Setup

Setting up a Rush has a decent degree of tactics to it. While it can be forgiving, there are things that need to be considered from the get go.

The Keeper
Your 6th player, the innactive one, will be your "Keeper" (regardless of if they have that role or not). Their role will be to stand in the middle of your 3-pt Zone, obstructing the opponent from gaining the 4-point shot. They will typically gain no team-actions and simply do their job by standing in place. In fact the only time they will likely gain an action is if they are moved out of the way of their Guard post - using the action to resume their place on the pitch (at any means nessicary!)

Your Keeper typically will face forward to put threat on the three hexes in front of them, forcing the opposition to try to go around him to make any attempt at the 3pt strike.

With your keeper in place, you now need to consider how to place your remaining 5 players.

Offensive Setup
If you are the Home team, you will act first. With that in mind you have two goals to accomplish: The goals should occur in this order, though the setup should be considered in reverse:
 * Weaken the opposing line
 * Get the ball

Get the Ball
When the ball launches there is a 33% chance it will land in one of the three hexes opposite the launcher. As such having a ball handler standing beside the 5th DB sign, and a second by the 2nd DB sign, means you will have a handler within close range of either ball.

Having two handlers on the line also give a good opening for a passing game, provided the handlers have at least average skill. After your bruisers have cleared the way (see below; you do not want to risk handling the ball first and loosing any remaining actions from a bad throw) you can have the ball-handler either attempt to make a 2pt shot at the nearest strike zone, or pass it to your second ball-handler on the midline if the local strike zone is too hot compared to the other.

Clear the Way
With your two ball-handler's setup on the midline, and a keeper defending your half, look to setup your remaining three players adjacent each of the free DB signs. These should typically be bruisers (Guards or Jacks) since their role will be to clear the pitch of opposition - specifically to get the keeper out of the way so you can get the valuable 4pt strike!

Defensive Setup
If you are the Visitors, you will act second. With that in mind you need to consider three things:
 * Defend against their first-rush push
 * Threaten the Ball Carrier
 * Prepare to grab a newly launched ball