Learning a new sport can be challenging in itself, learning all the language and new plays surrounding it can be even more of a challenge. Ultimate Junkies has put together some basic verbiage that will help you fit right in.
Cut/Cutting in: The purpose of a cut is to lose the player covering you and to allow the disc handler/thrower an open spot for them to throw the disc into. Cutting can be extremely difficult and when you are just starting out it is hard to know where and when to cut without getting in the way of your team members. As you begin running towards the handler/thrower, and your man is following you, you want to move quickly to one side and then even faster to the other side (zigzag)and then make a cut at roughly a 45 degree angle towards the handler/thrower (make sure you follow it through to the disc). After you have done this you want to GET OUT of the way -allowing room for one of your other teammates to make their cuts. Knowing who is going to cut and who is going to stay requires the players to be aware of one another. Once you go in for the cut, you will either get the disc or you won’t. If you do not receive the pass, it is very important to move out of the way of the next potential “cutter”. Also, if you hear anyone yelling at you to stop “clogging” this just means you are in the way of one of your teammates cutting line – so just get out of the way.
Disc: refers to Frisbee
Foul: when someone comes into contact with another player
Man to Man: if you hear your captain yell man to man this means cover a member from the opposing team. You should always cover your man/player. You basically never want the player you are covering to be open, never allowing them the opportunity to catch the disc from their disc handler /thrower. In ultimate, there is a lot of cutting in and just when you think you are covering your man/player, he or she will bolt, cutting/ zigzagging in towards the thrower. Hence why it is so important that you’re on your player at all times – you’ll need to try and anticipate their every move. If you do a good job at covering your man/player he or she should never be in a position to score. Just remember to leave enough space between you and the player so you’re not causing any ‘contact’ with him/her (which could result in a foul being called).
Pick: when two players cross in one another’s path while the play is taking place. Majority of picks are done accidentally but if they were never called it could create an unfair opportunity for one team to get open and score while one of his or her players gets in-between the play. This can also be dangerous if two players are running toward the play and another player runs in-between. Once you hear someone yell “PICK” everyone is to freeze. Immediately the play stops and you do not move. The opposing team (offensive) player must go back to where he/she was when the pick happened. Then the game resumes.
Pancake: using both hands to grab the disc -one hand on top of the disc and the other at the bottom. This is a basic catch in ultimate. When you’re just learning it is always better to catch with both hands to ensure you do not miss the pass.
Stack: There are some basic plays in ultimate that you might hear from time to time. If you hear someone yell “stack” or “stack on john” this means the team will line up behind the players name called – on an angle from your player throwing the disc. Each player in the “stack” will then run towards the thrower, cutting in, and then clearing out (behind the thrower, not in front). The next player on your team would then run towards the thrower and cut in and so on until the thrower has passed off the disc –this helps create a clear path between the thrower and the receiver.
Ultimate/Ulti/Ulty: refers to the sport
Zone: Playing “zone” is another form of a “play” / “strategy” – many teams (more advanced players but not limited to) will play something called “zone”. The team (team captain) designates each player a specific spot on the field (used while playing defence) and when the opposing team has the disc, you run to your sport and cover that “position” immediately, opposed to “man to man” where you are only covering 1 player no matter where he or she is on the field. When playing zone as a new player, it is important that you get to your position right away in order to stop the disc from being sent down the field and into a scoring position. Usually the formation is as follows: The “cup” three players form a cup around the thrower – trying to take away the disc handler/ throwers opportunity of passing the disc to one of his / her players up the field. Sides: Left and right sides are responsible for watching the opposing team player running up the sides of the field looking for that next pass from the disc handler/thrower. Mid – is responsible for watching the mid section of the field, watching the opposing team players cutting into the middle looking for a pass from the disc handler/thrower. Back – the back player is watching for the opposing team player trying to get into scoring position, he / she is ensuring they cut off any opportunity to have a man open close to or in the end zone. This is just the basics and brief overview, each captain playing a zone will guide you into positions and teach you specifics of “owning” that spot on the field.
Forcing Home or Forcing Away: at the beginning of a game your captain or another member of your team may say forcing home or forcing away. This is used to limit where the handler/thrower can throw to. If you were covering a player and you are to force home (home being where all you bags are) you would position your body (block) the one side of the handler/thrower so he or she could only throw to the one side of the field (where your bags are located). Positioning yourself for this means you are standing on the right or left side of the player (depending what you have designated as “home” and “away” you are in front of them. Forcing the thrower to throw on one side of the field allows the rest of your team to cover that area and helps prevent anyone from the opposing team to enter for the pass. This is something every beginner player should understand and practice.
Out of bounds: Each field is marked with an out of bounds area; you want to ensure you catch the disc within these marked area. Some leagues may have designated areas also marked out of bounds. For instance, in the Newmarket Ultimate Frisbee League, the box in front of the goal post is considered “out of bounds” meaning if you catch a disc within this area, it would not count and the disc is turned over to the other team.
Stalls: If you are covering a player who has the disc, they have 10 stalls to release it. The minute your player picks up the disc, you begin to yell, 1 stall, 2 stalls, and so on; he or she must release the disc by 10 stalls. If they do not, the disc is turned over to the other team. The same goes if you are the one holding the disc, you will have 10 stalls to find an open player and release it.
