Youth Football Plays

Youth Football Plays is a free, browser-based tool that gives you ready-made youth football plays you can view, filter, print and save. This page lists 10 tackle (11-a-side) plays, each with a diagram, a coaching note and a read order. No sign-up is needed, and nothing you do is uploaded. You can search and filter the plays by type and level, then select the ones you want for a printout, a PDF or a playbook. Use these simple youth football plays as a starting point, and open any of them in the designer to change it.

Every play is our own drawing.

How to use the youth football plays tool

1. Use the filter buttons above the cards to narrow the list by type (Run, Pass, Deep or Youth) or level (Beginner or Intermediate).
2. Type a name or keyword in the search box. Check the count of plays shown to see how many match.
3. Read each card. It shows the diagram, the play name, its format, level and type tags, a coaching note and the read order, such as Z then X then C.
4. Tick the Select box on every play you want to keep.
5. Press Print or PDF (4 per page) to get a printout or file. If nothing is selected, these buttons use every play shown.
6. Press Make a playbook to open the playbook maker with your selected plays.
7. To change a play, press Open in the designer. It loads in the football play maker.

Open in the designer loads the play into the football play maker, where you can change a block, move the tailback or flip the play to the other side. The plays you tick stay ticked in this browser, so you can come back later and print the same set.

Each card prints with its diagram and blocking.

What plays should a youth football team run?

A short set of simple plays that your players can learn quickly usually works better than a long list. The 10 plays on this page mix runs and passes so you can build a balanced offense. Inside Zone, I Dive, Power Toss, Counter, Buck Sweep (Wing-T) and Jet Sweep are run plays. Play-Action Boot, Quick Slants, Curl Flat and Four Verticals are pass plays. Filter by the Beginner level or the Youth type to find the simplest options first.

What formation is best for youth football?

No single formation is best for every team. The right choice depends on your players’ size, experience and how many players you have. The tackle diagrams use five linemen (LT, LG, C, RG, RT), with backs FB (fullback) and RB (tailback), and Y as the tight end. Every play has at least seven players on the line at the snap, following NFL 2026 Rule 7. For more on lining up, see the football formations page.

How do I read the play diagrams?

Each diagram follows a fixed key, so you can read any play the same way. Circles are offensive players, labeled with their position letter, and diamonds are defenders. The blue line is the line of scrimmage. Solid arrows are routes, zigzag lines are motion before the snap, dashed arrows are passes or pitches, and thick lines are runs. Blocks end in a T, and pulling guards loop behind the line. Line splits are drawn wider than real so the diagram stays readable, so do not read the spacing as exact measurements.

Why start with the I Dive and Power Toss?

They teach the two basic directions of the running game: straight ahead behind the fullback, and wide around the end with a pitch. Once players know their blocks on those two, the Counter and Buck Sweep reuse the same blocks with a change of direction.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free and do I need an account?

Yes, 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. Select the plays you want and press Print or PDF (4 per page). If you select nothing, both buttons include every play currently shown.

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 copied from a real team’s playbook?

No. Every play is our own drawing of a common concept. None are copied from a league or team playbook.

Do the diagrams show the blocking?

Yes. Every lineman’s block is drawn as a short line ending in a T, and pulling guards are drawn looping behind the line toward the hole.

Can I add a defense to these plays?

Yes. Open a play in the football play maker and choose a front in Defense, such as the 5-3 or 6-2 that many youth teams face.

Do these plays work for 9-man or 8-man football?

They are drawn for 11 players; remove players in the play maker to adapt them.

Related tools

• Football play maker: Use it to draw or edit a play from scratch or change one you opened in the designer.
• Football formations: Use it to compare how teams line up before you pick plays to match your roster.
• Playbook maker: Use it to group your selected plays into a playbook for your team.
• Youth flag football plays: Use it if your team plays flag football instead of tackle.
• Play call sheet: Use it to list the plays you will call during a game or practice.
• Football field diagram: Use it to sketch field positions and yard lines for a play or drill.