Draw, print and share football plays

Football Play Designer

Drag players, draw routes and print or share the play. Flag football 4v4 to 8v8 and 11-a-side.

Slant FlatLOSCQXYZ
Slant Flat

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The Football play designer is a free tool for drawing football and flag football plays on a field diagram. It runs in your browser, needs no sign-up, and uploads nothing. You choose a format from 4v4 up to 11-a-side, load an offensive formation, add defenders and coverages, then drag players and draw their routes. The page opens with our 5v5 “Slant Flat” play, so you can see a finished diagram before you start your own. A built-in rule check also flags problems against NFL FLAG 5v5 rules, which helps if you coach flag football and want your plays to be legal.
Football play designer example

How to use the Football play designer

  1. Choose a Format: 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, 8v8 or 11-a-side. The field window adjusts to match.
  2. Pick an Offense formation, such as Spread, Trips, Bunch or Shotgun with a back. For 11-a-side, the list changes to suit that format.
  3. If you want defenders on the field, pick a Defense, such as man to man or a 1-2-2 zone for 5v5, Cover 2 for 7v7, or a 4-3 or 6-2 front for 11-a-side.
  4. Tap + Offense player, + Defender or + Cone to add anything the formation is missing. Select a player to give it a new label (up to 3 characters) and a color.
  5. Tap Route, tap a player, then tap where its route goes. Double-tap or press Enter to finish, or press Esc to cancel.
  6. Select a line to change its type (Route, Run, Motion, Pass, Pitch, Handoff or Block) or its end (Arrow, T, Dot or None).
  7. Use Move to drag players or route points, and Erase to remove a player, route or drawing.
  8. Type a name in Play name and add notes in Coaching notes, both below the field.

Use Flip to mirror the play left to right, and Undo and Redo to step back through your changes. Ctrl or Cmd+Z undoes, Ctrl+Y or Shift+Ctrl+Z redoes, and Delete or Backspace removes the selected player or line. When the play is ready, use Save in this browser, Copy link, or one of the export buttons.

How do I draw a flag football play?

A flag football play is drawn from the offense’s side of the field. You place the players, then show where each one goes and how the ball moves. The rules shape the drawing more than in tackle football. Under NFL FLAG 5v5 rules, a play allows one forward pass from behind the line, the quarterback may not run the ball across the line, and there is no blocking or screening. A good flag play therefore relies on routes and quick throws, with handoffs or pitches only behind the line.

Start with the field width. The designer uses 25 yards for 5v5 and 4v4, which matches an NFL FLAG field. It uses 30 yards for 6v6, 40 for 7v7 and 8v8, and a 42-yard window of the 53 1/3-yard field for 11-a-side. Leagues set their own field sizes, so check yours if the diagram must match a specific field.

Next, place the players within the rules. The center is on the line, up to 4 players may be on it, and the quarterback stays off it. Only one player may be in motion, and that player must move parallel to or away from the line. Up to two rushers may start 7 yards from the line. The quarterback has 7 seconds to throw. Route depth matters too. The Slant Flat play shows a slant, a flat, a go and a 4-yard hitch working together, which spreads the defense so one receiver is open.

What do the lines in a play diagram mean?

Each line shows how a player or the ball moves. A Route line shows where a receiver runs. A Run line shows a ball carrier’s path. Motion is drawn as a zigzag and shows a player moving before the snap. Pass and Pitch lines are dashed, so a dashed line from the quarterback shows a throw or a pitch. A Block line ends in a T, and a Handoff is a thin line from the quarterback to the runner. In flag football, handoffs and pitches must happen behind the line, so a handoff line should start behind the line of scrimmage.

The end of each line adds meaning too. An Arrow shows the direction of travel, a T marks the end of a block, a Dot ends the line with a point, and None leaves the end open. Turn on the Curved box to smooth a path, such as a route that bends before it breaks toward the sideline.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free and do I need an account?

Yes, the designer is free and needs no sign-up. It runs in your browser, and nothing you draw is uploaded. Plays saved with Save in this browser stay on that device only, in browser storage.

Can I share a play with my team?

Yes, use Copy link to get a link that rebuilds the exact play. Because saved plays stay in the browser on one device, the link is the practical way to send a play to someone else.

Can I print it or save it as a PDF?

Yes. Download PDF creates one play per page with its notes, and Print sends the diagram to your printer. You can also save a PNG image or an SVG file.

Does it work on a phone or tablet?

Yes. You drag players with a finger and tap to draw routes; the field fits the screen width.

Does the designer check my play against the rules?

Yes. The rule check below the field lists problems with NFL FLAG 5v5 rules, such as more than one forward pass, handoffs beyond the line, or more than 4 players on the line. For 11-a-side, it checks that at least seven players are on the line.