Uni Session Plans (weeks 5-8)
Training Tier content: Training session plans for University clubs to run in weeks 5-8. These are designed to come after weeks 1-4, and give players a solid introduction to switching & bracketing, long throwing, breaking the force, touch passes, surrounding stacks, and more. The session plans are available to patrons on the $8 Training Tier and above.
The Sussex team has been running these exact sessions, and has had outstanding results – our 1st team is undefeated and our 2nd team is beating other first teams (sometimes 15-0).
Felix has been coaching uni-level beginners at Sussex University since 2002, and all the sessions are congruent with a team looking to play hex & flex, as well as any other offences/defences, at the peak of their season.
Uni / Beginners Sessions 1-4
Training Tier content: Beginner-friendly training sessions for University clubs to run at the start of term 1. These are designed to come after the Taster Session(s), and give beginners a solid introduction to the sport from scratch over the course of 4 sessions. The session plans are available to patrons on the $8 Training Tier and above.
Includes exercises which work on catching and throwing technique, 1-to-1 defence, forcing, long throws, team defence, offensive spacing, and more.
Felix has been coaching uni-level beginners at Sussex University since 2002, and all the sessions are congruent with a team looking to play hex & flex, as well as any other offences/defences, at the peak of their season.
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WUGC 2016: Japan v Australia – analysis highlights from livestream
USAU 2019 Final: Bansfield’s Backhand Breaks
How Johnny Bansfield tore apart Sockeye’s defence with his versatile backhand throws during Machine’s comeback in the final of the 2019 USAU Men’s Club Nationals.
reddit post & comments about this video…
reddit post & comments about this video…
Japan v USA WUGC 2016: Japan communicating to cover USA’s initial options
Reddit post & comments on this video
… full transcript …
First thing that catches the eye here is Japan’s #3 not following the early deep cut, but switching onto Beau instead – he’s likely been given the task of stopping the first under threat whilst a teammate picks up the deep threat (a fairly common tactic to stop set plays).
More interestingly, the two Japanese defenders towards the top of the screen position themselves so they are able to see each other, and then communicate via gesticulation – pointing out the threat they want the other player to cover. They haven’t decided exactly who they will be marking until they arrive and analyse the situation. If Mickle (cutting under on the far sideline) had arrived earlier, it’s quite possible the Japanese defenders would’ve chosen to mark different players. Both defenders react immediately to the shared communication, and take their marks. This one-second of communication & teamwork puts USA on the back foot and results in a stall-6 layout save.
USA may be applying the old adage “run through the poaches” here, however the Japanese players are not really poaching – after the first couple of seconds they are each covering a specific mark. Note how every defender glances frequently between their mark, the disc, and the space – dynamically reacting to the positioning/space and where the thrower is focusing, so they are able to save their energy by only committing to cover realistic & time-critical threats. This gives the impression of poaching, improves the efficiency of their movement, and helps facilitate dynamic switching of marks.
Ben Wiggins (/u/blwiggins) realised that Buzz defenders pay a lot of attention to where the thrower is looking when trying to figure out their D in 2007 – this clip of him throwing a no-look score and then giving a knowing nod has stuck in my mind ever since! (excuse the quality – it’s more obviously no-look on the DVD)
It’s apparent that Japan run down the pull matching person-for-person, and when they arrive they re-analyse, focusing on communicating and switching where possible. This maximises their effectiveness and adds an unpredictable element which often negates any set play the opposition has planned.