Flag Football Plays
44 flag football plays with diagrams and reads. Filter by format, print them or open any play to edit.
Slant Flat
Z runs a 3-step slant, the inside man runs to the flat underneath him. If the defender on Z sits inside, throw the flat.
Read: Z → X → C
Mesh
The two wide receivers cross underneath, one at 2 yards and one at 3.5, passing each other without stopping. Against man, a defender has to run the whole crossing route to stay with his receiver, and the first one to come open gets the ball.
Read: X → Z → C
Flood Right
Three receivers stretch one side at three depths: deep, 6 yards and the flat. A zone defender can only cover one of the two short levels.
Read: Y → X → C
Smash
High-low on the corner: X stops at 5 yards, Y bends to the corner behind him. If the corner defender squats on the hitch, throw the corner.
Read: Y → X → Z
Verticals
Everybody runs deep except the center, who sits at 6 yards as the safety valve. Throw to whichever deep man is level with or behind a single safety.
Read: Y → Z → C
Stack Out and Up
The front man in the stack runs straight up and takes the defender with him; the back man breaks out at 4 yards into the space left behind.
Read: Z → Y → X
Curl Flat
The front of the stack curls at 6 yards facing the quarterback while the back man runs to the flat. Read the flat defender: he cannot cover both.
Read: Y → Z → X
Bunch Snag
A triangle read from a bunch: corner, a sit at 5 yards and the flat. The three receivers release in different directions, so one defender cannot follow two of them.
Read: X → Z → Y
Jet Sweep
The slot runs flat motion across the formation and takes the handoff at full speed. The receivers run deep to pull defenders away from the sweep.
Read: Y
Pitch Sweep
The back takes a pitch and races to the wide side. Once the pitch is made every defender may rush, so the back must get outside quickly.
Read: Y
Rollout Flood
The quarterback rolls behind the line toward the trips side, which moves him away from the rusher and shortens his throws. He may not run across the line.
Read: X → Y → C
Double Post
Both wide receivers break to the middle at 6 yards. A single safety has to choose one, so the other is open deep.
Read: Z → X → Y
Quick Outs
Four short routes that open within two seconds. A good first play for young teams and a safe call against a fast rusher.
Read: Z → X → Y
Counter
The back steps one way to pull the defense, takes the handoff and cuts back the other way behind the center.
Read: Y
Slant Out
One receiver breaks in, one breaks out, the center sits in the middle. Three easy throws from one look.
Read: X → Z → C
Cross
The two wide receivers cross at different depths while the center clears deep. Throw to the first man who comes open across the middle.
Read: X → Z → C
Go Hitch
The outside man runs deep and clears space for the slot to stop at 5 yards underneath him.
Read: X → Z → C
Stack Out and Up
Front man vertical, back man out at 4 yards. Stacked receivers make it hard for defenders to know who to take.
Read: Z → X → C
Pitch Sweep
A pitch to the back and a race to the edge, with the receiver running off his defender.
Read: Z
Center Seam
Both receivers curl and pull their defenders forward; the center runs straight up the middle behind them.
Read: C → X → Z
Mesh
The two slots cross underneath while the outside men run deep. The center sits in the middle when the defense chases the crossers.
Read: H → Y → C
Flood Right
Deep, intermediate and flat to one side; the single receiver on the other side runs a post to hold the safety.
Read: Y → H → X
Smash
Smash on both sides: outside hitch, inside corner. Pick the side with one deep defender before the snap.
Read: H → X
Curl Flat
Curl and flat on both sides. Read the defender between them: if he widens to the flat, throw the curl.
Read: X → H → C
Four Verticals
Four receivers stretch the field deep, the center checks down at 5 yards.
Read: H → Y → C
Bunch Snag
Corner, snag and flat from the bunch with a backside slant for a defense that rolls to the bunch.
Read: H → Z → Y
Jet Sweep
Flat motion from the left slot and a handoff on the move; the three receivers clear the right side deep.
Read: H
Pitch Sweep
Pitch to the back to the side of the two receivers, who run off their defenders.
Read: H
Mesh
Crossing slots under two deep routes, with the back swinging out as the last option.
Read: H → Y → F
Flood Right
Three levels to the trips side against zone; the post on the single-receiver side holds the middle safety.
Read: Y → H → F
Smash
Corner over hitch on both sides, the classic answer to two-deep coverage.
Read: H → X → F
Four Verticals
Four deep routes against a defense with two or three deep defenders; somebody is left one on one.
Read: Y → H → C
Stick
A quick two-man read: the stick sits at 5 yards and the flat runs under it. Throw away from the flat defender.
Read: Y → H
Y Cross
The slot crosses the whole field at 7 to 11 yards while the outside receivers clear deep.
Read: Y → H → F
Levels
Two in-breaking routes stacked at 4 and 9 yards put a linebacker in a bind.
Read: Y → H
Bunch Snag
The bunch triangle against any coverage, with a backside post and the back swinging the other way.
Read: H → Z → Y
Curl Flat
Curl and flat on each side; pick the side before the snap from the defenders’ alignment.
Read: X → H → F
Mesh
Crossing slots, two deep routes and both backs swinging out to stretch the underneath defenders.
Read: H → Y → F
Flood Right
Three levels to the trips side; the back and the center fill the middle for a quick check-down.
Read: Y → H → F
Smash
Corner-hitch on both sides with the backs in the flats.
Read: H → X → R
Verticals
Four deep routes from an empty set with three hitches underneath for the quarterback to check down.
Read: H → Y → C
Jet Sweep
Motion and handoff on the move to the wide side while every receiver runs his man away.
Read: H
I Dive
A quick handoff straight up the middle; the fullback leaks to the flat as a decoy.
Read: R
Counter
The tailback steps right, takes the ball and cuts back left behind the center.
Read: R
Recent
Your last 10 settings, saved only in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.
FlagPlayLab’s flag football plays page is a free library of 44 flag football plays, each with a diagram, coaching note and read order. It runs in your browser, and you don’t need to sign up to use it. The library covers 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7 and 8v8 formats, so you can find plays for the number of players on your team. Every play is an original drawing of a common concept and passes a rule check based on the NFL FLAG 5v5 rules. You can filter plays by format, type and level, search by name, and print or save them as a PDF. Nothing you do is uploaded to a server.
For a printable book of these plays, see the flag football playbook PDF.
How to use the FlagPlayLab play library
- Choose a format with the filter buttons above the cards, such as 5v5 or 7v7.
- Choose a level. Select Beginner if you want the simpler flag football plays.
- Add a type filter, such as Quick pass, Beats man, Beats zone, Deep or Run, to narrow the list further.
- Type a play name in the search box if you already know what you want.
- Check the count above the cards to see how many plays are shown.
- Read each card: the diagram, the play name, the tags, the coaching note and the read order, such as Z then X then C.
- Tick the Select box on each play you want to keep.
- Click Print or PDF (4 per page). If nothing is selected, these buttons use every play shown.
- Click Make a playbook to open the playbook maker with your selected plays.
- To change a play, click Open in the designer.
The plays you tick stay ticked in this browser, so you can come back later and print the same set. The format buttons also show how many plays each format has: 6 for 4v4, 14 for 5v5, 8 for 6v6, 9 for 7v7 and 7 for 8v8.
Every card prints with its diagram.
What are good flag football plays?
A good flag football play is one that follows the rules and suits the players who will run it. In NFL FLAG 5v5, a play may include only one forward pass, thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. The quarterback may not run the ball across the line, handoffs and pitches must happen behind the line, and nobody may block or screen. The center stays on the line, up to four players may be on it, and only one player may be in motion, moving parallel to or away from the line. The quarterback has 7 seconds to throw. Plays built within these limits are simpler to teach and easier to run under pressure.
Good plays also use short, clear routes. Concepts such as Slant Flat, Mesh and Stick give the quarterback an early read and a quick throw. Plays with deeper routes, such as Verticals or Double Post, work well when defenders are playing close. Each play on this page includes a coaching note that explains when the concept is most useful.
How do you read a flag football play diagram?
Start with the circles and diamonds. Circles are offensive players, and each one has a position letter: C for center, Q for quarterback, and X, Y and Z for receivers. Bigger formats also use H and F. Diamonds are defenders. The blue line marks the line of scrimmage. If a rusher is shown, a dashed orange line marks the 7-yard rush line.
Next, follow the lines. Solid arrows are routes that receivers run. Zigzag lines show motion before the snap. Dashed arrows are passes or pitches, and thick lines are runs. To read the play in order, use the read order on the card. For example, if the order is Z then X then C, the quarterback checks Z first, then X, then looks to the center if the first two are covered.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best plays for 5v5 flag football?
Start with the 5v5 filter, which shows 14 plays. Beginner-level plays are a good starting point for a new team, and concepts such as Slant Flat, Mesh and Quick Outs are common choices for short, quick passing. Check the coaching note on each card, since it explains when a play works best.
Can I edit these plays?
Yes. Click Open in the designer on any card to change the routes, positions or motion in the play. The library card never changes; your edited version can be saved in the designer and added to a playbook.
Is it free and do I need an account?
The tool is free and needs no sign-up. It runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
Can I print it or save it as a PDF?
Yes. The Print and PDF (4 per page) buttons above the cards print the plays you selected, or every play shown when nothing is selected. The PDF option places 4 plays on each page, which suits a binder or a handout.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The play cards stack in one column on a phone, and Open in the designer lets you change any play with your finger.
Is this affiliated with the NFL?
No. “NFL FLAG” is a trademark of the NFL, and FlagPlayLab is not affiliated with it. The plays are our own drawings that fit the NFL FLAG 5v5 rules. They are not taken from any NFL FLAG material.
Related tools
- 5v5 flag football plays: Use this when your team plays 5v5 and you want plays for that format only.
- 7v7 flag football plays: Use this when your team plays 7v7 and needs plays with more receivers.
- 6v6 plays: Use this for teams that play the 6v6 format.
- 4v4 flag football plays: Use this when your team plays 4v4 and you want plays for four players.
- 8v8 flag football plays: Use this for 8v8 teams that need plays with more receivers and a bigger field.
- Youth flag football plays: Use this to find plays tagged for younger players.
- Flag football defense: Use this to plan how your team will cover the plays you have chosen.
- Trick plays for flag football: Use this when your team already runs its base plays well and wants a few tricks.
- Flag football playbook PDF: Use this to get a printable playbook for your team.
- Football play designer: Use this to draw your own plays from scratch.