Ultimate Frisbee Terminology

PULL The throw at the start of each point/game that begins play.

CUT An attempt to get free to receive the pass. Usually starting with a body fake and or a sudden change of direction or speed. (Illustrated Below)


CLEARING To get out of the area where the thrower wants to pass the disc. Absolutely necessary after making an unsuccessful cut or after throwing the pass.

BREAK. (SIDE, PASS OR CUT) The side to which the marker is trying to prevent the throw (or pass/cut to this side).

DUMP Player who stands behind the thrower in order to help out (must get free for an easy pass) when the offence gets in trouble. (Illustrated Below)


FORCE (OR MARK) To make it as difficult as possible for the thrower to throw the disc in one direction (usually one side of the field) in an attempt to mark (force) him/her to make a pass to the other side.

OPEN (SIDE, PASS OR CUT) (i) The side to which the thrower is being forced (or a pass/cut to this side) (ii) Sometimes used to describle being free to receive a pass.

HUCK A high long pass; often nearly the full length of the pitch to the a player in the end zone.

STALLING (OR STALL COUNT) The player holding the disc has just 10 seconds to throw the disc (outdoor, indoor it’s 8 seconds) to a team member. The defender marking the person with the disc counts the seconds. If the disc has not been released on ‘ten’ it is then a turnover (see below).

PIVOT This is when you plant one foot on the ground and move the other foot. For right-handers it’s the left foot and for left-handers it’s the right foot.

SWING A lateral pass across the pitch-usually does not result in any up field movement. This is useful to gain a better position or to reset the stall count. (Illustrated Below)


SWITCH This is when two defenders exchange the offensive players they are marking.

TURNOVER OR CHANGE OF POSSESION When the disc has been dropped or intercepted and so the offence becomes the defence.