Breaking the Mark

As a handler, your job is to keep the disc in the offense's possession and to allow for upfield throws or dumps that will keep the offense flowing; all the while looking for opportune spots and openings to score.

There is no way any defense can cover the entire field so the mark is set to cut off one half of the field so that the defenders down-field only have to cover 1/2 the area as opposed to worrying about all of it. Theoretically...

As a handler, the offense flows through you and the goal is to yes move the disc, but more so to put the offense in the most advantageous position to score. We all know that the best way to do this is to throw the disc where the defenders aren't, leaving us with breaking the mark.

A couple teammates and I would constantly play "break-mark" but more often then not, we would play a little game we like to call "douche the mark." Straight up force, start at stall 5, the thrower would do anything in his arsenal to get the disc to the receiver all the while being defended by the mark. We'd see upside down throws, throws with no spin, between the legs stuff, and fakes for the ages. Now I don't condone these things in terms of a serious ultimate game, but you get the idea. Essentially, when you break the mark, you do exactly what the defense doesn't want you to

To me, there are several key points that are important in breaking the mark.

1. The Fake
For all of you who've been point blocked, this is for you. The fake is as essential a part to the break mark as the actual throw itself. If you fake the open-side throw, chances are the defender is going to find himself cheating a bit just to (hopefully) get a point block on you, but when this happens, recognize and react. A break-throw doesn't require that much space. You need only an additional amount of inches for this to happen. Fake open side, your defender will bite or even just merely shift their weight towards that side, and then you bring yourself back over to the break side, and you do your thing. Low release, high release, whatever it is... a break is a break.

Standing there just using your arm to throw fakes isn't good enough. It might be enough to look off your receiver, but a good fake requires your entire body. This involves stepping out, or pivoting your hips or your shoulders, making your fake motion as close to your actual throwing motion as possible. We have a guy on our team by the name of KG that has turned people around and even had people turn around and run upfield thinking that he released the disc. His fakes are full body commitments, not simple arm motions. A good mark isn't going to buy cheap fakes. Settle for the best. Use your legs. Pivot Pivot Pivot!

2. The Throw
Against great defenders, chances are that you won't get many opportunities to break. But there are several things you can think about and if you work on them, you'll find yourself better equipped. Low release breaks are effective, pretty as hell, but difficult to throw. What you count on is that your throw will fly past your defender several inches below their hand or foot and rise up to the receiver at a catchable height. High releases are difficult in that they are probably the most easily blocked if not done correctly. Either you quickly release it over their heads or behind their off shoulder, or you throw a hard fake and catch the defender bending at the waist for a short throw and then pop it over them.

Defenders that are riding you on the mark I've found to be the easiest to break. Given the rules w/ disc-space, most defenders will ride your pivot foot, theoretically taking away that break throw. But if they are really close, all you need to do is step through and throw through. It's very difficult for a mark to defend that kind of throw and additionally, there will most likely be contact which will result in a defensive foul and a free throw. (Keep good spirit in mind). You step through and throw through, the defender will almost always be caught off guard, adjust and move into your path, contact, foul, free throw, etc. etc. You guys get the point.

3. Respect
A really important aspect is respect from the defender. Most of the time in ultimate, you're defended by someone you don't know. You don't know how they throw, how fast they are, how good they actually are. You learn more about your opponent as you play and adjust as you go. The flip side is that they don't know anything about you either. From experience, people look at me and think, okay short, asian, gotta be a handler. I'm not that menacing I must say but one of the first things I try to do when I handle against teams is the establishment of my throws. Let them know you have them. Let them know you have that low release break throw, high release break throw. Let them know that their mark is nothing against you. Okay you break their mark 3 straight times on the backhand side. Yea they're gonna be scared whenever you have the disc and they're gonna tighten up their mark even more by taking away more of the break side. On top of that, the mark's defenders are going to be thinking, man this guy can break our marks any day, I'm gonna play tighter on D "just in case" we get broken.

Now how advantageous is that!? The defenders are worried sick about your break throws, so they have to almost cheat closer to the break side to make up for it. The result? Easier open side cuts for the offense. The offense flows better, open side throws are a since, and you score in 4 throws. But also keep in mind that you will still be able to break their force and thus causing the wonderful and sexy sight that is a dump swing for the break side cut. Demanding respect is something as important as actually having the throw. You make the defense believe that you have those break throws, or that 40 yard hammer, they're gonna expect it and although THOSE options might be taken away via tighter breakside mark or a deep watching for the hammer, it opens up a lot more and makes the game SIMPLE and BORING. Boring Ultimate is efficient and methodical. And it almost always results in a score.


Break the Mark! Try it sometime! =)

-hammie