Curriculum

Outline

Practice philosophy/Benchmarks
Key drills
Monthly Overview
Overview of Offensive and Defensive Strategies
Curriculum
Drill Library
Conditioning re newer players drill based

Practice Philosophy

-Quick disc movement and flow is a crucial component of our game and should be emphasized in every practice. There should be a mixture of doing these drills in small groups (individual skill development) and large groups (team flow).

-Drills that emphasize quick disc movement (following throws) and flow are keep away with low stalls and the hex puzzle drill.

-When introducing a new skill or concept, it should first be done (ideally within one practice) in a rote way then in a gamified way. Ie: Teaching/practicing throwing technique, then playing monkey in the middle using those throws

Every month we will have benchmarks that we hope to achieve that show our progress. Its important to achieve one benchmark before shifting the focus entirely to another.

Key drills:

Keep-Away

Objective: Improve throwing, catching, getting open, and maintaining possession under defensive pressure.

Setup:

- Number of players: 4–14

- Field size: Anywhere from a small end zone to a full Ultimate field.

- Teams: Divide players into two teams. Adjust team sizes as needed.

- Stall count: Choose a stall count between 3 and 7, depending on the players' experience and desired difficulty.

-Coaches decide how many passes in a row equals a point

How to Play:

1. The offensive team attempts to maintain possession by completing consecutive passes.

2. The player holding the disc must release it before the stall count reaches the limit.

3. The defense attempts to force a turnover by intercepting or knocking down a pass, or forcing an incomplete throw.

4. After a turnover, the teams switch roles.

5. Keep track of consecutive completed. Coaches decide how many passes in a row equals a point

Ways to Adjust the Difficulty:

- Smaller field: Creates tighter spaces and requires quicker decisions.

- Larger field: Encourages longer passes, more movement, and greater use of space.

- Shorter stall count (3–4): Emphasizes quick disc movement and decision-making.

- Longer stall count (6–7): Gives players more time to get open and work on their throwing.

- Fewer players: Gives everyone more touches and opportunities to get open.

- More players: Creates more complex offensive and defensive situations.

-Every other throw goes to a predetermined player.

-After completing target passes, team has to score in end zone

-Must include predetermined number of deep passes.

Coaching Points:

- After throwing, immediately move to create another passing option.

- Keep appropriate spacing instead of crowding around the disc.

- Look for open teammates rather than forcing passes.

- Catch the disc while moving whenever possible.

- Move the disc quickly to keep the defense from getting set.

Remember: The goal isn't just to complete passes. It's to learn how to move, get open, make good decisions, and maintain possession under pressure.

Monthly Overview

Month 1-Quick disc movement, flow, hex offense

Benchmarks:

Players are consistently able to get to 20 in 7 v 7 keep away with a stall to 5.
Players are consistently able to get to 10 in 3 v 3 keepaway with a stall to 5.

Month 2-Quick disc movement, flow, vert stack, defending vert stack (man and triad), man defense, deep throws

Benchmarks:

Two to three players on each line can accurately throw four deep passes in a row both forehand and backhand.
In a scrimmage players consistently and independently set up a vert stack with the proper distance, execute receiver cuts in the correct order and execute dump-swings

Month 3-Quick disc movement, flow, Zone or triad defense, break mark throws and offhand throws

Offensive and Defensive strategies

Hex offense-Primary offense

Key rules

-3 Back ,1 Middle, 3 Forward

-Start disc with one of the backs

-In man offense, off a dead disc thrower will call out first cutter or two.

-Constantly move into open space and avoid closed space (where people already are). Momentum (quick disc movement) is viewed as just as important as gaining yards. It changes the angle of attack, keeps the defense off guard and generates new options.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbtpkpANrI&list=PLD4IAAChyrN3uP-7EnQJSDRK3jZo98YMZ&index=9&t=1808s&pp=iAQB

Vert stack - Primary offense

Key rules

-Receivers can't cut past ace in the stack

-If there is a dump cut completed from the sideline for a loss of yards, the ace will initiate a swing.

-If an upline dump cuts is unsuccessful, the ace will fill for the dump and the dump will go to the ace position.

Zone O

4 handlers (1 handler stands behind current thrower and swings disc)

2 poppers

1 deep

Zone D

Key rules

-3 person cup, 3 middles, 1 deep

-One of the deeps is the general meaning they are the furthest back and communicate where the defense needs to shift to the other players.

-Cup will trap when on the sideline.

Week One

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVES

Review cutting mechanics and hex offense
Cardio and muscular endurance

DRILLS

Two person cutting drill
Standard go to.
Upline go to
2 v2 up to 7 v 7 keep away
Explain Hex offense using cones (practices two and 3)
“Go over hex decision tree handout” (practices two and three)
Train runs
Fartlek runs
Planks

RULE TO BE INTRODUCED

Spirit of the game

Week Two

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVES

Hex offense, dump swing and follow your throws
Cardio and muscular endurance

DRILLS

Dump swing go to
Doug's man defense drill with cones
keep away -every other throw to handler
6 player static circle, 1 offender, 1-3 defenders (how many completions in a row can offense get)
Hex puzzle drill
Ben's right of way drill
Go over Hex Offense
Go over hex decision tree handout”
Fartlek runs
Bridges
Train runs
Planks

RULE TO BE INTRODUCED

Time outs

Week Three

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVES

Continue working on flow
Deep throws
Endurance

DRILLS

In cut-Dishy-Deep
Hex puzzle drill full field
Keep away
Scrimmage with deep completion necessary
Fartlek Runs
Train runs
Bridges
Planks
Isometric lunges

RULE TO BE INTRODUCED

Restarting and continuing play

Week Four

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVES

Continue working on flow/hex offense
Man defense
Endurance

DRILLS

Doug defense drill
Scrimmage no deep, no in
Hex puzzle
Dump swing go-to
Upline go to
Keep away
Bridges
Planks
Isometric lunges
Fartlek runs

RULE TO BE INTRODUCED

In bounds vs out of bounds

Week Five

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVE

Offensive flow
Vert stack
Strength

DRILLS

Review of vert stack handler set. practice different scenarios in groups of 3
In cut-Dishy- deep
2 person cutting drill
Keep away
Scrimmage using vert and hex
Single leg bridges
Lunges with looped resistance bands
Bear crawls
320s

RULE TO BE INTRODUCED

End zone possession

Week Six

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVES

1. Offensive flow

2. Vert Handler movement

3. Strength

DRILLS

3 v3 keep away using rules from vert handler set
Mini or half court with every other throw to designated handler
Keep away
Hex puzzle
Scrimmage trying different players in handler position

RULE TO BE INTRODUCED

Scoring -finer points

Week Seven

Montclair Middle School Ultimate

Advanced Team

SKILL AND ATHLETIC OBJECTIVES

Offensive flow
Triad D
Butterfly cuts in a vert stack
Strength

DRILLS

Various go to drills
Keep away
Hex puzzle
Scrimmage using Triad D
Butterfly cuts throwing to handlers only
Butterfly cuts handlers can throw to receivers but receivers can only throw to handlers
Butterfly cuts in a scrimmage