Attacking the Zone: Three Handlers and Two Poppers

Teams learn to attack a zone defense by moving the disc quickly among three handlers at the back and looking for two poppers who move into the gaps in the cup. The goal is for the disc to switch sides faster than the zone can shift.

How to play

1. Explain with a cone diagram on the ground: three handlers in a line across, two poppers behind the cup and two deep (4 min).
2. Circulation without defense: handlers move the disc side to side in under three seconds per pass (5 min).
3. Add a three-person cup; handlers look for the pass to the popper who appears in the gap between two defenders (8 min).
4. 7v7 or 6v6 game where the defense always plays zone and the offense scores two points if they score after a pass to a popper (10 min).
5. Debrief: how many passes did it take to beat the cup, and which gap opened most? (3 min).

Rules

• Poppers settle in the gap when they receive: they do not run at the defenders.
• The cup marks one disc's width away without wrapping.
• In aerial contests, play the disc without pushing or jumping into another player.
• Subs happen at the end of each point, entering from the end line.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: plays center handler, receiving and redistributing the disc without moving much.
• Autism: always plays the same position, with a reference cone marked on the ground.
• Low fitness: takes the popper role, which needs short movements, and plays alternate points.

Learning goals

• Move the disc quickly to shift the zone defense.
• Identify and exploit gaps in the cup.
• Coordinate the handler and popper roles.

Equipment for a class of 25

• flying discs: 4
• cones: 20
• pinnies: 14

Teacher tip

Best with no wind or a tailwind so side-to-side passes do not sail away. This session fits right after working on zone defense with a cup.

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