These are original plays built on standard football concepts, drawn from data for this page. They are not any league's official playbook. Flag football runs on many rulesets, so every play that depends on a rule says so; check the rules your league plays before you install it. Playing 5v5? See the 5v5 plays.
7v7 quick passing plays
- 1
Slant-flat
Quick game · Ages 9-10 and up
Slant-flat to both sides. The quarterback picks a side before the snap and reads the flat defender on that side.
Reads
- Pick the side with fewer defenders before the snap.
- Flat defender widens, throw the slant. She sits, throw the flat.
- Center sits at 6 over the middle if both sides are covered.
Coaching points
- Slants stay flat across the field, three steps then cut.
- The back checks for a rusher first, then releases to the flat.
In your stats: Short Comps with yards after the catch. Over a season, the flag pull credits show which defenders keep stopping it.
7v7 plays against man defense
- 2
Mesh
Vs man · Ages 11-12 and up
The two slots cross under the defense at 2 and 4 yards. Man defenders have to chase across the field and one of them falls behind.
Reads
- Throw to the crosser who wins.
- Center sit at 7 if both crossers are covered.
- Back to the flat last.
Coaching points
- Different depths so the crossers pass each other cleanly. No picks; they are offensive pass interference.
- Outside receivers run go routes to take their defenders away.
In your stats: Comps on the move, so plenty of yards after the catch. A good one to track receiving yards on.
- 3
Drive
Vs man · Ages 11-12 and up
A shallow cross at 2 yards with a dig at 10 over the top of it. Defenders in the middle have to choose one.
Reads
- Watch the middle defender. If she comes up on the shallow, throw the dig behind her.
- If she drops, throw the shallow in front of her.
- Go routes outside if a cornerback gets beaten.
Coaching points
- The shallow keeps running across. She is a moving target, not a sitting one.
- The dig breaks flat at 10 yards; do not drift upfield.
In your stats: Comps over the middle with yards after the catch. A good play to watch receiving yards by player.
7v7 plays against zone defense
- 4
Stick
Vs zone · Ages 9-10 and up
The slot stops at 5 yards in the gap of the zone. The back runs a flat route under her. A go route clears the top.
Reads
- Stick if the hook defender drops.
- Flat if the hook defender sits on the stick.
- Backside dig as the third read.
Coaching points
- Against man, the stick keeps running outside instead of sitting.
- The back's flat route must get width fast.
In your stats: A short Comp, logged with the receiver and the defender who pulled the flag.
- 5
Smash
Vs zone · Ages 11-12 and up
Hitch outside, corner from the slot, on both sides. Two-on-one against the cornerback beats two-deep zones.
Reads
- Read the cornerback on the better side.
- She sinks, throw the hitch. She jumps the hitch, throw the corner.
- Center sit as the outlet.
Coaching points
- Corners break at 8 to 10 yards toward the back pylon.
- The hitch turns back to the quarterback at 5 and stops.
In your stats: Short and long Comps from the same call. The spot you drop the ball on in the app records the difference.
- 6
Flood
Vs zone · Ages 11-12 and up
Go, out and flat to the same side: three levels against a zone that only has two defenders there.
Reads
- Go if the deep third defender stays in the middle.
- Out at 9 yards if she runs with the go.
- Flat if the out is covered.
Coaching points
- Keep the depths honest: deep, 9 yards, 2 yards.
- Backside routes hold the safety in the middle.
In your stats: A Comp to the open level. Log a few and the box score shows which depth the other team keeps leaving open.
- 7
Four verticals
Vs zone · Ages 11-12 and up
Four receivers run straight down the field, stretching any deep zone past its limit. The center and back sit underneath.
Reads
- Run the seam up the middle if the safety picks a side.
- Outside go if a cornerback is beaten.
- Center or back underneath if everything is covered.
Coaching points
- Seams stay inside the numbers, go routes stay outside. Spacing is the play.
- Throw it early, before the rusher gets home.
In your stats: Long Comps and TDs when it hits, Incs when it misses. Watch yards per completion, not completion rate.
- 8
Levels
Vs zone · Ages 13-14 and up
2 routes cut inside from the same side, at 4 and 10 yards. Read the short one first. A post route runs over the top.
Reads
- Low in at 4 if the hook defender drops.
- High in at 10 if the hook defender comes up.
- Backside post if the safety jumps the ins.
Coaching points
- Both ins break flat and keep running into open grass.
- Read it from the bottom up. The short one is open more often than coaches think.
In your stats: Comps over the middle at two depths. Comparing the two in the box score tells you how the opponent's linebackers play.
7v7 run plays
- 9
Jet sweep
Run · Ages 9-10 and up
A receiver comes across in motion, takes the handoff at full speed and runs for the far sideline.
Reads
- Snap when the motion player is two steps from the quarterback.
- Hand off and carry out a fake, so a defender has to watch you.
Coaching points
- Receivers on the far side run their defenders away. Where your rules allow screens, they stand in the way with no contact.
- The runner turns upfield the moment there is a seam. Do not run out of bounds looking for more.
Check your rules: Run plays depend on your rules. Many rulebooks have pass-only spots near the goal line or midfield. Some limit handoffs. Some do not let the quarterback run past the line. Check your rules first. Flag football rules
In your stats: A Rush for the runner with the flag pull credit and the spot. Rushing yards add up per player in the app.
- 10
Reverse
Run · Ages 11-12 and up
The back takes a handoff going right and hands it to the receiver coming back left. The defense flows one way, the ball goes the other.
Reads
- Hand off to the back going right. She sells it for three steps.
- The receiver comes back underneath her and takes the second handoff behind the line.
Coaching points
- Both handoffs happen behind the line of scrimmage.
- Slow to develop. Call it against a defense that chases everything to the ball.
Check your rules: Reverses need more than one handoff, which some rulesets limit, and run plays have no-run zones in many rulesets. Check yours before you install it. Flag football rules
In your stats: A Rush credited to the runner who finished the play. The defender who made the flag pull gets the credit.
7v7 trick plays
- 11
Double pass
Trick · Ages 11-12 and up
A backward pass goes to a receiver behind the line. She throws deep to the slot. The defense came up for the short throw, so the slot is behind them.
Reads
- The first throw is backward or flat, never forward.
- The receiver sets her feet and throws deep to the slot.
Coaching points
- Pick a receiver who can throw. Rep it until it is automatic.
- Run it after a few quick throws to that side, so the defense jumps it.
Check your rules: Laterals and pitches are legal behind the line in some rulesets and illegal everywhere in others. Check your rules before you call it. Flag football rules
In your stats: A Comp, usually a long one. Open the play from the feed and change the players on it. Then the receiver who threw it gets the passing credit.
- 12
Flea flicker
Trick · Ages 13-14 and up
Hand off to the back. She pitches it back to the quarterback. The quarterback throws deep over defenders who came up for the run.
Reads
- Sell the handoff for two steps.
- Quarterback resets her feet after the pitch and throws to the deeper of the two go routes.
Coaching points
- Only works after you have run the ball. With no run game, nobody bites.
- The pitch goes backward, chest high.
Check your rules: Laterals and pitches are legal behind the line in some rulesets and illegal everywhere in others. Check your rules before you call it. The handoff makes it a run play too, so no-run zones apply in many rulesets. Flag football rules
In your stats: A Comp with the deep receiver, often a TD. If it goes wrong, a sack logged from Other.
7v7 flag football defense
- 13
Three-deep zone
Defense · Ages 11-12 and up
2 cornerbacks and a safety split the deep field in thirds. 3 defenders cover short, and 1 rushes.
Rules
- Deep thirds: nothing gets behind you.
- Underneath: drop to your area and break on the throw.
- Rusher: on the snap, for the quarterback's flag.
Coaching points
- The soft spots are the flats and the seams. Underneath defenders widen to the flats first.
- Rally. Three defenders to the ball after every catch.
Check your rules: How far back the rusher starts, and how many players may rush, are set by your ruleset. Flag football rules
In your stats: Flag pulls on short completions and interceptions in the deep thirds. At Olympic Level, pass breakups too.
- 14
Man with a free safety
Defense · Ages 11-12 and up
Six defenders each take one eligible receiver and a free safety plays deep middle to help on anything long. No rush.
Rules
- Call out your receiver's number before the snap.
- Stay on her hip until the ball is thrown.
- Safety: read the quarterback's eyes and go to the throw.
Coaching points
- Without a rusher the quarterback has time. Use it when your ruleset gives her a short pass clock.
- Send the free safety as a rusher when the quarterback holds the ball. Keep all six receivers covered.
Check your rules: Rulesets differ on whether the defense must rush and on how long the quarterback has to throw. Check yours. Flag football rules
In your stats: Interceptions and flag pulls by defender. At Olympic Level, pass breakups show which defenders are winning their matchups.
- 15
Two-deep zone
Defense · Ages 9-10 and up
2 safeties split the deep field. 2 cornerbacks sit near the sidelines, short. 2 linebackers cover the middle, and 1 rushes.
Rules
- Safeties: deeper than the deepest receiver in your half.
- Cornerbacks: jam nothing, sink to 5 yards, break on the flat.
- Linebackers: drop to the hooks and watch the quarterback.
Coaching points
- The hole is deep middle. Linebackers sink under anything in the seam.
- A good first zone for 9 to 12 year olds: everyone has a clear area.
Check your rules: How far back the rusher starts, and how many players may rush, are set by your ruleset. Flag football rules
In your stats: Flag pulls by your cornerbacks on short throws and interceptions by your safeties. Sacks for the rusher, logged from Other.
How plays show up in your stats
Every pass play ends as a completion or an incompletion, every run as a rush, and every defensive stop as a flag pull, interception or sack. Stat your games in the BreakAway app and after a few weeks you can see which plays your team actually gains yards on. Practice each one with a practice plan for your age group, and read the how to stat guide or these lessons before game day:
