Editing Ultimate frisbee (section)

===Offense===
[[File:Ultimate frisbee.jpg|thumb|Player trying to score.]]

Teams can employ many different offensive strategies, each with distinct goals.  Most basic strategies are an attempt to create open space (e.g. lanes) on the field in which the thrower and receiver can complete a pass.  Organized teams assign positions to the players based on their specific strengths.  Designated throwers are called handlers and designated receivers are called cutters.  The amount of autonomy or overlap between these positions depends on the make-up of the team.

Many advanced teams develop variations on the basic offenses to take advantage of the strengths of specific players.  Frequently, these offenses are meant to isolate a few key players in one-on-one situations, allowing them to take advantage of mismatches, while the others play a supporting role.

====Handlers and cutters====
In most settings, there are a few "handlers" which are the players positioned around the disc. Their task is to distribute the disc forward and provide easy receiving options to whoever has the disc. Cutters, are the players positioned downfield, whose job is usually to catch the disc farther afield and progress the disc through the field or score goals by catching the disc in the end zone.

Typically, when the offense is playing against a zone defense the cutters will be assigned positions based on their location on the field, oftentimes referred to as "poppers and rails (or deep deeps)."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-10|title=Ultimate Frisbee Terms|url=https://discdish.org/2021/05/10/ultimate-frisbee-terms/|access-date=2021-05-11|website=DiscDish.org}}</ref> Poppers will typically make cuts within 15 yards of the handler positions while rails alternate between longer movements downfield. Additionally, against a zone there are typically three or four instead of the usual two or three, depending on the team.

====Vertical stack====
[[Image:Ultimate-vertical stack.png|thumb|200px|left|The standard configuration for a vertical stack (offense and force/one-to-one defense)]]

One of the most common offensive strategies is the vertical stack. In this strategy, a number of offensive players line up between the disc and the end zone they are attacking. From this position, players in the stack make cuts (sudden sprints, usually after throwing off the defender by a "fake" move the other way) into the space available, attempting to get open and receive the disc. The stack generally lines up in the middle of the field, thereby opening up two lanes along the sidelines for cuts, although a captain may occasionally call for the stack to line up closer to one sideline, leaving open just one larger cutting lane on the other side. Variations of the vertical stack include the Side Stack, where the stack is moved to a sideline and one player is isolated in the open space, and the Split Stack, where players are split between two stacks, one on either sideline. The Side Stack is most helpful in an end zone play where your players line up on one side of the end zone and the handler calls an "ISO" (isolation) using one of the player's names. This then signals for the rest of the players on your team to clear away from that one person in order for them to receive a pass.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ultimate Terms and Lingo |url=http://ultimatefrisbeehq.com/ultimate-frisbee-terms/ |work=Ultimate Frisbee HQ |access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref>  Another variation is called Cascades, which starts by setting a side stack. Then, the player at the top or bottom of the stack cuts, using the large amount of available space. Once the initial cutter has finished (whether they caught the disc or if they were waved away by the handler), then the next cutter in line continues. In vertical stack offenses, one player usually plays the role of 'dump', offering a reset option which sets up behind the player with the disc.

====Horizontal stack====
Another popular offensive strategy is the horizontal stack, also called “ho-stack”. In the most popular form of this offense, three "handlers" line up across the width of the field with four "cutters" downfield, spaced evenly across the field. This formation encourages cutters to attack any of the space either towards or away from the disc, granting each cutter access to the full width of the field and thereby allowing a degree more creativity than is possible with a vertical stack. If cutters cannot get open, the handlers swing the disc side to side to reset the stall count and in an attempt to get the defense out of position. Usually players will cut towards the disc at an angle and away from the disc straight, creating a 'diamond' or 'peppermill' pattern.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Nadeau |url=https://www.coachup.com/resources/ultimate/excelling-in-the-horizontal-stack |title=CoachUp Nation &#124; Excelling In The Horizontal Stack |work=Coachup.com |date=August 1, 2016 |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vul.ca/content/players/horizontal-offense |title=Horizontal Offense &#124; Vancouver Ultimate League |work=Vul.ca |date=June 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultiworld.com/2013/08/27/considering-horizontal-stack-sure-right-team/ |title=Considering The Horizontal Stack: Are You Sure It's Right For Your Team? |work=Ultiworld.com |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ultimate Handbook |work=UltimateHandbook.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201163032/http://www.ultimatehandbook.com/uh/strategy_horizontal.html|url-status=dead |url=http://www.ultimatehandbook.com/uh/strategy_horizontal.html  |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref>

====Feature, German, or isolation====
A variation on the horizontal stack offense is called a feature, German, or isolation (or "iso" for short). In this offensive strategy three of the cutters line up deeper than usual (this can vary from 5 yards farther downfield to at the endzone) while the remaining cutter lines up closer to the handlers. This closest cutter is known as the "feature", or "German". The idea behind this strategy is that it opens up space for the feature to cut, and at the same time it allows handlers to focus all of their attention on only one cutter. This maximizes the ability for give-and-go strategies between the feature and the handlers. It is also an excellent strategy if one cutter is superior to other cutters, or if they are guarded by someone slower than them. While the main focus is on the handlers and the feature, the remaining three cutters can be used if the feature cannot get open, if there is an open deep look, or for a continuation throw from the feature itself. Typically, however, these three remaining cutters do all they can to get out of the feature's way.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playspedia.com/play/view/id/206 |title=Ultimate Frisbee &#124; American Football – The 4-1-2 'German' offense |work=Playspedia.com |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref>
It is usually used near the endzone.

====Hexagon or Mexican====
A newer strategy, credited to Felix Shardlow from the Brighton Ultimate team, is called Hexagon Offence. Players spread out in equilateral triangles, creating a hexagon shape with one player (usually not the thrower) in the middle. They create space for each other dynamically, aiming to keep the disc moving by taking the open pass in any direction. This changes the angles of attack rapidly, and hopes to create and exploit holes in the defense. Hex aims to generate and maintain flow to lead to scoring opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://felixultimate.com/2017/03/13/hexagon-offence-v2-2/ |title=Hexagon Offence |publisher=Felixultimate.com |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref>