USA Ultimate

The Huddle, Issue #23: Catching 50-50 Discs

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• Getting The Advantage
  
  
  
  • Catching a 50/50 disc is not an exact science just like every other aspect of Ultimate and unfortunately there aren't a lot of aspects you can practice if you're looking to sky the best receivers in the game. Superior athleticism and your ability to read the disc almost always win. However, there are a few things (besides improving vertical leap, experience, etc.) that can set you apart from the rest of the pack if you want to have an advantage at catching a disc over someone of similar or greater ability.
    
    The first thing may seem obvious but you won't believe how many of the best receivers in the game have a preferred hand to catch with, and/or will always catch with the same hand in a big moment. As an elite receiver you should be 100% confident with either hand at any moment during the game.
    
    The second is body position. As an offender on a 50/50 disc you need to be able to anticipate where the disc is going to be where you can catch it at your highest because you have to assume that with two or three other defenders on you, someone will be at least as good a jumper/reader as you are. As soon as the huck goes up you have to get yourself to where you can make a bid for the disc at the peak of your jump without letting the other defenders get position. You have to get to the spot where you will catch the disc at its peak regardless of where the defenders go around you. Don't let the defense dictate where you can position yourself.
    
    The last important aspect of catching a 50/50 disc is the drop step. Again, even many of the best receivers have a preference of which foot they jump off. It is very important to be able to drop step/jump off both feet. ou never know when you need to go off your right foot and catch with your left hand or vice versa to be at your highest point depending on where your defender(s) are.
    
    An example where you can win a 50/50 using all of these skills. Let's say you and two other defenders are all running underneath a moving disc and all of you are 5'10 and can catch a disc at 10ft in the air. The disc is hovering at 11 ft and as an offender you need to come down with this disc. The disc is bobbing up and down and is about to come into the 10ft range so everyone drop steps and prepares to jump, however, you and the other defender see as you do that that the disc bobs right back up. One defender goes up too early. That leaves you and one other defender. As soon as the defender missed the disc it starts to come back down close to the ten foot range. Because you can jump off both legs you only have to take three strides to drop step again and jump off your other foot. The defender has to take four strides and jump off the same foot. You jump first and go up with the hand opposite the leg you jumped off of and catch the disc because you can catch/jump confidently with both legs/feet. The first defender was only confident in jumping/catching off one foot/hand and he also gave up body position by jumping early. The second defender couldn't jump off the other foot confidently leaving him one stride behind you despite maintaining position.
    
    You've just saved your team a turnover and possibly the game if you can catch with both hands confidently, jump of both feet confidently, and maintain establish position first.
     
  • KURT GIBSON
• Catching Priorities
  
  
  
  • In order to catch a 50/50 disc a player needs to be able to do a number of things correctly to win the battle.
    
    1. Reading
    The player must be able to read the disc and understand how the wind and the way the disc was thrown is going to affect its flight path.
    
    2. Positioning
    Once that player has a good grasp of where that disc is going to float down to earth, that player must establish that position firmly. This, establishing and maintaining your position, does take strength, and if a player thinks that they can continue to compete at high levels without weight training, they are out of their minds.
    
    3. Jump
    The player must be able to jump higher than the other people in this group who are also trying to do #1 and #2. If you do number one and number two perfectly, but do not have as high of a vertical as someone else in this cluster, there is still a chance you will come down with that disc. If you want to ensure that it is you that is going to catch that disc, get yourself on a plyometric program and increase your vertical. With jumping also comes timing your jump. Timing your jump is also a skill that can be worked on. Every time you go tossing, practice timing your catch with reaching the peak of your vertical. he more you are able to catch discs at the peak of your vertical in practice, the more likely you will be able to do this in a game situation. This takes timing and knowing when the disc is at the right height for you.
    
    4. Catching The Disc
    You have read the disc right, you got the position, you can jump higher than anyone else, and you have perfect timing on your jump. Now, catch that piece of plastic! Snatch it out of the air! Grab it! Do not gently try to pull it out of the air. Catch with authority. Practice catching with one hand. Practice catching with your left. Practice catching with your right. Practice catching. Do not let yourself casually drop it even when tossing. Remember, perfect practice makes perfect.
     
  • LINDSEY HACK
• Make Them Make A Play
  
  
  
  • When it comes to catching a floating 50/50 disc, one of the most important things to think about is that if the other person is going to get the disc then at least make them make a play. Force them to make a great play to catch it, don't let it be easy. This philosophy most directly applies to playing defence, but still applies to offensive situations.
    
    Too often I see players setting up position behind their opposition. As a shorter player going up against a taller player this is especially detrimental. As soon as you set up shop behind someone you are giving them the advantage. They now have the first shot at making the catch. You will only catch it if they jump and miss it. You've given them superior positioning and they won't feel much pressure from your presence as they are in front with a clear line of sight to the disc and nothing in their way preventing them from making the catch.
    
    Establishing inside position is the first step towards winning the sky battle. Again, if you are shorter than your opponent this is imperative. By establishing inside position you now have a chance to control the situation. You have a better opportunity to find the spot on the field where you can catch the disc at the peak of your jump. If you do this it means the player behind you (who might be taller) has to jump up and reach over you (forward) in order to catch the disc. This is a lot more challenging for them as they have to reach further out than originally desired, and mentally have to worry about you whilst at the same time trying to focus on catching the disc. If they're four inches taller than you they may still catch the disc, but at least it was tougher than it would have been otherwise and you have made them make a play. However, it is possible you have given them too much to think about and they drop the disc or jump too early and miss it entirely.
    
    Again, this strategy most directly applies to playing defence on 50/50 discs as when no one catches it you still win. However, this equally applies to offense as it is always easier to catch a disc when no one is in your way rather than having to jump over someone. Your opponent doesn't know what kind of hops you have and getting inside position gives you that little bit of an advantage you need and gives your opponent a few more things to think about when calculating their attack.
    
    For an analogy to other sports, try watching basketball players as they establish themselves to retrieve a rebound. They expel the majority of their effort getting to the right spot on the floor in front of everyone else. Once there the rebound is theirs following an easy jump.
     
  • MORGAN HIBBERT
• Positioning & Approach
  
  
  
  • While we call these hangers "50/50 discs," I would bet that at the moment the disc is coming down an observer would have a better than coin-flip chance of guessing who will touch the disc first. Keying in on the information informing that decision will help guide a player in giving themselves a better than coin-flip chance of getting to it first.
    
    I think that beyond obvious physical differences ("I like the guy who is 6'8" over the short guy") the two main components are positioning and approach. If you're at the spot early you may want to position yourself so that someone else approaching on a dead run isn't going to be able to have a clean takeoff and take it at their highest point. This doesn't mean you are not playing the disc, but it does mean that you are going to play the disc in a way that allows you to reduce your opponent's chance of taking it at a higher point than you.
    
    Related to this is the approach. If there are three people standing still under the disc and one guy is coming in with a clean running jump, I like the guy on the outside. This means that if you are going to be the third or fourth man in the pile, it might be better to hold up for a second and try to time it so you jump over the group. This is easier said than done, but we've all seen pictures of people getting roofed because they're stuck standing still while another guy had a clean jumping approach.
     
  • GREG HUSAK
• Avoid The Pile-Up
  
  
  
  • We've all been there before. The throw goes up, the disc catches some wind, and just hangs. As the intended offensive receiver, you are forced to slow down and track the path of the disc. It soon becomes quite crowded around you as multiple players converge on what seems like the optimal position to vie for the disc. Soon it's time to jump for the disc and hope everything works out. If you can maneuver through the tangled mess of limbs and actually extend your arm(s) into the air unfettered and catch the disc, then pat yourself on the back. You completed a low percentage catch, and the thrower owes you a burrito/sandwich at the next team dinner.
    
    For the rest of us who aren't Alex Nord or Brodie Smith, our best chances of catching the disc arise from exploiting the weaknesses of the pile-up. The first of which is a speed mismatch. Crowds of people vying for the same position are usually moving pretty slow. Take advantage of this and always be moving faster than the crowd when you prepare to jump for the disc. Sprint towards the pile, take the extra long step to lower your center of gravity (and load your calves like a spring), and use the extra space around you to translate your horizontal momentum into vertical momentum by propelling your off-jumping leg and catching arm upwards in one motion. This could very well give you the extra inch or two you need to sky the pile, as those trapped in the pile are usually unable to jump at their maximum height.
    
    Another weakness for those in the pile-up is perspective. The farther away you are from the crowd, the better your grasp of the situation becomes: You have a more complete view of the path of the disc and the movement of other players which gives you a better idea of where the disc will end up. This information can help you take the best course of action, whether it's trying to sky the pile, realizing the pile has the wrong read on the disc and beating them to the right spot unobstructed, or strategically positioning yourself to pick up the trash after a deflection (which is more likely than the disc being caught).
    
    Truth be told, the intended receiver rarely is the one to win these 50/50 type scenarios. Rather, it's the heads-up offensive player on the other end of the field—surveying the situation and acting accordingly at 100%mdash;who is going to come down with the disc. Avoid the pile-up.
     
  • RAY ILLIAN
• Beating The Pack From Below The Canopy
  
  
  
  • Usually being the shortest guy on the teams I play on, catching 50/50 (jump ball) discs from my perspective is a different game altogether. There are two situations you can encounter with a 50/50 disc. Either you are in the eye of the storm, in which case you were the initial receiver or your the first defender to get into the play, and a multitude of others are collapsing down upon you from all places.
    
    This case is the hard one for people of my stature as you will get caught up in a group of people obviously taller than you. In this case, there are a few steps you can take to maximize your chances of getting a play on the disc.
    
    The two most important parts to me can be summed up with: play smart, play tall.
    
    Play smart just means don't try and out jump or play a game of 500 with a group of people who already have a huge advantage in height. Instead of attempting to sky Shaq, try and get to the position where you believe the disc will first be playable. This is especially important as most packs of people are rarely in the spot the disc will first be playable, but will stumble there as the disc floats by. This is your chance to take advantage of all those trying to battle for immediate position on one another to get a good chance to get into position for the disc. Getting in position for the disc is defined as getting to the point which maximizes your personal chance of making a play on the disc, while getting position on an opponent is defined as getting in a position to minimize your opponents chance of making a play on the disc.
    
    Defensively, this second definition is important since for someone short like myself, you can lure your opposition out of his best position to make a play on the disc to a less advantageous position; this may not immediately benefit you in terms of making a play yourself, but it does cut their chances of receiving the pass which is realistically your real objective on defense. For our sake, we will be trying to catch the disc at all times. With that, once you have got to a position you believe is best for you to play the disc, next it is time to play tall.
    
    For someone like me, this means one simple thing: Go up early! Like I said before, you are not going to sky Shaq, but you can catch him off guard before he begins to make a play. If you go up early, not just will that give you a better chance, but it also will increase your chances of getting fouled. A taller guy thinks he can take another second to set up as he already has the height advantage. By going up early, you have already established your position in the air. If the opponent then jumps later and into you, there is a decent chance his contact will result in a foul which results in your possession. Since this is your overall goal, taking any advantage to accomplish it is worthwhile.
    
    The second case that comes up is the group has already formed and you are running in to join the pack. In this case, being my height, it isn't about joining the giants as much as predicting the final outcome. Most likely, the disc will get mac'd (mac = mid air correction) around, and your job is to predict where it is to finally finish its flight. This is more advantageous than joining the pack because 1. you will probably not be able to follow the steps from case one which is probably your only chance of realistically having a play, 2. because jumping from outside the pack into it almost always results in a foul whether you accept it or not, and 3. the best outcome personally from your position is being the scrapper.
    
    So, for this second case, instead of joining the mayhem, read the disc flight pattern, the wind, the group and try and place yourself outside the pack in a place the disc most likely will finish if no one explicitly catches it. This sounds easy enough, and it is, but you will be surprised at how many times a few players join a pack with no realistic shot at receiving the disc just to watch as it gets mac'd to where they were before they decided to jump in. If you watched Rhino's highlight videos from Regionals 2 years ago, they got 3-4 completions/goals by having players stand outside the pack and make plays on the scraps after large numbers of big men mac'd it.
    
    All in all, when the disc goes up and you think you can make a play, whether you are the intended receiver or the dump for that throw that jump went up, put everything you can into making it a completion. Whether it is a complete jump ball, or a one on one contest, if you play smart and play tall, you will surely come down with more discs than before.
     
  • BRETT MATZUKA
• Retain That!
  
  
  
  • To catch a 50/50 disc, you need to somehow make the chances better than 50/50 for yourself. The first thing you can do is be tall—and yes, I know you can't teach height, but this also includes putting your hand up outstretched and trying to catch the disc at your "tallest point" including your jump. This is related to the second thing which is timing your jump. I know lots of players (particularly new women) who think just putting their hand up will work—well, it won't work against good competition. To know when to jump you need to practice jumping and catching as high as you possibly can—playing flyers-up/500 and doing lots of one on one catching will help with this.
    
    The third, and possibly most important thing, is to get position on as many of the other people as you possibly can. If one of the other people is your teammate, getting position on the opponent can actually allow your teammate to catch the disc, too. If you can judge where the disc will come down and put your body between that space and your opponent, you will greatly increase your chances of catching the disc. However, you must, as I like to tell my players, "Retain that s***!" This means that once you get position, you can't relax—you must actively maintain your position physically.
    
    ADDENDUM:
    
    We received this email from a reader:
    
    I read the article from Ms. Roth about the catching discs subject and I disagree with one point.
    
    Ms. Roth wrote: "If one of the other people is your teammate, getting position on the opponent can actually allow your teammate to catch the disc, too"
    
    For me, if you don't play the disc you are not allowed to block the opponent to help your teammate. I checked WFDF Rules and it is related to rule 12.7.
    
    Keep up the good work.
    -a reader in France
    
    The Huddle's Explanation:
    
    Thanks, ARIF,
    
    We (and Miranda) agree with the rule that an offensive player cannot move solely to block a defender. For instance, if you are on defense, I can't run towards you and away from my teammate just to make sure you cannot make a play.
    
    Miranda is trying to make the point that the offense is allowed to choose whatever method they want to make a play on the disc. If I am on offense, and I move in a way where I could catch the disc but also is a position that seals a defender from making a likely play, this can be both legal and extremely effective. In practical terms, the differences between an illegal block and a legal positioning is probably going to come down to whether the player in question could (given flight of the disc, position, and where the player is looking) make a catch on that particular throw.
    
    Thanks, ARIF, for bringing this confusing issue to more clarity and we hope this makes sense.
    
    -The Editors
     
  • MIRANDA ROTH
• Winning On Both Sides Of The Disc
  
  
  
  • On Offense
    You ought to have done much of the work up front. You were out in the lane first, making an open cut to the end zone, you were looking over your shoulder and saw the release point of the throw. You made your read early, calculated the trajectory of the disc, and picked your line before your defender even heard an up call.
    
    Realizing that your thrower has laid you out to dry with a floaty throw (at least they didn't pump fake and make you come under), you pick a spot four to five yards from where the disc will come down between the disc and the defender to hold your ground. You pause, as several other defenders and Danny Trydiak pile up near you. As the disc is just about to glide into range you attack, with two large, powerful steps towards the spot you predicted and an inertia-aided spring from your dominant leg. You jump, and snatch the disc right over the top of the pile of defenders. People tangle up in your wake, Danny springs free for the end zone, and an easy throw for a goal.
    
    On Defense
    Your head was down, you were running hard to make up ground, when the up call came. You immediately look up to see the disc, just a glance and a quick read—it is floating—and then you put your head back down and try to close the distance between you and your mark, knowing that they have already gotten a better look at the disc. As you close in, your mark starts to slow up a little, you glance over your shoulder again at the disc, this time able to make a fair judgment of where it is going to come down. Your mark ought to have picked the best spot to be in already, a few paces from the anticipated catch zone. You quickly do the math, "Am I taller/wider than my opponent? If so, I would get between them and the disc, forcing them to initiate contact on their jump, and effectively using my girth/height advantage to box them off the disc. No, I am shorter but jumpier."
    
    You pick a line similar to the offensive player, a few big steps laterally from the anticipated catch zone, and pause as more offensive players and Danny Trydiak pile up under the disc. At the right moment you spring, propelling yourself towards the disc and then up—your highest jump. At the last second, you remind yourself, "Be sure" and opt to catch the D instead of macking it. As players tangle and fall in your wake, you swing the disc wisely to Roger, knowing that Danny will probably just huck it....
     
  • CHASE SPARLING-BECKLEY
• How To Get Into The Sky Club
  
  
  
  • My first action, after recognizing that I am about to engage in a 50/50 disc tango, is to take the appropriate angle of attack based on where I think the disc is going to go. This is obviously stale information for veterans. But for the beginners out there, you'll always be considered a member of the grounds crew if you keep running directly underneath the disc expecting that it will drop down to you. Being able to understand the disc's angle of descent with ease will put you on the fast track to a Sky Club membership.
    
    The next step for me is to try and visualize the best course of action I need to take to get the disc in my hand. I'll have images running through my head that guide me through the upcoming attack. Do I see myself needing to shield off my defender(s)? Should I accelerate/decelerate to the disc? The goal for me is to be proactive about what I need to do instead of being reactive. During this process, the disc and its trajectory will hopefully position itself in in a way that looks familiar to what I have been preparing for.
    
    I've described this moment to teammates by saying the disc looks fatter to me. I have no logical explanation as to why the disc looks fatter. Maybe it will look like a cheeseburger to you if you try this, I don't know. All I know is I have a visual trigger that tells me it's time to execute.
    
    Personally, the ability to visualize how to attack a floaty disc mid-flight comes from practice. I have practiced pulling down high discs hundreds of times (and counting) against a plethora of leapers in Austin and against my soccer player of a younger brother (always good for confidence building). In a game, I know I can take the time to relax and visualize while the disc is in the air because I am comfortable in this situation. I am confident of when to attack, because I have practiced it many times before.
    
    One last thing I would like to add is that I think a common mistake in the 50/50 situation is to worry about how high your competitors can jump. If you freak yourself out about whom you are up against, you are setting yourself up for failure. Be confident in what you can do and let the other person(s) do the worrying.
     
  • KIRAN THOMAS