Newbie question

[wake2267]

So, I just played at CUT this weekend as my first real club tournament (I'm still in college). And I noticed a few things that I had questions about. I was not in the power pool, so I played average to pretty good teams the whole weekend. I noticed that some of the teams I played were big on stopping you from walking or running by standing in your way, intentionally getting your legs tangled up, or simply shoving you with two hands to stop you from running. At first I thought this is the difference between college and club, but I got to watch a lot of the power pool, and it seemed with the higher level teams they didn't seem to have this chippy nonsense. So I drew two possible conclusions:

1. They have more respect for the game (seems unlikely)

or

2. There's a very easy was of beating this kind of defense, making it irrelevant at the higher levels.


So I'm wondering if the answer is 2, what is the way of beating it? Thanks a bunch, all answers are appreciated.

[fisher.556]

Well, shoving and intentionally tangling legs would both be pretty clear fouls, so the way to beat that defense is to call the foul. Standing in your way can either be a legitimate defensive technique or it can be a blocking foul depending on the circumstances, see XVI.H.3.c. in the rules. If the defender is taking a position solely to block your path to the disc or if they take a position that you can't avoid then it's illegal. If none of those things are happening then you just have to figure out how to beat the defender to where you want to go. Force them to react to you by either faking or making a legitimate cut in a different direction. The offense usually has the advantage in a one on one match up (assuming similar skill and athleticism).

[wake2267]

Well right, but if the offense is flowing then calling a foul is just forcing a play stoppage... And really is it just the crazy Canadians with no spirit, or is that simply how the club game is played?

[torre.hargett]

Well right, but if the offense is flowing then calling a foul is just forcing a play stoppage... And really is it just the crazy Canadians with no spirit, or is that simply how the club game is played?

from what little i've seen over the past few years, that is what ultimate is like. typically by teams (be it college or club) that want to reach the next level and maybe don't quite have the experience/athleticism/etc to get there.