Advanced Catches: Crab Catch and Difficult Situations

In the world of Ultimate Frisbee, mastering catches is as vital as throwing accurately. As we advance and face increasingly complex situations on the field, it is essential to expand our repertoire of techniques to secure the disc under any circumstance. The Crab Catch, along with high, low, behind-the-back, and layout catches, are skills that will allow you to become a more complete and confident player.

In this chapter, we will explore these advanced catching techniques in depth so that, beyond simply catching the disc, you can increase your target area, gaining versatility and confidence. All this with practical examples, detailed tips, and exercises you can practice with your team, especially in Disckatus Madrid trainings, where practice and constant improvement are the heart of our game.

Get ready to take your catching skills to another level, facing difficult situations and becoming a reference within the team and on the field. Let's go!

The Crab Catch: Technique and Applications

The Crab Catch is a catching technique characterized by using both thumbs pointing up (thumbs up) or down (thumbs down), simulating a crab's pinch, which allows greater stability and control in the catch. This technique is especially useful in situations where the disc arrives at medium or high speed, and where precision and firmness in the catch are crucial.

There are two main variants within the Crab Catch:

• Thumbs Up: Thumbs point upwards; ideal for discs arriving at chest height or slightly higher. This position helps have a solid angle to close the hand around the disc.
• Thumbs Down: Thumbs point downwards; more common in low catches or when the disc approaches with a slight downward tilt.

The key to a good Crab Catch is synchronization between vision, hand movement, and anticipation. When practicing it, it is important to keep the hands relaxed but ready to adjust pressure at the right moment. For example, imagine a teammate throws the disc with a medium-high touch: preparing the fingers in a "pinch" position and closing softly but firmly when the disc touches the hand will ensure a secure catch.

Another fundamental aspect is impact absorption. The Crab Catch is not only about catching the disc but also about "cushioning" the force of the throw to avoid rebounds. For this, slightly flex the wrists and use the fingers to control the disc's force upon entry. This technique will reduce turnovers and improve your catch percentage in real games.

High Catches: Extending Reach

High catches represent a challenge for many players, especially in situations where the disc flies over the receiver or lands at an elevated point. However, mastering this technique will allow you to be a reliable target even on difficult or far passes from your comfort zone.

To perform an effective high catch, it is essential to:

• Position well: Anticipate the disc's trajectory and move early enough to be under or slightly in front of the landing point.
• Extend the body: Use full arm extension and, if necessary, raise the opposite leg to gain height and stability.
• Hands in position: Hands should be open, secure, and forming a “V” with thumbs and index fingers, ready to “close” the disc at the precise moment.

A good tip is to keep your eyes fixed on the disc until the last moment and avoid visual distractions. High catches can be decisive in contact or tight marking situations, as they demonstrate confidence and control.

Practical example: during a game, if a teammate throws a long, high pass to you, instead of stepping back or giving up, extend your dominant arm and prepare to catch the disc with both hands using the Crab Catch thumbs up technique, ensuring firmness and control.

Low and Behind-the-Back Catches: Flexibility and Reflexes

Low or behind-the-back catches usually appear in fast plays, improvised passes, or when the defender applies pressure. These catches require flexibility, quickness, and great reaction ability to avoid losing the disc in critical moments.

In low catches, it is important to:

• Take advantage of good body positioning by lowering the center of gravity and bending the knees to crouch with stability.
• Use the Crab Catch thumbs down, with thumbs pointing downwards, to secure the disc near the ground.
• Pay attention to the disc's direction to anticipate its bounce or slide and close the hands well.

Behind-the-back catches, on the other hand, demand a high level of confidence and coordination. In these situations, the player catches the disc without seeing it directly, using arms extended backward or even over the shoulder.

To improve this technique, it is recommended to practice passing and catching with turns, adjusting the gaze to “feel” the disc at the last moment. Eye-hand coordination is key, and the Crab Catch can help give a reliable structure to the hand, increasing success chances.

Layout Catches: The Art of Maximum Extension

The layout, or “horizontal dive” to catch a disc out of normal reach, is one of the most spectacular and exciting maneuvers in Ultimate Frisbee. However, it requires technique and practice to perform it effectively and safely.

To execute a layout catch correctly:

• Anticipate the pass: Evaluate the disc's trajectory and speed to calculate the best position and moment to launch yourself.
• Extend the whole body: The layout involves diving to the ground with the entire body extended, aiming to reach the disc with the hands before it touches the ground.
• Use the Crab Catch technique: In the air, firmness is essential; the Crab Catch thumbs up is usually the safest way to secure the disc in a layout.
• Land safely: Learn to fall on the part of the body that minimizes impact, generally the chest or forearm, to avoid injuries.

Practicing layouts should be a gradual process, starting with soft throws and short distances, increasing difficulty as confidence and mastery grow. It is also important to strengthen the body to prevent injuries, especially in shoulders and wrists.

How to Increase Your Target Area: More Catching Zone for More Opportunities

One way to improve your catches is to expand your target area, that is, the zone where you can successfully catch the disc. This makes you more unpredictable to defenders and more accessible to your teammates when throwing.

To increase your target area, work on:

• Arm extension: Always practice catching the disc with your arm fully extended without losing control.
• Body movement: Adopt dynamic postures, moving laterally or backward to reach the disc at different angles.
• Use of both hands: Although the game is preferably played with two hands, in tight situations, learn to catch with one hand if necessary.
• Flexibility and agility: Train joint mobility and quickness to stretch, lower, or turn quickly.

For example, if you are receiving a high pass, instead of waiting for the disc to fall in your comfortable zone, extend your arm and take a small jump or even use a layout to reach a farther point. This not only increases your chances of catching the disc but also inspires confidence in your throwers, who will know you can catch difficult passes.

Practical Exercises to Master Advanced Catches

• Crab Catch exercise with a partner: In pairs, practice medium-height throws using both variants (thumbs up and thumbs down). Focus on synchronization and impact absorption. Change the speed and angle of passes.
• High catches with jump: One player throws the disc high and the receiver practices stretching the arm and jumping to catch it. Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions, alternating between right and left arm.
• Low and behind-the-back catches: Practice quick and changed passes, where the receiver must crouch and use the Crab Catch thumbs down. Add no-look passes to improve behind-the-back catching.
• Directed layouts: Under supervision, perform short-distance throws to practice controlled layouts, focusing on falling technique and catch.
• Expand target area: Perform lateral and vertical movements to catch discs thrown at different angles, alternating between one- and two-handed catches.

Devoting time to these exercises in training will help you build confidence and reflexes for real competition situations.

Want to Improve Your Catches with Disckatus Madrid?

At Disckatus Madrid, we offer an ideal environment to develop your Ultimate Frisbee skills, including these advanced catching aspects. Our trainings take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at Polideportivo Orcasur, where we combine theory, practice, and a motivating atmosphere for players of all levels.

If you want to be part of a team that bets on personal growth, refined technique, and passion for Ultimate, do not hesitate to join us. Come and discover how to go from zero to hero in Ultimate Frisbee!

For more information, you can contact us through our social networks or attend a free trial session. We look forward to seeing you!

Sources of Inspiration and Reference

• USA Ultimate – The official sport organization with technical and tactical resources.
• WikiHow: How to Catch a Frisbee – Step-by-step guides to improve catching.
• Ultimate HQ – Community and resources for advanced and beginner players.
• Disckatus Madrid – Our team and local resources to train and compete in Madrid.

📚 Sources and Inspiration: This article has been inspired by educational resources from USA Ultimate, WikiHow, Ultimate Frisbee HQ, FrisbeeThrows.com, and the collective experience of the Ultimate community. We especially thank the authors and coaches who share their knowledge to help grow this sport.