Johnny Bravo frequently used a "no dump" 1-6 vertical stack in their 2022 Championship victory. What are the key differences between this setup and a more typical vertical stack, and how did it help Bravo win Nationals?
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1-6? 2-5? What’s the difference?
A 1-6 vertical stack has no reset player behind the disc, compared to a 2-5 vertical stack where a dedicated reset player stands behind the disc when the disc is in the middle of the field. The vast majority of teams use a 2-5 vertical stack setup.
Brute Squad demonstrating a 2-5 vertical stack reset pattern, using the dump behind to generate movement to the break side
In contrast, a 1-6 vertical stack has no dump behind, so instead the reset handlers are positioned in the stack. For more detail on this as a general principle, see Upfield Dump (“3H”)
1-6 resets to both sides
We’re going to dive into the 1-6 stack using 2022 USA National Champion Johnny Bravo as a case study.
Why wouldn’t you want a dump?
There are advantages and disadvantages to all offensive systems. Having a reset handler just behind the disc also means inviting a defender into the same space. Sometimes they can poach off and cause disruption. Removing the reset handler means there’s nothing around the player with the disc, which in turn means a huge amount of space is available to throw throws to all areas downfield. The removal of the dump means it is a lot easier to hit cuts to either side of the mark, and the shape of the cuts (and corresponding throws) is also impacted. In short, it makes it easier to throw to cuts from the front of the stack, which effectively means the handler resets now originate from the stack, i.e. they are an Upfield Dump (“3H”).
Placing the only reset downfield also means that you are forced to be more aggressive with your throws. This is an excellent training tool for less confident throwers, although it might not be suitable for some inexperienced teams.
One key point is that cuts need to be decisive and early. Here’s an example where Bravo get stalled out; note the indecisive cutting and lack of options for the thrower:
Contested stall
Let’s dive into more detail:
How do we train for a 1-6 stack?
Making the switch from a 2-5 to a 1-6 vertical stack is mostly about understanding and making use of the additional space available. With that extra space comes a requirement that your cuts develop earlier than usual; because you don’t have a dump most of the time, you want to make sure that you get plenty of downfield throwing options in the stall count. You’ll encourage your team to get used to throwing some passes they might not have thrown before, and throwing shapes they might not be as familiar with.
See our drills related to 1-6, along with our throwing video tutorials, particularly:
Dive into 1-6 Vertical Stack!
Read the first chapter: 1-6 Key Principles
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