How to Set the Mark in Ultimate Frisbee

Being able to set an effective Mark is one of the first steps towards becoming a good defensive Ultimate player. Although sweet throws might look cooler, if you don't know how to mark, you can't play Ultimate. The general object of the mark is to use your body to cut off a pie-shaped segment of the field, forcing the thrower to look into other areas of the field that your teammates have ostensibly covered. The difference between a good mark and a bad mark is that the good mark dictates where the thrower can throw. A bad mark is one that can be manipulated by fakes from the thrower, allowing them to throw to receivers in that "pie-shaped-space."

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Desire

1. The first step to setting a good mark is to know what direction you should be forcing at all times. Remember that your team is relying on you, and anticipating that you will cut-off the area of the field behind you. Marking in the wrong direction sets up your teammates to get burned.
2. Your position should be about a yard away from the thrower. This distance will change based on conditions, your size relative to the thrower's and the thrower's ability. You cannot straddle the thrower's pivot leg and you wouldn't want to. By giving the thrower some space you also are creating a wider coverage angle for the thrower if they attempt to throw around you. You are effectively blocking more space.
3. Wide Stance: Like Larry Craig, you should always employ a wide stance. You should have your knees bent nearly to 90 degrees, and your arms out-stretched to make yourself as big as possible. You want to be a door not a window. A wide stance will keep you from lunging and help you maintain balance as you move with the thrower's pivots.
4. Slide your feet, don't lean in. When the thrower pivots away from you or fakes a throw, slide your feet to maintain a position blocking them from throwing to the side of the field you are protecting. If you lunge or swipe at the disc or passing lane with your arm in a reaction, you will be off balance and vulnerable when they pivot back. (Controlled jabs, or hand fakes are OK, you just don't want to be reacting).
5. Be patient. No matter what the thrower does, remember that your responsibility is to cut off a portion of the field. Going for hand blocks or shifting out of position is bad in most cases. Occasionally you will create a turnover, but more often you will be opening up a throwing lane that your teammates cannot defend.
6. Dictate: Keep in mind that your goal is to cut off half the field and not to get a hand block. By focusing on this aspect you will keep yourself in a position to dictate the areas of the field that the throw has as options. You do not want to be off-balance reacting to every fake. Hold your ground.

Tips & Warnings

• You will need to adjust your set-up based on the opponent's specific preferences.