Cutting

Cutting, written by Chris Van Holmes

Once you've become comfortable with the techniques of running and
accelerating you can apply them to your actions on the field. There is
a chant about what it takes to win in Ultimate: "No great throws. No
great catches. just great cuts!" It is obvious catching and throwing
are much easier if the receiver is wide open. From the receiver's point
of view Ultimate is all about getting open and catching the pass. This
requires two things:

1) Establishing separation between receiver and defender.

2) Approaching a throwing area where a pass can be delivered.

The first is a contest between you and your defender with the simple
concepts outlined in the preceding chapter determining the victor. The
second may require you to take into account the thrower, the marker,
other cutters and other defenders. A good offensive strategy will
reduce the complexity of this task.

When the thrower is facing the mark there should be three potential
areas for a reception: backhand, forehand, and deep. If these areas are
not open, the cutter's job becomes much more difficult. Directly behind
the marker(Ma) is a triangular "dead zone" with the apex far from the
marker. This is the reverse of the dead zone as is usually drawn. This
is because a throw to a spot directly behind the marker is very
difficult while one further away becomes easier. It is important to
remember the dead zone is fluid. It can be anywhere on the field, move
over time, and have almost any orientation depending on the marker.
That is why there are no field marks on this diagram

As a receiver, your goal is to approach a throwing area with your
defender behind you and not in the throwing lane while the thrower is
ready to deliver the pass. Both the positioning and timing are crucial.
Planned cuts and acceleration at what I call break points establish
position. Communication, eye contact and deliberate fakes synchronize
the thrower and cutter.

I will assume the defender is smart and fast. Your advantage is in
them reacting to you. There are a quite a few ways to get position and
establish separation from the defender. Each one can stand alone but
they are more effective when strung together.

The most direct way of getting open is to take a position between your
defender and the throwing area before you even cut. Let the thrower
know where you are going with subtle communication. Be sure you go
where you said you would. Against good defenders this opportunity is
rare and is usually a cut into, or through, the dead zone. A cut to the
upside-down throw can be very effective at breaking the mark.

A more reliable method is to out-accelerate your opponent. The key here
is to start faster and turn sharper as they attempt to catch up to your
first moves. Changes in direction work best when they are done at break
points. These are places to turn based on your position relative to the
dead zone or based on your defenders speed relative to yours. When you
are passing through the dead zone you have two cutting options that are
opposites. In this area defenders are especially alert. As you exit the
dead zone, the defender begins to expect only 1 pass, is striving to
catch up, and often glances at the thrower to see the release. This is
a break point. You should plant hard to get a good lean angle, increase
your step rate for more power, and cut back to the other side. In
general, break points occur as you move across the boundary of the dead
zone. As you can imagine, cuts that alternate between throwing areas
will give you the most advantage.

Break points can also occur anywhere on the field if the defender is
accelerating to catch up. As your defender speeds up, their momentum
exceeds yours. This gives you an opportunity to turn a tighter corner
or reverse direction more quickly. The best break points come just as
the accelerating defender reaches you. Since the defender is often out
of sight, it can be difficult to determine the best time to turn. If
you turn early, the defender has a chance to cut the corner and run a
shorter distance than you. If you turn late the defender has already
matched your speed has the same ability to turn. The ideal break point
comes when the defender is as close as possible and still speeding up.
A cut at this point will use their acceleration and reaction time
against them to create the greatest separation.

Another break point occurs whenever the defender looks away from you.
The defender often turns to see the release as you approach a throwing
area. It is a perfect opportunity to go the other way. When you are
positioning yourself on the field or in the endzone the defender will
often glance to check the field. Although your cutting opportunities
may be limited at that moment, a quick move will force the defender to
play catch-up. This will allow you to set them up as your opportunities
expand.

One particularly rewarding method of obtaining separation is to trick
the defender into creating a break point. Try cutting for the dump
while calling for the disc. Then as the thrower fakes the dump, break
hard upfield to the other throw. Obviously something must communicate
to the thrower that you are faking the dump!

In general break points occur

1) Where the defender's responsibility shifts
2) When a defender is very close and still accelerating to catch up.
3) When a defender looks away or loses concentration.

Approaching the Throwing area. The receiver must take into account the
position of the throwing area when choosing the final direction of
their cut. Cuts to the middle of the area allow the thrower the
greatest space and time to deliver the pass. If the cut is toward he
edge of a throwing lane the options are smaller and/or poachers are
more likely. Throwers use visual cues to decide if the cutter is going
to be open. Pick an approach to the throwing area that allows the
thrower to judge the separation and relative speeds of the receiver and
defender. Expand your options As the cutter moves around the field,
the defender must work to maintain a proper defensive position. When
your cuts include all three throwing areas, the defender's positioning
responsibility keeps on shifting. The defender also needs to check on
the disc location. This will provide the receiver with numerous break
points and cutting opportunities and the job of defense becomes
impossible.

Be Aggressive- Occasional bumping and blocking is a part of Ultimate.
The cutter must be aggressive and attack the defender to get open. If
the defender is properly positioned, it may seem to be a waste of
effort to cut into an open throwing area. This is an illusion. If you
fail to make a cut just because the defender has established position
they have already beaten you.

One solution is to draw the defender into covering another throwing
area, then using a break point to get open in your primary destination.
Use the defender's expectations against them. String break points
together in order to get enough separation if the defense is tenacious.
This is the effectiveness of the triple cut.

Another possibility is to out-power the defender by getting them on
their heels. Accelerate toward the defender. Just before the collision,
step around them and go past. As they turn, you will get some
separation.

Communicate. If the thrower and cutter are communicating it becomes a
game of two-on-one. Use an elbow point, raised eyebrow, or field map to
establish synchrony. Then you can plan your cuts with confidence of the
results. The thrower can use better fakes to shift the marker and fool
the defender. The cutter can set up strong break points without
worrying about an early throw. Often it leads to an easy completion
just. when the defense feels it needs a stopper. This can take the
heart out of the defending team.

Common Errors

Cutting

Running