Step 1

This is the most basic offense in Ultimate, and it's called the Vertical Stack, or vert stack for short. Players 1 and 2 are handlers, which means they're the ones that touch the disc most often, and they generally have better throws. Everyone else is a cutter, and they're the ones responsible for getting yardage.

Step 2

It's important to remember that we're playing with a frisbee. It floats and is hard to put into a tight window. As you can see, there are two lanes open in this offense; the open side, where player 7 is cutting, and the break side, where player 6 is cutting. The difference is that the defenders are all standing on the open side of their man.

Step 3

Most of the action will happen on the open side. This is because it is easiest for player 2 to make throws to this side, and this should be the goal. Let's reset everything and see how this will develop.

Step 4

OK, so player 2 has the disc, and it gets tapped in.

Step 5

Player 7 decides to make an in cut, so first, he fakes out to move his defender.

Step 6

Now, player 7 cuts in hard towards player 2 to receive the disc. As this happens, everyone in the stack moves up.

Step 7

Now, player 7 looks back to his handlers, players 1 and 2. He wants to get the disc back to them because they have the best throws. Everyone in the stack moves down.

Step 8

Now 7 gets out of the open lane and moves back to the front of the stack.

Step 9

This is how the disc moves down the field. Now, it's player 6's turn to cut, so he fakes out..

Step 10

And makes a hard cut in. Notice that the stack moves while player 6 is moving. This time, however, the defender covering player 6 does a good job and the cutter is not open.

Step 11

So what does player 6 do? He clears back to the front of the stack so that the next cut can happen. Player 6 MUST run as hard as he can to get his defender out of the way. This time, player 5 will cut..

Step 12

And he gets open and gets the disc.

Step 13

So now we want to reset, but let's say that player 2 cannot get open this time. What should player 5 do?

Step 14

The correct answer is to wait for the other handler, player 1, to come help him out.

Step 15

He then clears out of the lane to reset the offense. Notice that the whole stack shifts over as player 1 is closer to the sideline. This allows more room on the open side for cutting.

Step 16

Cutting deep is also a viable option. This time, player 4 decides to go for the score. So first he fakes in towards the disc..

Step 17

And then cuts out. If he's open, the handler should put it to him and hopefully we'll come down with the point.