Overhead Throw Lab: Hammer, Scoober and Blade

Station-based workshop to learn and compare Ultimate's three overhead throws: the hammer, the scoober and the blade. Each group tries them, measures its accuracy and decides which game situation each one fits.

How to play

1. Quick demo of the three throws and their flight paths: the hammer flips over in the air, the scoober is short and fast, the blade drops almost straight down (4 min).
2. Six groups rotate through three 5-minute stations, one per throw, with hoop targets at 10-15 m; each student throws 6 times per station (15 min).
3. After the rotations, each group totals on its sheet how many throws of each type landed within a step of the hoop (3 min).
4. Final scenario: a tall marker with arms up in front of the thrower; the group picks which throw to use to get over and tries it (5 min).
5. Debrief: which is most reliable, which is fastest and which works against a zone? (3 min).

Rules

• Each station has one throwing line, and nobody crosses the target area while someone is throwing.
• Receivers do not try to catch a blade head-on: step aside and pick it up off the ground.
• Markers stay one disc's width away and do not jump at the thrower.
• Overhead throws go only toward clear areas, never toward other stations.

Variations

Adaptations

• Shoulder injury: works as scorekeeper and flight-path analyst at all three stations.
• Visual impairment: uses a brightly colored disc and throws the hammer toward a person clapping next to the target.
• Autism: always gets the same place in line at each station and a one-minute warning before each rotation.

Learning goals

• Perform the three overhead throws safely.
• Compare how effective they are using the group's own accuracy data.
• Link each throw to the tactical situation where it is useful.

Equipment for a class of 25

• flying discs: 15
• cones: 16
• hoops: 4
• worksheets: 6

Teacher tip

These throws are hard on the shoulder when repeated a lot: cap it at 18-20 throws per student. Most groups learn the scoober before the hammer.

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