Scobel Wiggins Photography

Team Canada has switched back to UPA mode and is now Traffic once again. The past Vancouver split seems to be mostly behind them, and the team is seemingly very cohesive (past Roughriders/Prime type splits are too complicated for me to understand, but definitely showcased how deep the talent in BC is while simultaneously taking them out of competition for the UPA Championship).

Photo: Mark Tomko

Traffic runs zone offense well, with central handlers that are committed to swinging the disc. Sometimes having a middle handler without great throws is a good way to ensure that the disc goes side-to-side rapidly. In this case, their central backfield does have great throws, but they don't waste time checking through all their options...the disc goes into the dead side consistently for the far handler to then check the field.

Traffic uses crossfield hucks regularly. The cuts come from the near downfielder, often on the sideline. This is very effective against a straight-up mark and also against a defender who, having poached into the lane, now overcommits to stop the down-the-line throw.

Traffic's end zone offense requires them to transition from flat-stack to a vertical stack, and they tend to go into this transition very late. I think this hurt them in their game against us; they moved the disc very well for most of the field, and then forced themselves to transition while maintaining possession. If they start transitioning earlier, they might get their endzone cutters, who are very effective, into position before the defense has time to adjust, leading to more flow goals (as opposed to goals requiring a cutter to get open against a set-up defender.