of
curiosity. We should do everything within our power to show them the very best
our sport has to offer. In effect, we are trying to persuade them to become a
player, a fan, a coach. By having a number of stoppages, questionable foul calls, and confusing discussions during
the game (especially during plays and contact seen as
fairly routine in other sports), we are raising the bar of inclusion. With
referees in place, any other sports fan will be considerably more
understanding of the flow of the game. It is something they are accustomed to,
and a system that has proven to be effective in many other leagues.
Having played with Referees in the
AUDL, I can tell you it does not change how the game is played. It speeds up
the game, takes stress off the individual to 'correctly argue their call', and
does not introduce gamesmanship as some claim. My request is for the vast
majority of the frisbee community that has not played with referees to give it
a chance.
There are many people who will have similar negative thoughts as my cousin while watching these broadcasts who won't have someone to explain things, and encourage them to start playing anyway. We are turning people off before allowing them to learn about the parts of the sport that actually are great and give it a chance.
There are many people who will have similar negative thoughts as my cousin while watching these broadcasts who won't have someone to explain things, and encourage them to start playing anyway. We are turning people off before allowing them to learn about the parts of the sport that actually are great and give it a chance.
We should be opening
the door to everyone rather than stubbornly saying 'we shouldn't change the
game to get more people'. The best version of frisbee has the most people
playing. All pushing each other to get better on the field and off. The more
people we have, the more diverse our thoughts, the more powerful our impact.
So why is USAU
ignoring this fact that they are alienating a large contingent of our country
and plugging along with SotG and
Self-Officiation?
Now, I know what anyone reading
this is likely thinking. “Spirit of the Game” is a vital piece of ultimate, and
we should celebrate that and explain it to any new fan. I know that I am
touching a sacred cow here, but I want to ask two questions.
1.
When
you decided to give ultimate a shot, did you know what SotG was?
2.
If
so, was that what first piqued your interest in this sport?
I would be extremely
surprised if anyone answered yes to both of these questions. Even if you have
disagreed with me up to this point, I hope you can understand what I am saying
here. SotG, while a noble and
impressive ideal, is NOT the reason people start playing ultimate, and to
trying to use it as a selling point now is a substantial mistake for the
reasons I've listed above. The reasons we all started playing are exactly the things
we should be trying to show off on our broadcasts. For me, and I imagine for most of us, these reasons include the fun,
the explosiveness, the fluidity of play, and the inclusivity.
SotG is a part of all of the reasons I listed above. It makes opponents more
fun to play against, it makes explosive plays safer, it (in theory) keeps the
game moving quickly, and it gives everyone a voice. I am NOT against the idea
of SotG. But I am against
using it as an excuse to put an inferior product on the field, one that is peppered
with questionable foul calls, long and confusing disputes, and unsatisfying
resolutions. I am against using it as a selling point.
I imagine most of
you are familiar with the foot-in-the-door psychological technique. This
involves first getting someone to agree to a small idea, before eventually
getting them to accept a big idea. With these broadcasts, we are trying to get
our foot in the door. We are trying to show off our sport in a way that some
people will decide to give it a shot – the door has been cracked open. As these
new players go out and meet others and begin to participate, that is when SotG manifests
itself, and aids us in throwing the door wide open. But it does not work in the
opposite direction. In other words, SotG sounds like a
relic of the 60s, and this, coupled with the flaws of self-officiation at the high level, act as a doorstop preventing
us from making any headway into new populations. We need to remember what made
us join the sport way back in the day, and that is exactly how we should be
opening the door to as many people as possible.
Most people I’ve talked to resist the idea of making Frisbee any bit more like
other sports. I understand the hesitance; many
players –including myself – had bad experiences in other sports. But, on the
field, we know we have a great product. The way this sport is played is more
exciting and more rewarding and more accessible than any other sport on the
planet. You start to fall in love with it as soon as you play your first pickup
game, long before anyone opens the rulebook and explains to you the nuances of
contesting fast counts or the USAU definition of spirit. This game is fantastic
because it is a great game, and the community is fantastic because we all love
it together, and we share and translate that love and respect with each other
as well. That is never going to change. But in order to enable more people to
join us, our methodologies do have to change. We need to eliminate self-officiation at the highest, most competitive, televised
level. And we need to stop flaunting SotG as if we are some superior,
entitled class of people.
Did it once make
sense? Yes.
Can it still have a
place even if we have referees? Yes. See integrity rule in The AUDL.
Does it belong in
competitive play? No, with a caveat. Each individual can still abide by it, as
well they should, but it should not be the backbone of the rulebook.
Should we be using
it as the sports' main selling point? No.
The people who play
ultimate are great. I have made bonds in ultimate that can never be topped. But
are we fundamentally different than the humans that play soccer? Or basketball?
No, of course not. We are not so special that we do not need unbiased 3rd
parties to oversee our games. Thinking otherwise is very arrogant.
1. Advertise the fun
2. Advertise the explosiveness
3. Advertise the camaraderie
4. People will be interested
5. They will start playing and we
can still teach them about the integrity we all learned to play with
That is the template to growing
our sport.
Written in collaboration with KSC,
ARC
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