Breaking the Mark: Long Pivot and Pass to the Closed Side

Work in groups of four to learn how to beat a marker who is forcing one side: fake, long pivot with a fixed pivot foot, and a pass to the side the defender is trying to close. Students count how many passes break the mark and analyze which fake works best.

How to play

1. Demonstrate the pivot: fixed pivot foot, long low step to each side, and a fake with shoulders and disc (3 min).
2. Groups of four: thrower, marker and two receivers, one on the open side and one on the break side, 10 m away (2 min).
3. The marker forces one side; the thrower must pass to the break-side receiver using a fake and pivot before six on the count (6 min).
4. Rotate roles every 5 attempts; one receiver records how many of each thrower's passes break the mark (2 min).
5. 3v3 game on a 20 x 15 m field with a bonus point for every completed break-mark pass (10 min).
6. Quick analysis: which fakes made the marker move and which did not (2 min).

Rules

• The pivot foot cannot lift or drag while holding the disc; if it moves, it is a travel.
• The marker stays one disc's width away and does not wrap their arms around the thrower.
• The thrower does not hit the marker when pivoting: the step goes to the side, not into their body.
• Players call their own fouls, and the disc goes back to the thrower.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: pivots by turning the wheelchair, and the marker defends with one arm extended.
• Knee injury: makes short, high pivots without a deep lunge and receives more on the open side.
• Autism: first practices the fake-pivot-pass sequence without a marker until confident.

Learning goals

• Pivot with a fixed pivot foot and enough reach.
• Use fakes to throw the marker off balance.
• Decide when to break the mark and when to pass to the open side.

Equipment for a class of 25

• flying discs: 10
• cones: 20
• pinnies: 10

Teacher tip

Many throwers pivot standing tall: ask for the free hand to nearly touch the ground on the step. It pairs well with the force-side marking session.

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