Handler Defense

Handler Defense:

1.      Upline Sprint

a.       Use three cones to outline the path of an upline (call them a-b-c)

b.      Dictate to the offense that they are just going to spring along the path (a-b-c)

c.       Defense is trying to just keep up with them

I am pretty sure this is step one.  A young defender needs to learn how fast he has to move in order to cover an upline.  I have a freshman right now who stands up straight and just lets the offense blow right past them, and then he jogs after them.  He would probably make the A team if he could play handler defense, but at this point he has no appreciation for what he needs to do just to cover the initial strike upline. 

2.      Upline and back

a.       Same three cones

b.      Dictate that the offense is going to just run upline and then cut back (a-b-c-b)

                                                              i.      Cutter doesn’t have to go all the way toward c – just ensure he drives hard toward it

c.       Defense is just trying to get in front of the upline and then trying to get back on the around

After you convince them to cover the uplines you have to convince them to pursue the arounds.

3.      Upline option

a.       Same three cones

b.      Offense is allowed to either run a hard upline (a-b-c) or a hard up and back (a-b-c-b)

                                                              i.      Nothing in between, no stutter steps, no jukes

                                                            ii.      Offense needs to pick which one they’re running before they get into it

c.       Defense has to be reactive to two options

Take them out of the comfort of knowing what’s coming.  This teaches them the perils of overpursuing.

4.      Uplines – no rules

a.       Take the cones and the rules away from the offense

                                                              i.      All juking/stuttering/shimmies are allowed

b.      Defense has to be reactive

Game like reps

Last year alumni weekend the Illinois kids were complaining about a rookie who couldn’t play defense.  Brad whispered to me, “they complain about him, but have they even tried to teach him how to play defense?”  I referenced earlier a freshman that I have this year, NUT has already complained about his ability to play handler defense.  They call him lazy, but we haven’t taught him how to play handler defense yet so who does the blame really fall on?

Coaching Cues:

Reds are on offense.  The star has the disc and is trying to score going up the page, she is being forced forehand.

1. As a defender she wants to triangulate so that she can see both the disc and her girl.
1. A major part of this is going to be working to maintain her triangle
2. The offense can “break” her triangle by getting on her back and forcing her to turn to face guard.
2. She can set her eyes towards this space so that she can see both the disc and the girl in her peripherals.
3. This is the “upline” space
1. It is not the end of the world to get beat here
2. If as a defender she can stay between her girl and the endzone (the endzone up the page) then she will have effectively “capped” their upline and taken away the power position
3. Under cutting the upline and trying to lay it out is definitely a risk she wants to take!
4. Another option and probably the best option is eliminating the dump from being an option by allowing them to go upline, but staying close enough that the thrower never even thinks about throwing it. This forces the offense to go to their next option which lowers their completion percentage drastically.
4. This is the “around” space
1. It is important to prioritize “capping” this movement over trying to undercut it for a d

                                                              i.      Compare this to the upline space where I say undercutting is a worthwhile gamble, undercutting here is not worthwhile!  - Just cap the throw

2. The general rule is she is not allowed to commit to getting a D on around throws until the disc is in the air. When the disc is release she has to make a quick read if she can get the d or not. Most of the time she can’t. If she can’t the focus immediately has to switch to containing/capping the around. She cannot let them continue to throw to the breakside.

The Defender's Back: