Introduction

First let me start by saying Uniball is not the sort of game that a player can exactly teach another player. Most of you already know this as the first main skill is being able to control the mouse and the ship and take into account all your surroundings. However there is useful knowledge that can be applied to the game. This section will cover some of the knowledge that can help you become more effective in the battle against the opposition.

Playing style

First take a good look at your current playing style and think about it. Can you hold onto the ball? Does it seem effective usually? Do you seem like the MVP (most valuable player) in the games you play? If you answer no for each of these questions then you need to not change but tweak your style...

 

Pimp my style

To do this I am going to list different playing styles and suggest what you can do to improve the style:

 

Primary Offensive

Bouncing + Ball handling - If you are the type of player that would rather go down bouncing then any other style then you are a man or woman after my own heart :). To improve this style you need to greatly take into account of speed and knock back from the ball. These 2 factors can help you be an excellent player. If you work on your glide and learn exactly how to use it then you can apply it to your normal games in short bursts with the help of the ball. It is how I am acclaimed to be faster than other players (lol). Check my techniques section for more info on glide. Also using players as a block to gain a slight glide can help you too. This requires practise and I'm not 100% sure how even I do it (habit).

 

Fumbling + Juking - If you are the type of player that can weave in and out of players and use fumble to shoot past them then you follow after Sergio and Sos as two examples. These players can be amazing and bring a game to a win if they use their skills efficiently. To improve this skill try to predict your opponents every move. The more you attempt the better you will become. This is also a playing style where speed is a great factor so try learn all about that too (glide, super boosting, distance required to grav perfectly, speed of ball and graving perfectly etc).

 

Passing - If you are the type of player that would rather let his team mate do the work but can setup plays you follow Babalybeck. Baba knows exactly the skill levels of the players hes playing with and won't force them into situations which are potentially threatening. This is the main aspect for the passing player, understanding his team mates. Every player is different, even if slightly and must be taken into consideration when you are a passing player. If you don't feel confident about your bounce or fumbling I suggest you work on one of them so you can hold the ball long enough to pass. Babalybeck feels confident in all his skills (at least to my knowledge) so he has no problem waiting for the opportune moments.

 

Combination - Great work for using all as your primary offence styles already (assuming you are an average player). To collectively increase your combination try to look deeper into the games structure with aspects such as positioning, how to gain speed, when to get to defence, how to win a faceoff vs 2 players, how to play well against 2 players etc. For instance gaining speed can be done by a player knocking you and gaining a slight glide (especially using fumble aswell). A faceoff vs 2 players can be won by making them sandwich you and quickly boosting away as the grav (as well as being gravity it is also the collision) is shaped like an octagon and can be out run quite easily. To play well against 2 players you must constantly make tactics on how you intend to get the ball, how much fuel you have, how you intend to get back on faceoff, how you intend on keeping the ball (just bouncing mainly or fumbling or both) etc. I can't tell everything but with a bit of observation you can probably find more to the game.

 

Primary Defensive

Dive - This should not be used as a primary defence unless you know how to recover from it! This defence is where a player will rush at the player with the ball to try knock it off them. If it is successful it can buy time for your team mates but it is quite hard to get the ball. It is the worst primary defence but comes in handy once in a while.

 

Double(+) - If you are the type of player who uses a team mate to get the ball then you are like Zorro. I think he prefers double over any of the defences. It is where two+ players will sandwich the player with the ball to get the ball. It is extremely useful providing it is done correctly. To improve upon it try to learn when to use it and who to use it with. If you keep failing then I suggest you switch to pressure or combination defence as your primary.

 

Pressure - This is my primary defence I'd say. This is due to me playing 1v1 and using this defence as well as using it in games generally. This is where you try to force a player to make a mistake. It is also where you tap the player slightly and take the ball ('perfect' hit). To improve it learn how to force a player away from the your goal and make a mistake. A great example that you may have seen is when a player loses the ball and another player tails him all the way back to the other side of the map because the player with the ball can't regain control. Another way to improve it is make sure you understand fumbling and gravity. These two will help with tapping a player to get the ball. Learning tactics like that can really help out in games.

 

Combination - This is the best primary defence. There are times and places for the defences named, not just one. Defence is much more exhaustive than offence as you must be 1 step ahead of your opponent when your opponent is making the plans and plays. To improve I suggest you watch hockey games and play hockey games. Watching the best players will give you an understanding of positioning and what to do in certain situations. Eventually it should become natural and easy.

 

Your opponents

"To know my enemy". I know it is a bit strange to look into a player more than just game level but there are lots of advantages you can use if you know the oppositions weaknesses. These weaknesses include lag, keyboard problems (Zahovic), inability to defend correctly (me) etc. Everything that you think you can use against a player try to learn. A game is much harder with a smurf because you subconsciously use tactics you have learned against certain players. Knowing your enemy can help you win games.

 

The way forward

The step from being an average player to a good player is somewhat a leap. A player is likely to one day be really good for no apparent reason and probably lose it again. This will likely keep happening until the player hits the good playing. It is like anything, playing a guitar, becoming a noob to an average player, learning a new talent. It takes time, dedication and practice. However there are ways to increase the speed of the process:

- Experiment with your plays (you are currently an average player (supposed to be at least) so try as many styles, tactics, plays as you like then decide which suits you).

 

- Play hockey (its more advanced and develops you more thoroughly).

 

- Play another server (the lag will greatly increase your playing on your normal server because you will seem 2x faster).

 

- Play with good players (this will develop you even if you do not realise it as your skill level will need to rise to be equal with them).

 

- Try 2 v 1 (it seems arrogant and fool hearty I realise but developing your independant skills can help in all games and this will do just that).

 

 

Player Questionnaire

 

Each of these players helped me make this section technically. They all deserve some credit especially with the questionnaire responses!!

 

1) If you have to describe 3 different types of playing styles such a fast playing style (bouncing and risks) or steady playing style (safe playing), what would they be and what characteristics do they have?

 

Bryant:

Well in my opinion depends on what map we are playing, but I'd prefer to play with a guy who thinks the game and also plays quick and smart without forcing too much. Like it is always the same thing when you bounce like a robot. It's mean, as I said depends on map. But I'd prefer smart guy who is fast and understand the game in general, and always want to improve. Also defense is the key for this game and most of people don't understand it. It's important to defend, and keep the ball to play smart to the next move and use your partner.

 

Killer:

There's a bounce style when you bounce everytime you get the ball instead of making simple passes. It can be good to keep the ball as the ball won't be on your ship very often but in general. It can also be bad as you are only focused of bouncing and don't see easy passes sometimes.

 

There's a fast playing style when you try to get to the opposite goal as fast as you can by clearing or making fast passes. It's good because you can surprise the opposite team and get on 2v1 situations. It's bad because you rush and sometimes don't make the right thing and end up losing the ball.

 

Kingtom:

1) Attack is the best defense (means rushing, and good turnovers).

2) Real slow attack (means all 3 on defense, and line attacking).

3) Fast passing style with one behind the 2 attackers to pass it back if its needed.

 

Lavel:

1) Safe - you barely lose the ball but u barely create occasions, ur just patient and  wait for the opportunity to score. The main skill of this type is: pass.

2) Risky - you try to dribble off more, trying to create more 2v1 3vs2 occasions. I'd use this type of style with 1 good last man cause you will lose the ball sometimes and you will have to achieve high skill on bouncing and juking.

3) Perfect mixture of the 2.

 

LunarLite:

Well personally i believe there are only 2.

 

Steady player:

RETENTION (not losing the ball)

INTELLIGENCE

PATIENCE

POSITIONING

PASSING

Clever shooting

 

Fast Player:

Bouncing

Greedy

Usually coming out on top in disadvantage places

Graving a lot

Boosting a lot

Usually the teams best player

Show off too

 

Maria:

Alright... Well i'll start off in saying that a well balanced team needs to have a little bit of everything to achieve maximum success.

 

1st playing style would be the controller or the point person. This individual is mostly a bouncer. This person can handle the ball well and make plays when needed. They are often looked for in games to control the game and carry the ball up the field of play. They are importan because without someone that can successfully control the ball, it will be very difficult of any offense to take place against another good team.

 

2nd playing style is the role player.  They fill in the "middle gap" in a sense that they dont control the ball too much unless they have to. They make the important passes and assist the "bouncer" on offense. This position is important because there needs to be someone who isn't fighting his/her own teammate to carry the ball but instead working together with him to produce a strong offense.

 

3rd playing style is the one that takes the role as "last man".  This is not to say that they dont contribute to the offense, because they do and are important to it. But when the other 2 are fighting for possession, this player stays back and keeps the defense in check. They are the last line of defense and very important in close games not to give away easy goals or breakaways.  They must also be patient in that they should not rush the ball if they are playing this postion.

 

These 3 playing styles together can make a well balanced team. All 3 players are important to offense and defense. The bouncer is just as much a defender as the last man person is important to the offense. Understanding their duty in the game makes it vital to victory.

 

McCheese:

Ok 3 styles are leader, leader's supporter, and follower.

 

Leader makes mistakes and is not concerned about them, because he knows they cause improvement, and he tries to provide teammates with opportunities at their level.

 

Leader's supporter feels that he is not up to par yet, and so he lets the leader take control of the match, and tries to back him up in riskier plays, but doesn't take too much risk himself.

 

Follower tends to complain a lot, doesn't take the right level of risk(either too much or very little), and ends up following what the other players do because he sees that they are more consistent

 

Monk:

Defensive - slow safe play, usually last man back and the person who helps link play.

Agressive - takes risks, dribbles past people creates chances.

Middleman - mix of both.

 

zorro:

1) Safe - Players on a team play in a triangular formation with the ball holder having two pass lanes that are usually be perpendicular, with the ball handler maintaining possession at all cost either by keeping it, or taking one of the two pass lanes. Often the case the safer one is made until progress is undertaken towards the other goal. The most important thing in this is maintaining possession.

2) Fast - Quick back/forward passes between 2 or 3 of the players in order to stop the opposite team from organizing themselves defensively, need chemistry between the players for this type.

3) Get carried - have an elite player on the team and just pass to him when he's open.

 

2) What would you say is the main characteristic of your playing style, i.e. is it fast with lots of bounces, fumbling and trick plays or steady and stable with more passes?

 

Bryant:

Like I said, I could play quick with bouncing, but that is not my style, it is thinking the game and looking for smart moves to score easy goals without forcing in important games. I am kinda slow player in hockey sometimes, but i could play quick in miniball for example, depends what game am I playing, but in general i am stable with more passes. And very important; I always play to win, no excuses, always play like a champion. About my defense, I am a defense player of course. Last man, really like to see all line pass'.

 

Killer:

Bounces and sure passes.

 

Kingtom:

I just play fast passing style but not safe lol.

 

Lavel:

Depending on the importance of the game ill say 3 characteristics that can define me.

UHL and MnM games: I'll say the mixture of the risky and safe 1

Normal / Fun games: ill say the risky 1

UCL games and all this UFL stuff: the safe 1

I say pass > all skills

 

LunarLite:

Depends really cause I do both in a real game like UCL or something definately slowly cause thats how u win those games. Fast against lesser opponents or in a worse team.

 

Maria:

I would say im more of a defender/passer.  I love taking the role as last man and I look for the easy passes and sometimes the "pretty" passes when the game permits me to do so. I can be offensive if the game calls for it, but mostly you'll see me playing back more and playing safe

 

McCheese:

Depends on the opponents. Can't pick one there but for your answer so that you have one, steady and stable with more passes.

 

Monk:

Mixture of bounces with a lot of passes... Depending who i play with.

 

zorro:

I offer my team the easy pass all of the time by either being directly next to or directly above them, when forward  I make sure I have a defender tracking me to open up space for the ball carrier. On defense, I prefer sitting back and having my teammates DOUBLE (yes doubling is good) the opponent ball carrier.

 

3) What would you say is the MOST IMPORTANT technique/skill out of these and why? - Bouncing + ball handling, fumbling + juking, passing + defending, a mixture of all, a mixture of all depending on the opposition, other.

 

Bryant:

Defending, a mixture of all. Defence primary - mixture of offences. Yes, defending as primary, ball handling no forcing, thinking the game, and good offense no fail.

 

Killer:

Ball handling passing and defending because this is a team game, you need to know how to handle without losing it, make sure passes so the opposite team won't get it and of course defending because if you can't defence you can't get the ball.

 

Kingtom:

Passing + ball handling. If u pass real fast beetween ur teammates, most of the defenders getting confused and there will be a open shoot then but, without passing you will never win a game you can't be that awesome at bouncing to get through 3 players!

 

Lavel:

Bouncing when u HAVE TO (this is when u dont have anyone to pass to) and pass and defend, so ball handling is a good skill too, when u get in trouble

 

LunarLite:

Bouncing and passing if you're under pressure, you can't lose the ball cause thats the worst thing and hockey is a big map, you need to be able to pass around your WHOLE team, not just 1 or 2 of you.

 

Maria:

I think a mixture is very important. The most important for me would be ball handling and defense. I take this to mean, knowing what to do with the ball when you have it. And when you dont have it, you need to know how to defend it. Ball handling for me includes passing. It's one of the things that is so obvious but yet gets overlooked by something like "bouncing".

 

McCheese

Passing and defending. Passing with teammates throws off the other team. Defending is a team process, if it isn't done together, it is worthless.

 

Monk:

A mixture of all would be best... but most important is being able to ball handle + defend.

 

zorro:

1. Ball retention - you must be able to keep the ball, not necessarily go past players, but just maintain it.

2. Awareness - Know your teammates position, what direction they're facing and where there going. Know how much boost EVERYONE has.

 

4) Offence and defence are two completely different aspects and every player has their own way of handling both, what is your primary tactic for both offence and defence?

 

Bryant:

Well, that is a good question. I would work on a player as I did to many first of all in basic things, Defense, Turbo, how to control the ship, make them know radar is for something, confident and remember it's hard for everyone to start, but you will get your game and your style. As I identify me as defensive player, I would work on them at defense really hard since I think it's vital, but they will figure out tricks for attack.

 

Killer:

On offece I try not to rush, I like to wait for a mistake and make a sure goal. On defence I try to predict what the next move of my opposite is. Sometimes I also dive to surprise them.

 

Kingtom:

Offence) I would teach it. Im for sure not the best attacker but I know where I have to wait (see passing) or what I should do with the ball if I have it infront of the goal, 1 pass or 1 bounce most of the time is enough to make a goal then.

Defense) Attack is the best defence :).

 

Lavel:

Defence - my definiton of defence in uniball is like it's imposible to defend EVERY goal if not games would be 0-0. The key of defence is to get used to hockey map and then know what ur opponent is going to do... Then u wait the opportunity and try to get the ball from him but never let him past u or u will create a 3vs2 2vs1.

Offence- If I know my team mate I'll pass alot, pass + defend but sometimes I can carry teams so I dribble, juke, bounce and defend.

 

LunarLite:

Offence is clever positioning, patience and skill. Yes I would cause I think it's the best way to win even if ur not great at skill, if ur open constantly then ur gonna win. Defense patience again, dont force them to lose the ball, just take up the right positions.

 

Maria:

For offense, it comes in 2 tiers, Tier 1 when you have the ball Tier 2 when you dont have the ball (but your teammate does).

 

In Tier 1 when you're controlling the ball and you're not near the goal, the main objective for you is to get it as close to the goal as possible without losing it. This can be done by carrying it yourself (if you're able to do so). People in this category are pomm, dest etc) OR by passing it to your teammates that are in a better position than you. Fundamentally, a person that can SEE the field when they're controlling the ball is key. They need to know where the defense is and their teammates in relation to that defense.

Passing is a key to victory because a team that can pass efficiently in the open field can produce more than a team that relies on 1 bouncer. So on offense when you have the ball, in my opinion, its better to pass to a teammate that is in a better position than you because remember, the ball travels faster than your ship does.

 

Tier 2 is offense without the ball.  This is just as important as if you have the ball. You need to make yourself available to your teammate.  This means working yourself around the map and putting yourself in a position that you can receive the ball from your teammate. Your teammate will do the best he/she can to make that pass, but if you dont get open for them, then the pass 1) wont be made 2) if they force it, it will be intercepted or 3) your teammate will eventually lose the ball. Playing offense without the ball is important because especially when you're near the goal, you can draw defenders away from the goal. Or even block them into it, if the play allows for that. Everyone on that team is key to scoring even if they dont touch the ball at all in that sequence.

 

Defense is the long lost art of uniball as I call it.  Sure people know they need to play it, but they dont put the focus or attention into it as they do into offense. Defense jump starts the offense. You cant win games without a strong defense and theres different approaches to it.

 

Each team usually has their own style whether it be man to man D or zone D.  In my opinion both should be used each game because each is more effective at a certain point than the other.

 

Man to man D should be played in the open field away from your goal (that you're defending). Whether you're guarding the ball carrier or not, its always important to position yourself between the ball carrier and the goal. You want to watch for the passing lanes, and if you can, block those off or force the ball carrier to pass towards the side thats going away from the goal (rather than down the middle). This approach works for Ball D or Off the Ball D and both are important. The key to defense is having all 3 defenders understanding their roles and playing the SAME type of Defense at the SAME time. Meaning if 2 people are playing man to man and 1 person is playing zone D, this just causes confusion and a break down in the defense.

 

Now there's zone D, this differs from man to man is that you're guarding an area rather than a player. This type of D should be played while you're near the goal. zone D covers the passing lanes and makes it harder for the other team to break through towards scoring. Man D near goal is dangerous because if you get beat by your person, that will lead to a goal almost always.  My personal favorite for zone D when you're guarding the goal is the 3man Goal stand.

 

3 man Goal D pretty much covers all the gaps in the goal  and allows for a 4th defender, the goalie. Using the goalie as your 4th defender on 3man Goal D, increases your chances of being successful in stopping their offense. This type of defense is very hard to penetrate when done correctly and creates frustration for your opponents.

 

McCheese:

Ok my primary tactic for offense is to have a smooth flow with teammates. Once a smooth movement/transitioning system is in place, the offense is more likely to succeed so the goal is to get teammates on the same page. As for defense, it depends how concerned the team is with defending and so the tactic for defense is to get an understanding with teammates. Defense is a bit harder to control if a teammate is regularly a non-defender, it is hard to change their defensive personality. Also a big issue here is entitlement many players feel that they don't need to defend as much, because of their reputation but since a lot of people feel this way, the amount of defense tends to be reduced in many games. Entitlement is bad for the game in general, "I've been here 6 years, so..." when it should be "I've contributed to the community in these various ways, so...".

 

Monk:

Well for both there are always set positions where a person should be depending on where their teammates are. On defence you need to work as a team and cover the goal, doubling SHOULD be done as long as you know how to and cover the most direct route to goal. Primary tactic = keep the ball and be patient.

 

zorro:

Most important thing is keeping the ball on offence, no matter how long it takes if you have the ball, the other team cannot score. Simple as. Don't try to overforce the issue and score on offense thats the important part.

On defense, I prefer having my teammates doubling in the opponents half of the map with one man sitting deep. Even if the doubling doesn't work, the last man should be able to stall long enough for the defense to get back in position.  Above the goal, do not straight fall back to the line as you're giving the other team space. have one man track the ball handler with  a second person carefuly observing the situation.

 

5) If you could give one main playing tip for a player for any map you desire, what would it be? - Please state the map aswell as the desired tip.

 

Bryant:

Hockey, defense!

 

Killer:

Hockey - keep the ball!

 

Kingtom:

Phar racing. I started with it, and I think its the best for you if u start the 1st weeks just with racing (kinda hard today since there are no races) but thats the key to get control of ur ship so u only have to practice your ball handling after. Just try to block someone (nevermind if you come last) you will learn things you won't learn on regular maps like miniball or hockey map, such as the boost "trick", blocking etc.

 

Lavel:

Observe hockey games before playing them.

 

LunarLite:

Ultimate, sit on the line and defend, its very fun.

 

Maria:

For Hockey: my tip would be "field awareness". Knowing where you are, where you need to be, where your teammates are and where the defense is.  You have to be aware of all these things while playing. Being out of position not only takes you out of the play, it also creates extra work for your teammates (looking for passes) but makes the defense's job easier in that they dont have to guard you and can afford to double your teammate. It's important to always be an option for your teammate even if you dont get the ball for that play. You might not have received the pass then, but you will on another play. Always know what your role is supposed to be.

 

McCheese:

Hockey since it is the map that has been made into the competitive map. The tip would be to take risk that is appropriate for the level you are at. If you take less risk than that, you don't improve as quickly, and can't do as much. If you take more risk than that, other people will give you less opportunities, because they will feel that you think you are above them.

 

Monk:

Hockey - keep the ball and don't deny open passes.

 

zorro:

Soccer - Pass the goddamn ball quickly, the goal is small you have to spread the play.

I would once again like to thank all these players for answering the questionnaire!!