Trick Plays for Flag Football
6 trick plays that stay inside the NFL FLAG rules, with diagrams and reads. Print or edit them.
Reverse
Looks like the jet sweep, but the jet man hands the ball to Z coming back the other way behind the line.
Read: Z
Flea Flicker
Handoff to the back, who stops and pitches it back to the quarterback; the defense has come up for the run and the receivers are behind them.
Read: X → Z
QB Throwback
Pitch to the back, who rolls right behind the line; the quarterback slips out to the left flat and the back throws to him. The QB is eligible once the ball has been pitched.
Read: Q → C
Hitch and Go
Z sells a short out, then turns up the sideline when the defender jumps it. Pump-fake the out first.
Read: Z → X
Sweep Pass
The back takes the pitch as if on the sweep, stays behind the line and throws to Z turning up the sideline.
Read: Z → X
Slant and Go
Run the slant-flat look a few times, then call this: Z fakes the slant and goes deep.
Read: Z → Y
Recent
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How to use the Flag Football Trick Plays tool
- Find the type buttons above the play cards, such as Trick play, Deep or Run, and tap one to narrow the list.
- Type a play name or keyword into the search box.
- Check the count of plays shown so you know how many match your filters.
- Read each card. It shows the diagram, the play name, the format, level and type 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. The PDF button fits 4 plays per page. If nothing is selected, both buttons use every play shown.
- Click Make a playbook to open the playbook maker with your selected plays.
- Click Open in the designer to edit a play.
Every card prints with its diagram, name and coaching note, and Make a playbook adds the ticked trick plays to the flag football playbook.
In the designer you can flip a trick play to the other side, so the same play works from the left or the right hash, and save the new version for your wristband cards.
The ticked cards stay ticked in this browser.
What are good trick plays in flag football?
The six plays on this page are solid choices for 5v5 because each one keeps every handoff and pitch behind the line of scrimmage and uses only one forward pass. Reverse, Sweep Pass and QB Throwback use a handoff or pitch to pull the defense toward one side before the throw. Flea Flicker, Hitch and Go and Slant and Go send the pass to a quick or deep target.
- Reverse: the jet-motion man takes the handoff and gives it to Z coming back the other way behind the line.
- Flea Flicker: a handoff, a pitch back to the quarterback, then a deep pass.
- QB Throwback: a pitch to the back, then the quarterback slips out and catches the pass.
- Hitch and Go: Z sells a short out, then turns up the sideline; X runs a hitch underneath.
- Sweep Pass: the back takes a pitch and throws from behind the line.
- Slant and Go: Z fakes the slant from the slant-flat look and goes deep.
Is a hook and lateral legal in flag football?
No. Under NFL FLAG 5v5 rules, a hook and lateral after a catch downfield is illegal because backward passes and handoffs are not allowed past the line of scrimmage. The plays on this page avoid that problem by making every exchange behind the line before the single forward pass. Flea Flicker and Sweep Pass, for example, use the handoff or pitch first and throw afterward.
Can the quarterback catch a pass in flag football?
Yes. Every player, including the quarterback, is an eligible receiver after a handoff, pitch or lateral. In QB Throwback, the quarterback slips out after the pitch to the back and catches the forward pass. The quarterback cannot throw a pass and then catch that same pass, and cannot run the ball across the line.
How do I read the diagram symbols?
Circles are offensive players, labeled with their position: C for center, Q for quarterback, and X, Y and Z for receivers. H and F appear in bigger formats. Diamonds are defenders. The blue line is the line of scrimmage, and a dashed orange line marks the 7-yard rush line when a rusher is shown. Solid arrows are routes, zigzag lines are motion before the snap, dashed arrows are passes or pitches, and thick lines are runs.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free and do I need an account?
Yes. The tool is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser.
Can I print it or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Use the Select box on each card, then click Print or PDF. If nothing is selected, both buttons use every play shown. The PDF option puts 4 plays on each page.
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.
Are these plays legal under the NFL FLAG rules?
Each flag play passes a rule check built from the NFL FLAG 5v5 rules. That check covers one forward pass from behind the line, no quarterback runs across the line, handoffs and pitches only behind the line, no blocking, the center on the line and only one player in motion. Leagues can add their own rules, so check with your league before game day.
How often should I call a trick play?
Rarely: a trick play works because the defense expects the base play, so run the base play first.
Are trick plays good for young teams?
Keep them for teams that already run their base plays well.
Related tools
- 5v5 flag football plays: Use this when you want plays built for 5-on-5 games.
- All flag football plays: Use this to browse every play in the library, not just trick plays.
- Flag football playbook PDF: Use this when you want a printable playbook to hand out to your team.
- Play call sheet: Use this to list the plays you will call during a game.
- Football play designer: Use this to draw or edit your own play from scratch.
- Flag football rules: Use this to check what a play allows before you teach it.