The "wall" sometimes referred to as the "1-3-3" involves four players
in the close defense. One player is the marker, also called the
"rabbit", "chaser" or "puke" because they often have to run quickly
between multiple handlers spread out across the field. The other three
defenders form a horizontal "wall" or line across the field in front of
the handler to stop throws to short in-cuts and prevent forward
progress. The players in the second group of a zone defense, called
"mids" and "deeps", position themselves further out to stop throws that
escape the cup and fly upfield. Because a zone defense focuses defenders
on stopping short passes, it leaves a large portion of the field to be
covered by the remaining mid and deep players. Assuming that there are
seven players on the field, and that a cup is in effect, this leaves
four players to cover the rest of the field. In fact, usually only one
deep player is used to cover hucks (the "deep-deep"), with two others
defending the sidelines and possibly a single "mid-mid". A variation of
the 1-3-3 is to have two markers: The "rabbit" marks in the middle third
and strike side third of the field. The goal is for the "rabbit" to
trap the thrower and collapse a cup around him. If the rabbit is broken
for large horizontal yardage, or if the disc reaches the break side
third of the field, the break side defender of the front wall marks the
throw. In this variation the force is directed one way. This variation
plays to the strength of a superior marking "rabbit".
Alternately, the mids and deeps can play a one-to-one defense on the players who are outside of the cup or cutting deep, although frequent switching might be necessary.
Alternately, the mids and deeps can play a one-to-one defense on the players who are outside of the cup or cutting deep, although frequent switching might be necessary.