Team Defense Part 2

Continuing with the topic of Team Defense, here are a couple of other things that are important to team defense.

Flashing - This is a quick poach that usually involves taking a couple of steps into the open lane acting like you are going to make a play. The point of flashing is to make the handler believe you are guarding someone. This will help out a defender who is trailing his man on an in cut.

• Perfect Scenario to Flash - The man you are guarding is jogging (not trying to cut) away from the handler to get back into the stack. While he is jogging, an in cut forming near you. The guy defending the in cut is way behind his guy, so you step into the lane for a couple of seconds facing the open cutter. While you step out, raise your arms and make it look like he's temporarily covered. Most of the time, the handler will have to dump it.
  
• Should you face the thrower or cutter? I tend to face the cutter that way I can keep an eye on the guy I'm guarding in the stack. Also, if the handler throws the disc to the cutter you are preoccupying, your arms are up and you are in front of him, which means you have a high percentage of making the block.
• Your goal is to make it look like you are making a play or trying to guard that guy, when in fact you are only guarding him for at max 4 seconds.
• I rarely ever flash the open lane when it is off a set play. On set plays, I believe the best defense is to dictate where your man goes purely based on body positioning. If he's a deep receiver, force him under. If he's a handler, force him away.

Center Fielder or Last Back - This is just the defenders (not singular) furthest down field or the defenders guarding the off side cutters (which may happen in the H-stack). Their mindsets have got to be:
1. Stop the huck
2. Take care of my individual match-up

• Most set plays are supposed to end up with a huck off the first, second, or third throw. If you know that, and your man does not move during those throws, chances are you should be looking to help our your teammates.
• In the H stack, if you are guarding an off side handler (if the disc is in the middle or the open side), put yourself in the center of the field, five yards back than your man.
• Be patient, you will see a man cut in, and then go out.
• Have someone on the sideline talking to you about where YOUR man is.