Scobel Wiggins Photography

When looking at the results of the survey, what I found interesting was the number of college teams that use both vertical and horizontal sets in their offense. This was expected for the self-proclaimed top teams, but two-thirds of the teams that expect to play only at regionals run multiple sets. When I started playing college, that was our level: trying to climb to the top of our region. And as an "up-and-coming" college team, we could barely handle one offensive set.

Looking back at our progress from a Saturday only team at regionals to a quarterfinal appearance, one reason for our growth was the ability to learn one offense and learn how to adjust within it.

First, it allowed our core returners a certain comfort level each season. Although there were tweaks to the offense each season, the core of it (the Stanford "O": cuts from the back, handlers swing from side-to-side) was almost always there. Each fall, teaching an offense to everyone was one less thing to worry about, we just had to teach the newbies what we wanted to do. At Michigan, newcomers were relied upon to contribute immediately. And focusing on one offense allowed them to learn how to react to what our team wanted to do rather than think about different positions and offenses.

Second, our attitude was do what we do and (try to) do it better than the other team. Basically, make the other team adjust to you. We embraced our offense, learned its strengths and its weaknesses, and ran it. I think this is better accomplished with one offense that the whole team can work on together. Not spreading valuable teaching time in practices learning multiple options from multiple sets.

Third, Ultimate is still a pretty new sport. It is not like other sports where the athletes have been playing and watching it for many years. In college you are lucky if you get a couple of guys with some experience. If not, you are recruiting good athletes with talent, but basically saying what is going on? Make it as simple as possible and let them grow into it was your strategy.

Finally, focusing on one offensive set allows you to discover what your teammates strengths are. I was lucky enough to play with some excellent throwers for 3 or 4 years at Michigan. In tight situations, I knew what to expect from them, where they wanted the disc, and where they were comfortable throwing. All because we were playing one offense that allowed us to grow up together. They knew if they got the disc in one of their favorite spots, I knew what they wanted. And we knew how to find each other within the constraints of our offense.

With all that said, there is a good chance that Ultimate players are better and smarter than my particular team at Michigan (anyone who hung out with us can attest to the latter). But I feel as a team to grow to its highest potential, it is best to simplify, simplify, simplify. It allows the full roster of the team to grow together and it allows for more creativity. Which, I feel, is tougher on the defense.

Tim Murray starred with Michigan, BAT and Subzero before his recent Mixed success with the Mental Toss Flycoons.