Offhanded Scoober

(Kind of like Soccer.)

So what should have we done?

1. Thought of the huck and D as an option sooner. We had height, by a lot.

2. Taken a time out and chilled out. We shot ourselves in the foot because constantly turned it over *down field*. We would break through the zone (after we figured out how to do so), only to turn it over.

3. Most importantly, figured out an offensive set against the zone.

This third point is what I want to focus on most:

We kept subbing people in somewhat haphazardly, and we never got a working rhythm against the zone. I think this may have been our biggest downfall.

At some point, to me it seemed that a handler set of Ishii-san, Osho-san, and I was able to open up the zone, but we didn't really stick to this. The handlers I was working with kept changing, as did a lot of the other personnel, which makes it hard.

blah blah, you get the idea.

But, unless your d-line can break your opponent, you can never win.

The best o-line is not simply about having no turns. While this has happened, its near impossible to actualize. So then what? It's tough on a smaller team like WM, where we have to draw from a smaller talent pool, but this problem remains: An o-line player has to be able to play defense when the disc is turned over. In fact, no player who does not play good defense should ever be allowed to play offense. Because doing so makes it clear to everyone on your team that that is okay. And it most certainly is not.

Your thoughts?

Fact: You do not need to look up-field every time you get the disc.

Fact: If the dump is poached, you should hit it right away.

Fact: While "looking dump by 5" is a good benchmark, it is not an excuse to look upfield even if there isn't anything there until then.

Fact: Waiting on a cut leads to poach D's.

Why?

Cuz other smart defenders are watching you wait on a cut, and since its probably the only thing happening at the time (cuz otherwise, why would you be waiting for a cut to develop, right?), its easy to see coming.

So this is a change of pace, compared to most American style teams, that tend to wait longer on cuts, and dump on a higher stall count. Japanese teams are different from this in that they always hit a poached player right away, especially dump or IO break. They like to get rid of the disc quickly, and to capitalize on the break side. I think this play-style would really fit WM and would love to see it implemented.

So then how do you practice this?

Well, its not too hard if you keep the above facts in mind, but a great way to get it across team-wide is to make the stall counts come in at 6. Basically, with a shorter amount of time to do something with the disc, you force players to move the disc quickly and thus, naturally generate a less stagnant offense.

If you consider yourself an upper level player (or handler) on the team, try this one for kicks:

Make yourself get rid of the disc within the first 3 counts. Remember, this is not to *look* dump by 3, it is to *hit* the dump by 3. It's a tough job, but I believe that you can do it.

Anyway, if you try it out, let know how it goes. Individually, and as a team.

'Till next time.

What I mean by this is that one must be scoring deep, catching stuff under in positions where one can destroy a defense. Essentially picking holes in the defense....

In order to do this properly, you must cut to places where the handlers want you to go, cutting to places where the defense doesn't want me to go, cutting to places that make the handlers realize where they should be throwing.

The role of a cutter is to bring the potential out of a handler, to bring the best out of a handler.

What's on your mind?

I'm always thinking about making a big first impression.

As a handler, there is nothing more important than the first thing you do. The second I get the disc, I try to immediately break my mark, or at least pivot quickly the second I get the disc and let him know that I can break him like a bitch around backhand. Why, do you ask? Well think about it. If you were that defender, what would be going through your mind?

"Oh shit, this guy likes to break around backhand, and he has a good one."

All of a sudden, in one fell swoop, you're dictating how he plays.

Boom. Roasted. (Game over man.)

You can do the same thing as a cutter. Or as a team. Set up a big play right away, for a good deep cut shot. A little bit of a higher risk, but the benefits are bountiful. You show that you can take your man deep. You show that our handlers have the deep shots. Immediately, the opposing d-line has to respect your deep cuts, opening up the in-cuts.

Again. You dictate how THEY play.

Try it out.

Fitness: Mediocre, somewhere in between not wanting to hurt my knees and not being in shape, I'm taking it too easy on myself. Push myself a little harder. Also, playing good defense and shutting my man down for the first 4, 5 seconds doesn't count. Don't rely on the mark to let me play lazy. Smart does NOT = lazy. That being said, I was doing a good job of anticipating and choosing some points within the flow of the game to make some plays. Being able to make plays when I choose to felt good.

- Point to take away: Smart never equals lazy. No matter what.

Throwing/decision-making: Pretty good for the most part, only had one or two turns because of a throwing error. One turn on a miscommunication, one turn throwing deep. One huck went way farther than I intended, but still hit my man in stride. Otherwise, on point.

- Point to take away: Focus.

Offense (cutting): Good overall. Never had trouble getting open.

Defense: Just play harder. "Go for it!" mentality is lacking. Aka, too close to too many D's to not get them. One extra little push.

Quick movement: When McCoy, Ted?, and I were moving the disc, we worked it beautifully. Why? Quick movement of the disc. We never lingered on any one cut/cutter for more than a second or two. Defense never had a chance to even set up a mark, let alone get close to a D. This worked because we all saw where each of us were cutting and anticipated where the next open space would be, making it so that we all had easy options to throw to, while never clogging each other.

- Point to take away: Quick decision making + quick cutting to adjust to the quick movement + awareness/anticipation = flawless offense.

Deep balls: Experimented a bit with juking out my defender. If the disc was coming in a little slower and a little floatier with my man right on my heels, I would pretend to set up my jump a second earlier than I actually was going to, and thus, slowed down my man who also would try to set up his jump. Then, I'd just run under it for the easy catch.

- Point to take away: Little tricks can make it easier for you on offense: You don't necessarily need to play a disc straight up and sky your defender.

Athleticism

For the most part I am skeptical of any workout schedule or routine. Same goes for theories on when to stretch. Luckily my stretching suspicions are founded in a lack of science. Here's a good article on stretching:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/health/nutrition/13Best.html

Sadly, my workout doubts do not hold water. There seems to a certain way to workout/stay in shape. Even though the field of physical fitness adjusts to scientific discoveries pertaining to the development of muscle and such, this does not give anyone an excuse not to workout. This is what I tell myself haha.

So, Ill go on and do all the workouts doled out to me by my captains. It'll keep me in shape. But I will begin to change when and how I stretch. The variables will be types of stretches, whether to stretch after warmups after practices (or both), and for how long. My gut says to vary the stretches every two weeks, always stretch after practice ends and stretch for a moderate amount of time (around 10 mins maybe). Sidenote, I think a swimmer told me that you should stretch a quarter of the time you spent working out. Sidenote on that sidenote, I hate unsubstantiated workout advice. Pisses me off. For all we know they made it up.

Athelticism wins games. A team that has better athleticism can keep up/beat a team that has everything else but.

Bids

All mindset? Sure, at first. But once youre over that hump, I think it's more about physical not mental commitment. If youre running all out and your body is low youre more likely to bid successfully than when youre standing straightup. Of course body positioning and speed become irrelevant after youve done it a few dozen times on the worst surfaces imaginable (e.g. The Barksdale Desert)

"All about the toe" - Andy

Reading the Disc

"Decide where its going to go immediately after its thrown" - Niji

"Take a few steps back in preparation for the catch, then attack" - William

Only intentionally backpedal from the disc.

Oh and attack that shit.

Cuts

I dont like turtles I like cutting.

Stuff I need to work on:

1. Instinctively I know when to make a cut. Go all out when it occurs to me, and already be cutting when it occurs to me. Trust yourself Luke.

2. More than one fake is ok.

3. Try both playing off the defender's position and cutting where you want to cut

4. Alternate feet in which to pivot

5. For handler cuts, always move right after a throw. Quick.

The Mark

A certain demotivational poster comes to mind.

1. Staying close is key for the first six counts or so, after that backup.

2. Hold that force, dont get faked out of position.

3. On a turn it, depending on field position of the disc and players, it helps to go strike for two seconds max to cut off the huck.

4. Bring the condoms.

Conclusions for the year: I have learned alot, something Im proud of. Alot more to go, to put it simply. Looking forward to all of it.

Aight. Thoughts on high school pickup to come.