Zones
This folder is for our zone defence systems. Zone is not the default for us — our defensive identity is built on the person-defence principles in Defensive Principles — but zone is a real tool against specific opponents and conditions, and we want a couple of clean looks ready to go when we need them.
Zone fits into our broader defensive identity in a specific way: it shifts the kind of pressure we apply, but the underlying principles still hold. We still protect the middle. We still make the effort on every rotation, recovery sprint, and deep contest.
Our Zones
- 3-3-1 Arrowhead Zone — single-force arrowhead. Traps to the sideline, straight up in the middle.
- 3-3-1 Narrow Arrowhead Zone — compressed variant of the arrowhead. Baits long swings and overhead gainers instead of trapping.
- 2-4-1 FM Zone — force-middle zone. Takes away the short small-ball give-and-go and concedes the long swing.
All Notes in This Section
| File | Description | Shape | Force |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-4-1 FM Zone | Two-front force-middle zone with a stacked four-mid layer and a single deep — built to make the middle of the pitch the trap. | 2-4-1 | - |
| 3-3-1 Arrowhead Zone | Three-cup arrowhead zone with a single force — traps to the sideline, goes straight up in the middle, and holds shape with three mids and a deep behind. | 3-3-1 | - |
| 3-3-1 Narrow Arrowhead Zone | Compressed variant of the 3-3-1 Arrowhead — a tighter front three baits the offence into long swings and overhead gainers we are positioned to contest. | 3-3-1 (narrow) | - |
| Zones Index | Index of zone defence systems — when we run zone, what we run, and how it connects to our person-defence principles. | - | - |
How to Use
When we run zone, every player should know the shape (where they stand and how they rotate), the trigger (what conditions make zone the right call against this opponent), and the exit (when and how we transition back to person defence). A zone where one player is uncertain about any of those three is a zone that breaks down.
Zone is not a rest defence. Rotations are constant, the shape is fluid, and effort discipline matters as much as it does in person defence — see Make the Effort - Coaches Notes.
When to Use Each Zone
- 3-3-1 Arrowhead Zone — when we want a single force, a sideline trap, and pressure on the disc from a unified front three. Strong in wind on the downwind sideline.
- 3-3-1 Narrow Arrowhead Zone — when the opposition escapes traps cleanly and we want to bait long swings or overheads instead. Strong against teams with one or two excellent escape-throwers.
- 2-4-1 FM Zone — when we want to take away the short give-and-go and force the offence into long swings that the wind or our wings will eat.
For tournament-specific zone usage, see the relevant tournament page — for example Windfarm 2026 - Tournament Goals.
Dictionary
- Cup — the front layer
- Wing — the wide defenders in the middle layer
- Deep — the back defender
- Trap — what we do on the sideline
- Force Middle — the force concept FM is built on