Ultimate: Vertical Stack vs. Cup Zone

5-on-5 Ultimate where the offense sets up in a vertical stack with cuts out of the stack, and the defense alternates person-to-person and a three-player cup zone around the thrower. Students work on coordinated cuts, quick passing and team defense.

How to play

1. Mark two 40 x 20 m (45 x 22 yd) fields with 6 m (7 yd) end zones and make four teams of 6 (5 play, 1 subs every point). Review: no running with the disc, throw within 10 seconds (3 min).
2. Vertical stack: attackers line up down the middle 10 m (11 yd) from the thrower; one cuts to the open side and, if not thrown to, clears to the back. No defense (4 min).
3. Play person-to-person to settle the cuts (6 min).
4. On the whistle the defense switches to a cup: three surround the thrower and two cover deep (6 min).
5. Against the cup, the offense drops the stack and swings the disc with three handlers; a point with no turnover counts double (4 min).
6. Wrap-up: each team says which was harder, cutting from the stack or breaking the cup (3 min).

Rules

• The marker stays an arm's length from the thrower and never touches the disc.
• The marker counts to ten out loud; at ten, the disc turns over.
• Players call their own fouls; disagreements mean the play is redone.
• Cut while watching the disc to avoid collisions.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: play a fixed central handler who does not need to cut.
• Deaf or hard of hearing: show the stall count with fingers and signal defense switches with a raised pinnie.
• Lower skill level: may rethrow if the disc drops with no defender nearby.

Learning goals

• Coordinate cuts out of a vertical stack.
• Defend as a zone unit.
• Adjust the offense to the defense.

Equipment for a class of 25

• flying discs: 4
• cones: 16
• pinnies: 12

Teacher tip

Everyone wants to cut at once: assign a numbered cutting order at first. Deep cuts go into open space so nobody collides.

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