Alpha Squad '12/'13 (Updated 11/30)

2013 A Team Selection

• We will not be having a tryout weekend this year.  We will be selecting the final A team some time in February based on performance and attendance at all practices and tournaments.  Update: We will be making a round of cuts after the first week of practices in January.  We will take approximately 25 players on the A team squad, and everyone else will start practicing with the B team.  We will select the final A team of approximately 20 players by the end of February.
• Coach Lerman will be making the selections with input from the team leadership (Spencer, Daniel,  Sam, Elliott, PGL, Jonas).
• Other than the team leadership, the returning A team players are trying out along with everyone else.
• We likely will be attending a tournament in California prior to making the final A Team selection.  We will be selecting a squad for this tournament in November.  Update:  Pres Day hasn't been announced yet, but we will be figuring this out soon.
• We also will have a B team that is open to anyone who wants to play.

Alpha Squad

• Starting September 28, all Friday night practices will be Alpha Squad practices (i.e. closed to non-Alpha Squad players).
• Between now and Beaver Brawl (October 13/14), Alpha Squad is open to all returning/advanced players.  Following Beaver Brawl, Alpha Squad will be open to all players.
• No players will be cut from Alpha Squad for being bad at Ultimate.  Players may be cut if their commitment is lacking.

Expectations for Alpha Squad Players

• Attendance at all Friday night and Saturday morning practices.
• Attendance at at least one throwing practice per week.
• Doing two lifting workouts per week.
• If you are unable to attend a Friday or Saturday practice, go to http://imgoingtomisspractice.upsultimate.com/ and follow the directions.

Week 9 Throwing (11/5)

Practice schedule:

• Monday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf 
• Wednesday - ?4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park
• Thursday - ?4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park

Here's the general plan for throwing practices (+2 hours on Wednesday/Thursday):

• 2:00-2:29pm - Unstructured throwing
• 2:29-2:45pm - Dynamic warmup
• 2:45-3:30pm - Throwing drills
• 3:30-4:00pm - 3-on-3 games (keep-away, mini, box, double box, etc.)

Drills for this week are:

• Come-to breakmark cutting drill, both forces, active (no hands) marks. (10 min)
• Sideline dump sets, trapping and FM. (10 min)
• Horizontal (diamond) breakmark cutting drill, both forces, active mark (10 min)
• UBC huck drill (10 min)

Week 8 Throwing (10/29)

Practice schedule:

• Monday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf 
• Wednesday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park
• Thursday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park

Here's the general plan for throwing practices (+2 hours on Wednesday/Thursday):

• 2:00-2:29pm - Unstructured throwing
• 2:29-2:45pm - Dynamic warmup
• 2:45-3:30pm - Throwing drills
• 3:30-4:00pm - 3-on-3 games (keep-away, mini, box, double box, etc.)

Drills for this week are:

• Come-to breakmark cutting drill, both forces, active (no hands) marks. (10 min)
• Dump-swing, 3-on-3, run both middle-of-the-field dump sets. (10 min)
• Horizontal (diamond) breakmark cutting drill, both forces, active mark (10 min)
• UBC huck drill (10 min)

Week 7 Throwing (10/22)

Practice schedule:

• Monday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf 
• Wednesday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park
• Thursday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park

Here's the general plan for throwing practices (+2 hours on Wednesday/Thursday):

• 2:00-2:29pm - Unstructured throwing
• 2:29-2:45pm - Dynamic warmup
• 2:45-3:30pm - Throwing drills
• 3:30-4:00pm - 3-on-3 games (keep-away, mini, box, double box, etc.)

Drills for this week are:

• Lines, cut open side, break side, break side and deep. (10 min)
• Come-to breakmark cutting drill, both forces, active (no hands) marks. (10 min)
• Dump-swing, 3-on-3. (10 min)
• Horozontal (diamond) breakmark cutting drill, both forces, active mark (10 min)

Week 6 Throwing: Around Forehands (10/15)

Practice schedule:

• Monday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf 
• Wednesday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park
• Thursday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park

Here's the general plan for throwing practices (+2 hours on Wednesday/Thursday):

• 2:00-2:29pm - Unstructured throwing
• 2:29-2:45pm - Dynamic warmup
• 2:45-3:30pm - Throwing drills
• 3:30-4:00pm - 3-on-3 games (keep-away, mini, box, double box, etc.)

Drills for this week are:

• Lines, open side backhands and forehands (10 min)
• Lines, force backhand, breakside cut for around forehand, PASSIVE mark (10 min)
• Horozontal (diamond) breakmark cutting drill, force backhand, throw around forehand, PASSIVE mark (10 min)
• Come-to breakmark cutting drill, force forehand, active marks.  Throw IO backhand or around forehand (10 min)

Again, I strongly suggest you download the video (that means you need to register for a free Vimeo account). There are a lot of things you can see more clearly when you watch frame-by-frame.

Quick comment on Around Forehands: See comments for Forehands and  IO Forehands.  Don't pivot to the backhand to set up the around forehand.

Week 5 Throwing - Inside-Out Backhands (10/8)

Practice schedule:

• Monday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf 
• Wednesday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park
• Thursday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park

Here's the general plan for throwing practices (+2 hours on Wednesday/Thursday):

• 2:00-2:29pm - Unstructured throwing
• 2:29-2:45pm - Dynamic warmup
• 2:45-3:30pm - Throwing drills
• 3:30-4:00pm - 3-on-3 games (keep-away, mini, box, double box, etc.)

Drills for this week are:

• Lines, open side backhands and forehands (10 min)
• Lines, force backhand, breakside cut for IO backhand (LOW RELEASE), PASSIVE mark (10 min)
• Horozontal (diamond) breakmark cutting drill, force backhand, throw IO backhand (LOW RELEASE), PASSIVE mark (10 min)
• 2-on-2 dumps - force-middle sideline dump (give-and-go) (10 min)

Again, I strongly suggest you download the video (that means you need to register for a free Vimeo account). There are a lot of things you can see more clearly when you watch frame-by-frame.

Quick comment on IO Backhands:  See Low-Release Backhands post.  Everything from there applies to IO backhands too.  The high-release backhand can be an effective IO break, but for now, focus on low-release IO's.

Week 4 Throwing: Around Backhands (10/1)

Practice schedule:

• Monday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:00PM, Turf 
• Wednesday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park
• Thursday - 4:00-6:00PM, Jefferson Park

Here's the general plan for throwing practices (+2 hours on Wednesday/Thursday):

• 2:00-2:29pm - Unstructured throwing
• 2:29-2:45pm - Dynamic warmup
• 2:45-3:30pm - Throwing drills
• 3:30-4:00pm - 3-on-3 games (keep-away, mini, box, double box, etc.)

Drills for this week are:

• Lines, open side backhands and forehands (10 min)
• Lines, force forehand, breakside cut for around backhand, PASSIVE mark (10 min)
• Horozontal (diamond) breakmark cutting drill, force forehand, throw around backhand, PASSIVE mark (10 min)
• Come-to breakmark cutting drill, force forehand, active marks.  Throw IO forehand or around backhand (10 min)

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Again, I strongly suggest you download the video (that means you need to register for a free Vimeo account). There are a lot of things you can see more clearly when you watch frame-by-frame.

Quick comments on Around Backhands:

1. Pretty much all the technique is the same as for regular low-release backhands.
2. Think about stepping through as much as stepping around.  If you're releasing the disc from behind your marker's arm, there's no way you'll get blocked without a foul.  Gspence is stepping backwards to get around the marker, and that results in his throws being pushed far wider and gaining fewer yards.