+ Go-To
Have the team get into two lines (line A and line B) with the first person in each line facing each other about ten-fifteen yards apart and then all the other people in their line behind them. To start, the first person in line A has a disc, the first person in line B does not (there should be a pile of discs by the second person in each line).
The person from Line B makes a “check-mark” or “V” cut – faking deep three steps on the backhand side (their right side), planting, and then cutting hard on the backhand side straight through the throw.
As soon as the thrower releases the disk, they fake deep three or four steps, and then cut hard on the backhand side for the throw from the second person in Line B. After catching the disk, the cutter cycles to the back of the opposite line (Cutter from B goes to the back of Line A, etc..)
Stress eye contact, release and run, and clearing out of the cutting lane – if people are walking through the cutting lane, they will soon be in the way.
After doing this with backhands, switch to throwing forehands. As they get better, you can add a marker on the thrower – the second person in line is the marker, then becomes the thrower. (Marker becomes thrower, then becomes cutter).
+ Three Person Marking Drill
This is always good as well – drills the release and run, and also proper marking technique. Tell the players it is NOT “keep away” – let the marker tap the disk in (“three, two one, disk in! Stalling one, stalling two,” etc…) before the thrower begins trying to get the throw off.
As they get used to doing this, have the marker shout “up” whenever the disk gets off. Emphasize the importance of up calls by the marker and the sideline whenever you can – this is key to defense in Ultimate (lets the downfield defenders know the disc is in the air), and hard to get into the habit of doing. Have them force backhand for 15 throws, then forehand for 15 throws.
Note that in the video below (which is of three of the best male players in the world at that time), the marker is forcing “straight up” – makes the thrower create a throw, but means more work for the downfield defenders because they have to be aware that the disc could come to either side of the field.
Typically the marker forces to one side of the field to cut the available field of play in half – hence the forcing backhand or forcing forehand.
+ Four Corners/ Box Drill
Again, release and run, eye contact, and practicing leading the receiver/putting the throw to space, and making a hard cut all the way through the throw.
http://www.playspedia.com/play/view/id/2764
+ Three Person Weave
This is good, too – throwing to space, timing one’s cuts, and releasing and running. You can build an offense around this.
http://www.playspedia.com/play/view/id/1058
+ Tips on Cutting
The basics are that they just want to make one sharp, decisive change in direction. Cuts often end up being in a “v” or check mark shape – fake away from where you want to go, then change direction to run where you want to go.
Pay attention to where the defender (or “mark” is) – if they are behind you, then cut to the disk. If they are in front of you, fake deep, and then turn and beat them to the disk, or run at them, get them backpedaling on their heels, and then beat them to the open space. If the cutter doesn’t get the throw, then they have to clear out of the cutting lane (otherwise, they are “clogging” a great piece of ultimate vocabulary: “No clogging!”).
+ Stack Drill
The stack is the base of almost all Ultimate offense. The idea is that by having the players stack in the middle of the field, they create two throwing lanes on either side of the field. Getting into the stack, having enough space in the stack, backing the stack up down the field as play advances, are all fundamentals.
There is a great explanation of the stack:
Take four cones, and place them in a line down the middle of the field, close to an end zone. Have the second cone about 10-12 yards away from the first cone, and then the second, third, and fourth cones about five yards apart from each other. the fourth cone should be about five yards in front of the end zone. These distances are what they players should do in a scrimmage/game situation.
Place your most reliable thrower (your “handler”) with a pile of discs at the first cone, facing an end zone. All the other players should be divided evenly at the other three cones – lined up away from the cutting line – the first person in each line should stand facing the disc (“hips towards the disc”).
Begin with backhands. The thrower shouts “three, two, one, disc in!” and then the first cutter makes a check mark cut (fake deep, cut in) to the backhand side to receive the throw. The second cutter needs to time their cut so that they are getting open as soon as the first cutter catches the disc and turns up field. the third cutter should do the same, perhaps making a fake in, and then cutting into the end zone.
If the throw is bad, or the cutter doesn’t get it, then the next cutter should keep moving – fake deep again, or cut back towards the stack, and keep an eye out for the thrower picking up the disc, and then make a cut for the throw. Players should never be standing still in a cutting lane – not even the marker and thrower (they are sliding and pivoting, respectively).
Each cutter throws and then runs (“release and run”) to the back of the next line. Cutter A goes to the back of Line B, Cutter B goes to the back of Line C, Cutter C jogs down the non-cutting side (the “break side” – this is taken from the phrase “break force side” – if there was defense, they would be forcing the offense to throw to the backhand side, meaning that the backhand side is the “open” side). to the back of line A, where they throw the disc to you, the coach, standing near the handler.
For an explanation of the “force” see: https://www.vul.ca/content/players/marking-and-defending
As the team gets better at throwing, you can switch handlers after ten throws, you can add defense to the handler, etc… You can also set the handler up near a sideline, and ask the team how they should stack up – basically at a 45 degree angle away from the sideline, to create the biggest cutting lane possible.
You can also have them practice the timing of their cuts downfield, and moving downfield with the play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMT8LWHAEFU
This is a good drill to do with groups of seven players, and when they get to the end of the field they jog down the sideline and rest in the endzone, and then go again.
+ End Zone Drill
(Once they are throwing reasonably well) Gets them cutting hard to the corners (best place to score), communicating with each other, timing cuts, and supporting each other.
This is a good one to stress talking – when the person comes for the dump throw, they should come saying “dump! dump!” The person cutting into the middle then calls “swing!” “swing!”). Again, important to release and run, eye contact, timing of cuts (especially the cut to the front corner from the back of the endzone), and for the cutters to clear out of the cutting lane to the back of the next line. This can be turned into an end zone play.