**Offense:** with the stack in the middle, notice the two lanes to either side. This is the advantage of the stack. It creates space for our players to get open. It also allows us to leave Blue 7 back to help Blue 6 if he gets in trouble. **Defense:** Notice that Red 6 (the mark) is not going to allow Blue 6 (the thrower) to throw to the left side of the field. This is called "the force." Because everyone else on Red trusts 6 to stop throws there, they can position themselves to close down the unblocked side, or "the open side"
Unlike ball sports, frisbees travel slowly. This has several implications, but the most important one is that it is MUCH harder to throw to someone who is cutting sideways (towards the sideline). Cuts directly towards the sideline are called "horizontal cuts" and they are baaaaad news. Do not make horizontal cuts if you can at all help it. Instead, try to make "vertical cuts," which are cuts that run parallel to the sidelines, as shown here.
B5 & B4 choose their lanes and cut. Cuts start from the back because this gives the maximum amount of room for the cutter to get open. Both 4 & 5 go sideways first, so that they don't "pick" their men on the opposing team. A "pick" is just like in basketball, but it is illegal in frisbee. Basically ON DEFENSE, if you have to change your direction or your speed or do ANYTHING differently to avoid running into someone while chasing your designated wo/man AND you are within 10 ft of your person when this happens, then you should yell "PICK!" at the top of your lungs, and just keep yelling it until play stops.
5 & 4 run under, almost parallel to the sidelines. Note that they are both running at FULL SPEED, even if they don't think they can get open. The worst possible thing to do when cutting is to be unsure and take up space in the lane. Because everyone is set up to make those lanes, we need to be as efficient as possible at getting our whole team moving throw them. Slowing down, or dancing around in the lane clogs up our whole offensive game, which makes it very difficult to get any forward progress. **RULE OF THUMB** It is better to go FULL SPEED in the wrong direction, than to be timid and not commit to a cut or run only at 75%.
#5 - once the disc was up s/he DID NOT SLOW DOWN. Running all the way through and taking the frisbee out of the air is very important. The person on defense won't slow down to let you catch it comfortably,. #4 realized that her/his cut was no longer viable, so s/he cleared to the stack AT FULL SPEED. Clearing is just as important as the initial cut! Finally, #7 moved back to the stack, because if s/he had stayed, we would hae too many people back! Notice that #2 and #3 are already in motion to get open for #5! The flow continues in the same pattern over and over again all the way into the endzone.