How to Play Ultimate Frisbee Christmas Tree Defense

Ensure that everyone on the team understands the scheme.

The positions of the Christmas Tree Defense include the mark (one person), wall (three people), wings (two people) and deep (one person). The mark and wall players interchange positions, and so all four of those players must be able to play marker as well as all three base positions.

The mark is a single player who assumes the trunk position of the tree shape. She chases the Frisbee disc between handlers attempting to force the disc to one side of the field. The mark trades positions with a wall player if chasing the Frisbee disc involves more running than a wall player just assuming the mark.

The wall consists of three players and is the first line of defense in the Christmas Tree Defense. In the Christmas Tree shape, the wall forms the bottom branches. As noted, a wall player trades position with the mark in a certain situation. The wall players collapse toward one another as wings warn them of incoming offensive receivers. Through proper collapsing, the only way past the base should be overhead, a pass easily defended and highly susceptible to wind.

Two wing players form the middle branches of the Christmas Tree shape. They are responsible for breaking up passes thrown over the heads of the base. Each wing player is responsible for 1/2 of the field. Wings also warn wall players of incoming offensive receivers. Usually, a number system correlating to gaps between the base players is used for this.

The deep player is responsible for defending deep passes. He is the top branch of the Christmas Tree. This player should allow offensive receivers to roam freely as long as they are in running distance within the flight time of a thrown Frisbee disc. If two offensive receivers cannot be covered from one position on the field, the deep player covers the deeper of the two receivers while alerting the wing players.

Assign players to the position at which they will be best. Appropriate positions that match their strengths are imperative. Assign a fast player who excels at defending deep passes and jump passes as the deep player. Wall players and the mark should be good marks and have a long reach. These players also should be the players with the most endurance because they will run the most. Assign your two weakest players to the wing positions. Alternatively, assign one of the stronger players to a wing position and instruct the mark to force the Frisbee disc toward that wing's half of the field.

Understand when to use the Ultimate Frisbee Christmas Tree Defense, its advantages and disadvantages.

An advantage of the Christmas Tree Defense for Ultimate Frisbee is that it requires very little running, except for the person playing one position. This position can be rotated easily among four players during games, minimizing the physical exertion of one player. The Christmas Tree Defense is also effective against weak handlers and in windy conditions during which even a strong handler is unable to pass very far down field.

A disadvantage of this defense is that the offense will easily move the disc down field after it breaks the first line of defense. Also, a team needs at least one defender who is very good at defending deep passes. If a team lacks a player with this skill, offenses will not fear throwing down field and easily break the first line of defense (wall).