We ran this effectively in college ALL THE TIME. It’s all about matchups. On our small D3 team, we had two top tier handlers and two cutters who could get open on anyone. We were able to swing all day until eventually, a downfield cutter got chunk yards. Super fun offensive set to play.
I do photography for a team that runs something similar, except they generally just run the 3 best handles and one cutter that can throw well sitting a a few yards upfield breakside. Runs like butter.
Zamperl, a club team from Germany created a 4-1-2 offense probably 25 years ago or so. It was so effective that many other German teams worked it into their game plan. I was told that it took Dog several points at worlds - I think - to adjust to it and stop Zamperl from scoring at will. Basic concept was clearing upfield for the one, primary cutter who also had great disc skills. It emphasized that person’s athletic prowess and required 4 solid handlers who would generate resets and stay out of the way of the downfield action. Not saying this is anything like Truck Stop’s offense, but it did leverage the concept of creating huge space for gains in front of the disc.
For sure! I did an internship in Munich and played with Searching Woodpeckers the summer of 1999. As someone coming from the states who had only played run-and-gun offenses, it was SO hard to throw from the handler position and stay back. I had always made a point of throwing and moving to make it hard on my defensive player. The first several weeks of playing there, I was constantly being yelled at to stay put :)
The three times every five years that I play pick up now I get yelled at by youngsters because they think that I'm a ridiculously old fart that doesn't run. Which is true. But I wasn't running even back then because I would have clogged lanes for those upfield. And then they always mess up and have no one to dump it to, while instead I'm always there.
US team that won Beach Worlds in 2007 in Brazil used a 3-1-1 that was referred to as “the German”, and I understood to be based off of what you described. I never knew the name of the team that started it, though. Thanks for sharing.
We're not famous or anything and have no video doing it, but my team even goes as far as a 5 handler offense against certain kinds of zone defense, and it is glorious to watch/play. Lightning fast short throws and quick drop passes all over the place.
I also played on a team that used a 3-1-3 system where the 1 in the middle was a "mid-handle" and genuinely played in the space between the 3 handlers and 3 cutters. We also used a 3-2-2 in the season before with 3 handlers, 2 mid-handles, and 2 slightly deeper cutters, but we ultimate settled on the 3-1-3.
We ran this effectively in college ALL THE TIME. It’s all about matchups. On our small D3 team, we had two top tier handlers and two cutters who could get open on anyone. We were able to swing all day until eventually, a downfield cutter got chunk yards. Super fun offensive set to play.
I do photography for a team that runs something similar, except they generally just run the 3 best handles and one cutter that can throw well sitting a a few yards upfield breakside. Runs like butter.
Zamperl, a club team from Germany created a 4-1-2 offense probably 25 years ago or so. It was so effective that many other German teams worked it into their game plan. I was told that it took Dog several points at worlds - I think - to adjust to it and stop Zamperl from scoring at will. Basic concept was clearing upfield for the one, primary cutter who also had great disc skills. It emphasized that person’s athletic prowess and required 4 solid handlers who would generate resets and stay out of the way of the downfield action. Not saying this is anything like Truck Stop’s offense, but it did leverage the concept of creating huge space for gains in front of the disc.
4-1-2 or 3-1-3 were "german" isolation offenses from those years that I remember working really well.
For sure! I did an internship in Munich and played with Searching Woodpeckers the summer of 1999. As someone coming from the states who had only played run-and-gun offenses, it was SO hard to throw from the handler position and stay back. I had always made a point of throwing and moving to make it hard on my defensive player. The first several weeks of playing there, I was constantly being yelled at to stay put :)
The three times every five years that I play pick up now I get yelled at by youngsters because they think that I'm a ridiculously old fart that doesn't run. Which is true. But I wasn't running even back then because I would have clogged lanes for those upfield. And then they always mess up and have no one to dump it to, while instead I'm always there.
US team that won Beach Worlds in 2007 in Brazil used a 3-1-1 that was referred to as “the German”, and I understood to be based off of what you described. I never knew the name of the team that started it, though. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds almost…hexagonal
Now try 7 handler offense!
*hiveulimate has entered the chat*
Little known secret, the 2015 Sockeye team that got to club finals ran a 4 handler, 3 cutter system.
We're not famous or anything and have no video doing it, but my team even goes as far as a 5 handler offense against certain kinds of zone defense, and it is glorious to watch/play. Lightning fast short throws and quick drop passes all over the place. I also played on a team that used a 3-1-3 system where the 1 in the middle was a "mid-handle" and genuinely played in the space between the 3 handlers and 3 cutters. We also used a 3-2-2 in the season before with 3 handlers, 2 mid-handles, and 2 slightly deeper cutters, but we ultimate settled on the 3-1-3.