Flag Football Positions

The Flag Football Positions tool shows where each player lines up in flag football and what each position does. Pick a format (4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7 or 8v8), and the diagram and the offense and defense tables update with each position’s letter, name, number of players and job. The tool is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. Use it to learn the layout for 5v5 flag football positions or 7v7 flag football positions, then open the play designer to draw plays with the same letters.

The letters match our play designer and play library.

How to use the Flag Football Positions Tool

1. Open the page on a computer, phone or tablet. The tool runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install.
2. Choose a format button: 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7 or 8v8. Each button changes the diagram and both tables.
3. Look at the diagram to see where each position sits on the field.
4. Read the offense table. Each row gives a position’s letter, name, how many players play it and its job.
5. Read the defense table using the same columns.
6. To draw plays, click “Draw plays with these positions”. The play designer uses the same letters, and its Offense formation menu loads these alignments.
7. To keep a copy on paper, click Print.

The page address keeps the format you chose, so a bookmark or a shared link opens the same view. Each table row starts with the position letter in a dark box, the same letter you see on the diagram, and where a position appears twice, such as two cornerbacks, the table shows the count.

Print gives you a sheet with the diagram and both tables, ready to hand out at the first practice. The letters match our play library, so a player who learns X here knows which line to follow on every play card.

What are the positions in flag football?

Flag football positions are the roles each player takes on offense and defense, and the number of roles depends on the format. A 5v5 team has five players per side on the field. On offense, those five are C center, Q quarterback, X and Z wide receivers, and Y, a slot receiver or back. On defense, they are R rusher, two CB cornerbacks, LB linebacker and S safety.

Larger formats add players to these lines. 6v6 adds H, a second slot position, and a second LB. The 7v7 offense uses C, Q, X, H, F, Y and Z, and the defense has two CB, three LB, S and FS. Our 7v7 diagram has no rusher. The 8v8 format adds R, a running back, on offense, and gives the defense a rusher plus four LB. The 4v4 format uses C, Q, X and Z on offense against R, two CB and S on defense.

Each position also has a short job. Cornerbacks cover wide receivers, linebackers cover the short middle, and the safety plays deep. Read the defense table before you draw a play so you know which defender should cover which area. Counting the letters in the diagram is a quick way to confirm how many players your format uses.

What does the center do in flag football?

The center snaps the ball to the quarterback by passing it between the legs. Once the ball is snapped, the center runs a short route. The center cannot take a handoff from the quarterback first, so a play cannot start with a center sneak.

Because the center’s job starts with the snap, the center is the first player to act on every offensive play. When you draw plays in the play designer, place C at the spot where the ball is snapped, then add the short route after the snap. Keeping this order in mind helps you avoid plays that break the center rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest position in flag football?

The center is usually the easiest place to start. Its job is to snap the ball between the legs to the quarterback and then run a short route. The wide receivers (X and Z) come next: run your route and catch the ball. The quarterback has the hardest job, because the QB decides where to throw and cannot run the ball across the line. This is our coaching view, not an official ranking, and the right position depends on the player. The duties come from the NFL FLAG 5v5 rules, revised 24 March 2025.

How many players are on a flag football team?

The number depends on the format. A 5v5 team has five players per side on the field, a 7v7 team has seven, and the same pattern holds for 4v4, 6v6 and 8v8. NFL FLAG plays 5 on 5.

What does a rusher do?

A rusher starts at the 7-yard rush line with a hand raised, goes straight for the quarterback’s flag at the snap and may try to block a pass but not touch the passer. R is the rusher in our 5v5 defense; our 7v7 diagram has no rusher because many 7v7 leagues play without one.

Is it free and do I need an account?

Yes. The tool is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.

Can I print it or save it as a PDF?

Yes, click Print to print the positions. If your browser’s print window offers Save as PDF, choose it to save a PDF copy.

Does it work on a phone or tablet?

Yes. The diagram and the position tables stack on a phone screen, and the format buttons are big enough to tap.

Why do the letters differ between leagues?

The letters on this page match our play designer and play library, so a position labeled X here is X when you draw plays. Names vary between leagues, so your league’s rulebook may use a different name for the same position.

Related tools

• Flag football rules: Check the rules for play limits and penalties before you set up a formation.
• 5v5 flag football plays: Look at ready-made 5v5 plays when you want examples to adapt.
• Flag football defense: Use this when you need to plan coverage for the defensive positions.
• Football play designer: Draw your own plays using the same position letters.
• Football formations: Compare formation layouts when you want to see how positions line up together.
• Flag football drills: Practice the position jobs with drills once you know who does what.
• Flag football field dimensions: Check the flag football field dimensions to see the space each position has to cover.
• 4v4 flag football plays: Look at plays for four players when your team plays 4v4.