The Spirit of the Game

Players discuss a foul call

One of the most defining characteristics of ultimate, besides the fact that the players use a flying disc instead of a ball, is the implementation of the Spirit of the Game (SOTG). Spirit of the Game is the term for mutual respect and sportsmanship that competitors agree to govern each other by as there are no referees in ultimate.

There are five aspects of SOTG that USA Ultimate (the governing body of ultimate in the USA) highlights; know the rules, avoid body contact, be fair-minded, enjoy playing, and communicate respectfully.

Know the Rules

Just like any sport, knowing the rules is a crucial aspect of the game. However, because ultimate is self-officiated, players must also call their own fouls. This requires a higher awareness of the rules on and off the field. It is each player’s responsibility to call a foul by shouting the name of the foul on the field. You cannot call a foul for another player unless they are unable to call it themselves.

Avoid Body Contact

Ultimate is a non-contact sport. Even so it is still a very physical game. Players are running, jumping, and diving around the field with others in play. Despite this, each player has a responsibility to avoid unnecessary body contact. There are even some instances where making a play on the disc would cause another player harm or put them in a dangerous situation. This is called a “dangerous play” and is an official foul that can be called.

Be Fair Minded

Ultimate is a fair sport and each player on the field expects others to adhere to that standard. Whether calling fouls appropriately or listening to others, each player should play with integrity in mind.

Enjoy Playing

Everyone playing ultimate should enjoy the game that they are playing. Disrespectful actions, such as spiking the disc on an opposing player, or trash talking can be grounds for a “Spirit Foul.” A Spirit Foul is a recognized foul that can be called if another player is not adhering to the SOTG principles on or off the field.

Communicate Respectfully

To resolve a foul, the player who called the foul and the player whom the foul was called on are permitted to discuss the situation. In that instance, the player who was called for the foul may contest or uncontest the foul called on the field. When discussing the foul, each player should remain respectful of the other and recognize each other’s perspectives.

 

The Be Calm Strategy when calling a foul from USAU

 

The Spirit of the Game plays such an important role in maintaining the integrity of the sport of ultimate. Without these five principles, ultimate would not be able to function as the same positive communal sport that it always has been and continues to be.

To learn more about the Spirit of the Game you can go to USAU's official website: https://usaultimate.org/spirit-of-the-game/

Zone Defense: Basic Cup Formation

Figure 1: Cup Defense

The most common zone defense in ultimate is a cup defense. The name is derived from the unique formation of three players that are assigned to marking and guarding the thrower with the disc. The other four defenders divide up the rest of the field into zones that they are responsible for guarding. A zone is typically used when there is a good amount of wind, which makes floaty or deep throws harder to complete.

The Cup

Since the cup formation is the most unique aspect of this zone defense, the most time should be dedicated to practicing it. The cup is composed of three defenders that have good chemistry with one another and great stamina. The job of the three defenders in the cup is to stay together and follow the disc on the field, guarding each new thrower.

Figure 2: Cup example in-game

Cup Spacing

The cup sets up as a three-person mark on the thrower. It is important to note that only one of those defenders can be within 10 feet of the person with the disc or else a double team may be called. As seen in figure 2, there is adequate spacing between the thrower and cup defenders.

Cup Movement

As mentioned above, the three defenders in the cup move together as one unit, guarding each new thrower. However, when moving from one thrower to the next, the cup is in a vulnerable position if the cup is not disciplined in its movement. The cup must stay together as one unit, whether guarding or moving across the field. This way the cup does not let the thrower throw in between or around them.

Zone Defenders

The other four defenders set up downfield taking away certain sections of the field, as seen in figure 1. The Deep Deep takes away any deep looks, not letting any offensive player get behind them on the field. The Wings are responsible for guarding any cutters that enter their side of the field. The Short Deep guards any cuts that enter the middle of the field and stop any throws that may get through the cup.

The Result

The goal of the cup is to force the thrower to throw to only one side of the field. In figure 1, the force side is in the south direction. The defense wants the offense to throw the disc to the southern side of the field. Once on the sideline, the offense will have limited options as to where they can throw the disc. The thrower will be forced to make a low percentage throw that may be affected by the wind. The zone defenders will also be able to react quickly and make a play on the disc. In the case that the offense gets within 15 feet of the endzone the Deep Deep or a captain may call “fire” which means switch to person-to-person defense.

Overall, cup zone defense can be very effective when applied in the right situations. It is important to remember that implementing the cup in a game should come after much practice, as each defender on the field needs to feel comfortable with their role and the others on the field.

Zone Defense: Bracketing a Vertical Stack

  

Zone Defense

In Ultimate, there are other defense structures than just a person-to-person matching defense. For example, zone defenses are an effective alternative. Like other sports, a zone defense places defenders on certain areas of the field in which they guard any offensive players that may enter their zone. Instead of being tied to guarding another person, no matter where they go on the field, the defender stays within their “zone.”

Figure 1: Bracket Defense

Bracketing is a specific type of zone that a defense can implement when the opposing offense is using a vertical stack. Instead of each defender guarding one offensive player, each defender guards a part of the field where the offense wants to catch the disc in. There are five zones downfield that the defense must guard. These different zones can be understood from the numbered red zones in figure 1.

Bracket Zone Responsibilities

Starting from the back, zone five has the responsibility of guarding the deep space. A good rule of thumb is to not let any offensive player get behind the five’s position. This would allow an offensive player to sneak deep and get a large gain. The five also has a larger zone to cover than the other zones because the five has more time to react to a deep throw.

Zones four and two are the most crucial in a bracket defense. Their responsibility is to take away any underneath cuts on the open side of the field. These two defenders must work together and communicate extremely well to guard such a large and busy space. Usually, defenders who are more comfortable with the zone are placed in these positions.

The three in the zone in responsible for any break side cuts. This is a similar position that the four and two are in but there is only a need for one defender because the handler defenders are taking away throws to the break side of the field.

Zone one’s main job is to take away any quick cuts from the front of the stack or cover an offensive cutter who may try to transition to handler. The one works with the handler defenders in the latter instance to prevent the handlers from resetting the stall count back to zero with a short pass.

The handler defenders are the last two defenders in the bracket, and they play tighter person-to-person defense on the handlers in the handler space below the stack as pictured above. If a handler clears out of the handler space, then that offensive player is no longer the responsibility of the handler defender.

Bracket Implementation

There are a few instances where the bracket zone needs to dissolve into person-to-person defense. The first is when the offense comes within roughly 20 yards of the endzone. The second is when the offense falls into a horizontal stack. In both cases, a captain or the five in the zone needs to yell “Fire” signaling to every defender in the zone to point to a person they will defend.

There are a lot of working parts in the bracket zone, so it is important to practice the bracket before implementing it in-game with your team. Each defender needs to feel comfortable in their space and with the other defenders in the zone. Keep this in mind when using the bracket in games against other teams.