Dump and swing in ultimate

A dump and swing in ultimate moves the disc away from a crowded sideline when the count is getting high. The thrower passes back to a handler behind them, called the dump, and the dump throws straight away across the field to another handler. It gains no ground, but the count starts again and the disc ends up where the open side is wide.

How a dump and swing works in ultimate

A forehand force tends to push the disc toward the forehand sideline, because that is where the open throws go. Each throw along that side leaves the thrower closer to the line, and the space on the open side shrinks until there is little left to throw into. Cutters have less room and their defenders have less to cover. Moving the disc back across the field gives that space back.

New players can feel that throwing backwards loses ground. It costs a few yards, but a completed dump keeps possession and restarts the count, while a forced throw at the end of the count often gives the disc away.

The dump's job starts before the thrower looks. Set up behind the disc, on the side toward the middle of the field, close enough for a short and easy throw. Make your move while the count is still around the middle numbers, because a thrower who looks back at the end of the count has to rush the throw. Cut into the space rather than standing in it, so your defender has to chase you and the thrower has somewhere clear to aim.

The swing depends on speed. When the dump catches, their defender has been chasing and has not yet set a mark, so the throw across the field is open for a moment. If the dump holds the disc to look around, the defender gets into position and takes that throw away. A third handler waiting on the far side makes this simple. With only two handlers, the first thrower can run across after the dump and take the swing, though it takes longer and the defence has more time to recover.

After the swing the force usually stays the same, but the thrower is now far from the forehand sideline, so most of the width of the field is on the open side. The next cutter has room to work and the defenders downfield have to adjust. A defence that wants to keep the disc on the line will try to take the dump away, which is what the sideline trap shows from the other side.

Step by step

The offence has three handlers and four players in a vertical stack. The defence forces forehand, so the open side is down the picture, and O1 has the disc near that sideline.

D1 is counting. O4 cuts under on the open side, but D4 stays close, so O1 holds the disc rather than throwing into coverage.

O4 clears along the sideline and the count climbs. O2 cuts up into the dump spot behind the disc, with D2 a step behind.

O1 pivots and throws back to O2. The throw goes behind the mark, so D1 can't reach it, and the count starts again.

O2 swings it straight away to O3 on the far side, before D2 can set a mark. D3 steps over to mark O3, and O1 comes across behind the disc as the new dump.

O3 now has most of the width of the field on the open side. O5, at the front of the stack, cuts under into that space with D5 chasing.

O3 throws the forehand to O5, well away from the sideline.

O5 has the disc with room on both sides, and the offence has moved off the line in three throws.

To practise it, walk it through with three handlers and one mark, with no cutters. Have the mark count slowly out loud. Around the middle of the count the dump cuts in and the thrower passes back, and the dump swings it without holding it. Swap roles every few turns, then add a defender on the dump and a stack once the timing is easy. The thing to watch is the dump moving early, before the thrower needs them. The vertical stack spacing article shows where the handlers and the stack stand to begin with.

The full play

You can take this playbook into your own account and change it for your team, for example drawing it with two handlers or mirroring it for a backhand force.

If you captain a rec team, you can also put your roster on Playspedia so everyone knows who is playing each week.