Marking (Where it all begins)
Marking is the most important aspect of any team defense.
There are a number of articles and even a book out there that can explain how to mark effectively. My goal is not to explain how to mark, but develop a team strategy based upon the mark and what the goal of a marker should be in that respect . Everyone on defense MUST be able to rely on the mark to execute the team strategy. If the team is unable to rely on the marker, you may have the best team strategy, but you will lose.
Before proceeding any further there are a couple assumptions and general thoughts that must be addressed.
1. There is always an open throw. The marker can not stop every throw, including every breakmark throw.
2. A good thower will always face up to the mark. This essentially turns your force flick mark into a straight up mark.
3. In general, there are 3 types of forces. For our excercises, we will always state that you force flick, backhand, or straight up. Each has it's own goals and objectives upon which a team defense can be excecuted.
4. The field can be broke up into thirds. Middle is the middle third of the field. Open side is the force side. Break side is the side you are protecting. For example, (for a right handed thrower looking downfield) if you are being forced forehand, the open side is to your right, and the break side is to your left.
Let's now break down marking and how it affects the team strategy. The first aspect of marking is based upon the location of the disc on the field. The second aspect of marking is identifying the types of throws available and what throws your defensive strategy is trying to force. Each of these will determine how the downfield defensive players should position themselves.
Scenario #1 - The force is forehand and the disc is on the break side. Ask yourself first how you should position yourself as a marker, secondly what what are the possible throws, finally, what throws does the team strategy want to force and what throws do you want to give up.
In general, when the disc is on this side of the field your positioning should be more of a straight up mark with the sideline as an eighth defender. The second part of the question is where your team's strategy should be developed and how the downfield players should position themselves. The throws that are available are a hammer, scoober, an open side forehand, I/O forehand, a dump, and an around backhand.
A team strategy may state that a marker is to protect the I/O. Now I know that that leaves a number of open throws available, but remember I already stated that there was always an open throw(s). However, let's look at the throws and why we may want to take away the I/O.
Hammer / Scoober - both throws go over the top (some might consider them low percentage) that can hang or take time for the receiver to catch and set up for another throw. This allows the D player to make a play on the disc, or set up the mark for the next throw.
Around backhand - Generally will be a somewhat difficult throw. The disc may float, the sideline is an eigth defender, and in general will allow the mark to setup for the next throw.
Dump - We will get to other strategies about defending the dump with the marker, but in this case, as a marker you want to allow the dump pass as you do not want to open up the break side of the field.
Open side - This is the responsibility of the downfield throwers.
The strategy then becomes that everyone on the field knows that the force is flick, and that the marker is taking away the I/O. The downfield defenders no longer have to chase their defenders in case of a break or stay on the O's hip. Instead, the D players can position themselves to take away the open side throws (which staying on the O's hip really does not).
Secondly, if there is going to be a breakmark throw, the defense knows the types of throws that are coming. This may seem minimal, but knowing the type of throw that is being thrown to the breakside allows the D to make a play on a breakmark throw as these throws will generally be lower percentage. Additionally, even if the throws are good and completed, each of those throws take time to complete which allows the D player to set up a new mark. In regards to bids on throws, in general, you want to be conservative with bids as you want to place the mark on immediately. College kids should read that last sentence twice. Making bids is great, but you don't want to bid on a disc you can not get as it is very important to get the mark on. I couldn't even start to count the number of bids i see made in college where the D has no legitamite bid...only for the O to catch it and have an open throw completed. That is a huge no no IMHO.
One of my other points from earlier is holding people accountable. As such, you must hold your players accountable for any I/O breaks as being unacceptable if that is your strategy. If an open side, dump, around back hand, or hammer/scoober goes up, then the mark has succeeded, as that is your strategy.
I can continue across the field, or move to the downfield defenders for scenario one. We'll see.
$
There are a number of articles and even a book out there that can explain how to mark effectively. My goal is not to explain how to mark, but develop a team strategy based upon the mark and what the goal of a marker should be in that respect . Everyone on defense MUST be able to rely on the mark to execute the team strategy. If the team is unable to rely on the marker, you may have the best team strategy, but you will lose.
Before proceeding any further there are a couple assumptions and general thoughts that must be addressed.
1. There is always an open throw. The marker can not stop every throw, including every breakmark throw.
2. A good thower will always face up to the mark. This essentially turns your force flick mark into a straight up mark.
3. In general, there are 3 types of forces. For our excercises, we will always state that you force flick, backhand, or straight up. Each has it's own goals and objectives upon which a team defense can be excecuted.
4. The field can be broke up into thirds. Middle is the middle third of the field. Open side is the force side. Break side is the side you are protecting. For example, (for a right handed thrower looking downfield) if you are being forced forehand, the open side is to your right, and the break side is to your left.
Let's now break down marking and how it affects the team strategy. The first aspect of marking is based upon the location of the disc on the field. The second aspect of marking is identifying the types of throws available and what throws your defensive strategy is trying to force. Each of these will determine how the downfield defensive players should position themselves.
Scenario #1 - The force is forehand and the disc is on the break side. Ask yourself first how you should position yourself as a marker, secondly what what are the possible throws, finally, what throws does the team strategy want to force and what throws do you want to give up.
In general, when the disc is on this side of the field your positioning should be more of a straight up mark with the sideline as an eighth defender. The second part of the question is where your team's strategy should be developed and how the downfield players should position themselves. The throws that are available are a hammer, scoober, an open side forehand, I/O forehand, a dump, and an around backhand.
A team strategy may state that a marker is to protect the I/O. Now I know that that leaves a number of open throws available, but remember I already stated that there was always an open throw(s). However, let's look at the throws and why we may want to take away the I/O.
Hammer / Scoober - both throws go over the top (some might consider them low percentage) that can hang or take time for the receiver to catch and set up for another throw. This allows the D player to make a play on the disc, or set up the mark for the next throw.
Around backhand - Generally will be a somewhat difficult throw. The disc may float, the sideline is an eigth defender, and in general will allow the mark to setup for the next throw.
Dump - We will get to other strategies about defending the dump with the marker, but in this case, as a marker you want to allow the dump pass as you do not want to open up the break side of the field.
Open side - This is the responsibility of the downfield throwers.
The strategy then becomes that everyone on the field knows that the force is flick, and that the marker is taking away the I/O. The downfield defenders no longer have to chase their defenders in case of a break or stay on the O's hip. Instead, the D players can position themselves to take away the open side throws (which staying on the O's hip really does not).
Secondly, if there is going to be a breakmark throw, the defense knows the types of throws that are coming. This may seem minimal, but knowing the type of throw that is being thrown to the breakside allows the D to make a play on a breakmark throw as these throws will generally be lower percentage. Additionally, even if the throws are good and completed, each of those throws take time to complete which allows the D player to set up a new mark. In regards to bids on throws, in general, you want to be conservative with bids as you want to place the mark on immediately. College kids should read that last sentence twice. Making bids is great, but you don't want to bid on a disc you can not get as it is very important to get the mark on. I couldn't even start to count the number of bids i see made in college where the D has no legitamite bid...only for the O to catch it and have an open throw completed. That is a huge no no IMHO.
One of my other points from earlier is holding people accountable. As such, you must hold your players accountable for any I/O breaks as being unacceptable if that is your strategy. If an open side, dump, around back hand, or hammer/scoober goes up, then the mark has succeeded, as that is your strategy.
I can continue across the field, or move to the downfield defenders for scenario one. We'll see.
$
posted by $ at 3:20 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home