6 on 6 Flag Football Plays
6 on 6 flag football sits between the 5 on 5 game and 7 on 7. The sixth player is usually either a fourth receiver or a running back behind the QB, and which one you choose changes what your plays can do. There is no single 6 on 6 rulebook, and leagues set their own field size and rusher rules. So instead of a separate playbook, this page shows five of our 5 on 5 plays redrawn for six players, what the sixth player changes in each, and a link to the full coaching page for the play.
Coaching tips for 6 on 6
- Before the season, find out three things from your league: how far back the rusher starts, whether the QB can run, and how wide the field is. They decide which of these plays fit your team.
- Use the sixth player as a receiver when your team can throw, and as a back when you need a run game or a safe short throw against a fast rusher.
- Keep one player close to the QB as a check-down. With six players it is easy to send everyone deep and leave a young QB with nowhere to go.
- Teach each play in its 5 on 5 form first, then add the sixth player's job. The kids learn one idea at a time.
Curl-Flat (6 on 6, Doubles)
What the sixth player changes
In 5 on 5 you get Curl-Flat on one side. With a sixth player you line up two receivers on each side and run it both ways, so the QB can pick the side with the better matchup before the snap.
- Before the snap, the QB picks a side, usually the one with fewer defenders nearby. After the snap, the QB reads that side's flat defender: if that defender runs to the flat, throw the curl; if that defender sits on the curl, throw the flat.
- C still sits at 5 yards in the middle. With four receivers out wide, C is often the easiest throw on the field.
- Keep the curls at 6 or 7 yards. Deeper curls take too long for a young QB against a rusher.
Mesh (6 on 6, Doubles)
What the sixth player changes
The sixth player lets both outside receivers run straight deep. Their defenders go with them, so the two crossers (Y and H) get the whole middle of the field to themselves, and C sits behind the crossers as the safe throw.
- Y goes under at about 4 yards and H goes over at about 6. Same rule as 5 on 5: decide who goes under in practice.
- X and Z must run full speed deep even though they rarely get the ball. If they jog, their defenders stay in the middle and clog the mesh.
- Against zone, the crossers stop in the first open spot and face the QB.
Flood (6 on 6, Trips Right)
What the sixth player changes
In 5 on 5, the center has to sprint all the way to the flat to make the third level. With a sixth player you can line up three receivers on the right, so Y runs the flat from much closer and C stays in the middle as a check-down.
- Read high to low on the right side: Z deep, then H on the out at 8 yards, then Y in the flat.
- X runs a post from the left side. It keeps the safety from drifting over to the flood side.
- If the rusher is fast, skip the deep read and start with H.
Smash (6 on 6, Doubles)
What the sixth player changes
With two receivers on each side you can run Smash both ways: a hitch outside and a corner route over it on the left and on the right. The QB picks a side by looking at the cornerbacks before the snap.
- If the cornerback on a side is playing close to the line, throw the corner route over the top. If the cornerback is playing deep, throw the hitch.
- The hitches stop at 5 yards and come back a step toward the QB, so the throw is short and on time.
- C at 6 yards in the middle is the answer when both cornerbacks sit in the middle of the two routes.
Sweep Right (6 on 6, Twins Right, Back Left)
What the sixth player changes
The sixth player is a receiver on the far side. X runs a post from the left, which pulls the deep defender toward the middle and away from the sideline the sweep is heading for. Everything on the right side is the same as the 5 on 5 play.
- H takes the handoff already moving at full speed and gets to the sideline before turning up.
- Y and Z run their defenders deep and to the middle. They keep running until the whistle.
- X sells the post like a real pass. A safety who sees X running free will stay in the middle.
Want to draw your own 6 on 6 play? The play designer has a 6 on 6 lineup, and you can print any play with the playbook builder.
Coaching a 5 on 5 team instead? See the 5 on 5 plays. Other formats: 7 on 7