Some early season thoughts on catching basics

by Coach Dylan Ballantine

During this last captains meeting, we spent some time brainstorming what we thought were the essential basics of catching a disc. We think this is important for everyone to review- from the first time hucker to the most experienced coach on our team. Most anyone can manage to catch a dump, tossed lazily from five feet away. However, the principles behind catching a well thrown, up-field forehand or backhand are much more complicated. Beyond this, they're important, and well worth the reminder before the season gets in full swing. The biggest reason for this is safety- the disc is what you use to score, it is your baby, and it is also 175g of hard plastic flying directly towards your chest. We want everyone to feel safe while playing this sport. We will avoid complications such as catching a hammer or laying out for now, and will perhaps cover this later in the season. For now, let's explore some basics:

-First and foremost, catching the disc is about focus and anticipation. A very common mistake, one that I still find myself making, is to start thinking about something else right before I catch the disc. This could be many things- the throw I'm about to make, the wind or rain, the arc of the disc, the dinner waiting for me at home, or the defender right on my heels. It's very easy to get distracted, and we all do it. And then the disc hits us square in the hands, we fumble a little bit, and what may have been an easy catch gets away from us. So, we need to remind ourselves that no matter what happens, keep both eyes on the disc until you have COMPLETELY STOPPED ROTATION.

-Your hands should remain soft when catching. This is the anticipation piece of all of this. I hope this isn't a stretch of an analogy, but think of this like jumping on a bed. A mattress is a relatively solid surface, but it naturally still has some give to it, some cushion. If you are falling towards a mattress, your fall is broken ever so slightly by the fact that the mattress moves downward with you- it compresses, and in a way, it anticipates. Think again of this same fall, but this time, there's no mattress. Instead, you land directly on a hardwood floor. The floor has no cushion to it, it has no anticipation. This must be the same for your hands- the disc can't hit a brick wall, it needs to feel a little cushion. Please, no matter how cool it looks, catch the disc with two hands whenever possible.

-Speaking of using two hands, think very quickly about in what position your hands are in when you catch a disc above your head. Now- what if the disc was right at your chest, and what if it is below your waist? This sounds like a no-brainer, but it really is quite important. When you are catching a disc above your head, your thumbs should be facing down. When the disc is low, your thumbs should be facing up. The ideal situation is when the disc is right at your chest. In this instance, we can make a pancake catch, or catching it with one hand above the disc, and one below. This is the most efficient way of stopping the rotation, and also has the highest catch percentage.

-We've talked a little bit about what to do with your hands, and the actual mechanics of catching a disc. However, we are playing a sport, and with sport comes strategy, which means this is bound to get a little more complicated than playing catch in the backyard. We want to focus on ALWAYS being active until the catch is made. Your body plays a huge role in ultimate- you use it to maintain your personal space between you and your defender when catching a disc. You should focus on jumping a little bit if it means getting the core of your body in front of the disc. Remember, the highest catch percentage is when the disc hits you in the chest. Most importantly, remember to run THROUGH the disc. This means that you don't want to wait for the disc to come to you, because this gives your defender a precious few seconds to adjust and block the throw. Even if it means gaining a few less yards, run towards the disc to catch it with the core of your body, using your shoulders to maintain your space.

-Finally, I want to cover the importance of your teammates in all of this. You must always be communicating with your teammates, both on and off the field. Someone off the field may alert you to an approaching defender. If you make an exceptional cut, and this has given you some space between you and your defender, let the handler know! The handler could very well be looking somewhere else, trying to force a throw that isn't open. Help them out, clap your hands, whatever you've got to do.

I hope this helps a little bit, whether it is as a vehicle of education, or as a nice refresher going in to practice tomorrow. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Coach Dylan Ballantine
320-309-5927
dylan.p.ballantine@ gmail.com