How to Execute an Offensive Passing Play in Football

The ability to pass the football during a game is crucial for a coach and his team to be successful. The types of offensive pass plays are as diverse as the amount of imagination and talent that a coach has at his disposal. Despite the enormous possibilities, there are a few key components that every coach and player needs to know in order to execute an offensive passing play.

Instructions

    • 1

      Evaluate the athleticism of the skill positions on the football team. Use talented speed players to stretch the field vertically, but if you have less athletic players, stretch the field horizontally to rely on the possession receivers. Additionally, determine if the right player is in the quarterback position. The quarterback needs to be bright, communicative and have a strong and accurate arm.

    • 2

      Teach the fundamentals daily in practice. During a game it's easy for a quarterback and receiver to cheat their fundamental techniques. Daily practice ingrains ability and skills so that the movements on the field become second nature to the players.

    • 3

      Understand the coverage principles and know which offensive formations and pass plays are effective against each coverage. Some formations and plays are ineffective for certain coverages, while others are a perfect fit against the same coverage. Make sure the coaches, quarterbacks and receivers know the strengths and weaknesses for each pass play and how to get into good plays and out of bad plays.

    • 4

      Explode off the line of scrimmage. A receiver needs to make the defensive player who's defending him think that he has the burst to run by the defensive player vertically or horizontally. For example, when running a five yard hitch route, the receiver needs to accelerate off the line of scrimmage so that the defensive back thinks the receiver is running past him on a vertical route. After selling the fake, the receiver stops sharply at the 5 yard mark and turns his shoulders to the quarterback to await the football.

    • 5

      Check the pre-snap read. Before the play, the quarterback scans the field to see which route is going to be open. After taking the center's snap, the quarterback quickly drops back to the coach's predetermined depth and fires the ball on time to the open receiver. If the quarterback is throwing the five yard hitch route, the quarterback takes a fast three step drop and delivers a quick, catchable ball away from the defending player.