How to Teach Flag Football Plays

To teach a pitch run, follow these steps. A running back stands to the left, right or behind the quarterback. Pitches give the runner a further distance from the defenders. On a pitch right the quarterback hikes the football and turns to his right. The running back cuts to his right at an angle. The quarterback floats the ball in the runner's direction and rolls out in front of the back and readies himself to block the oncoming defenders. The center, who snapped ball, will run to his right and also block anyone downfield. Pitching to the left is an exact mirror of pitching right.

In order to teach a counter run, this is what you must know. They are usually handoffs, but you can have the quarterback pitch the ball also. Assuming you want to hand the ball off on this particular play and you are going right, then the quarterback hikes the ball and turns to his right holding the football out. She makes a few steps back toward the runner. Before the runner retrieves the ball, she makes a short cut to her left. She does this to fake out the defenders. She simply fakes like she is running left with a quick jab step and then goes to her right to get the football from the quarterback.

Those are the most effective run plays. You can do simple handoffs to the right and left, but those will most likely get you nowhere, as the defense will see it coming fast and get to the runner before she crosses the line of scrimmage, which is the line where you start the play from.

For pass plays, teach the team to execute a simple button hook. The wide receiver simply runs straight for either a few yards, or he can go deeper. In this case, we will say the play is a seven-yard button hook. After the quarterback hikes the ball, the center blocks, trying not to allow anyone to get to his flag. The running back can stay and block or she can run a route. he receiver runs straight for seven yards and simply turns around. When the receiver turns it should be a hard cut. He shouldn't just stop and casually turn to the ball. The quarterback should throw the ball as soon as the receiver turns around.

Teach in and out routes for alternative pass plays. Running out routes are good, quick ways to get separation from defenders. Let's assume the receiver is running a five and out route. If the receiver is on the left side of the quarterback, she would run five yards and cut to her left, which would be out since she is running away from the quarterback. If she is on the right then she would run five yards and cut to her right. In routes are very similar to out. If the receiver is on the left side of the quarterback then she would run five yards and cut to her right, which would be in since she is running back toward the middle of the field. If the receiver is on the right side then she runs five yards and cuts to her left for an in route.

Teach the team to execute slant routes. Usually these routes are made for faster receivers who can quickly get separation from the defenders. If the receiver is on the left side of the quarterback and the call is quick slant then he runs about a yard or two. He then cuts to the middle of the field at an angle, still moving downfield. The quarterback can throw the ball right at the cut, or he can wait for the receiver to pull away from the defender. Post routes are basically just extended slant routes. If the call is "receiver short post" and the receiver is on the left side of the quarterback, he runs for about 10 yards and cuts to the middle of the field at an angle still running downfield.

Those are the most basic form of plays for flag football.