Flag Football Passing Concepts 19 pass plays in 5 families
A passing concept is a small group of routes that work together against one defender or one area. Learn the concept and you can run it from any formation. The 19 pass plays below are grouped by the concept they use, with the read each family teaches.
Jump to: Crossing routes (the Mesh family) · Flood and three-level concepts · Two-receiver reads on one short defender · In-breaking levels (dig concepts) · Vertical and deep-shot concepts
Crossing routes (the Mesh family) (4)
Receivers run across the field at different depths. A defender in man coverage has to chase through traffic, and a zone defender in the middle has one receiver in front and one behind.
The read: The quarterback watches the defender in the middle of the field and throws to the crosser that defender does not take. No receiver may screen or pick a defender; the routes work on spacing and timing.
Mesh (5v5)
X crosses near 4 yards and Y crosses the other way near 6 yards, while the center settles at 7 yards.
Drive (5v5)
The inside slot runs a shallow cross at 2 yards, and the outside receiver runs a dig at 8 yards right behind it.
Shallow Cross (5v5)
X runs a 2-yard shallow cross to the right while Y runs a 9-yard dig above it in the same direction, putting a high-low on the middle defender.
Y-Cross (5v5)
Y, the right slot, climbs 4 yards and then angles across the field to finish at 11 yards near the left sideline.
Flood and three-level concepts (3)
Three receivers end up on one side of the field at three depths: short, medium and deep. Most zones have two defenders on that side, so one receiver is often left for the quarterback.
The read: The quarterback reads one side only, usually from the middle depth down to the short route, and takes the deep one when the deep defender leaves it.
Flood (5v5)
Three routes attack one side at separate depths: Z vertical, Y on a corner and C in the flat.
Snag (5v5)
Three receivers to the same side run three levels: a corner route breaking deep, a snag route that stops at 5 yards and turns toward the QB, and a short check-down underneath.
Bunch Slant-Flat-Corner (5v5)
Three receivers release from a tight bunch into a slant, flat and corner, while the center works up the middle.
Two-receiver reads on one short defender (3)
Two receivers work the same side, one in front of a short defender and one behind or beside. That defender can cover one of them.
The read: The quarterback picks out that one defender before the snap and throws to the receiver the defender leaves. It is the simplest read to teach a new quarterback.
Curl-Flat (5v5)
The outside receiver runs 7 yards, then turns back to a 6-yard curl while the inside receiver reaches the flat underneath.
Stick (5v5)
Y runs a 5-yard stick and sits, turning slightly outside, while H runs to the flat on the same side and X clears deep.
Smash (5v5)
The outside receiver runs a 5-yard hitch while the inside receiver runs a corner route over the top.
In-breaking levels (dig concepts) (3)
An in-breaking route arrives in the middle of the field with a second route above or below it. The defender sitting in the short middle has to choose a depth.
The read: The quarterback reads the middle defender: if that defender steps up, the ball goes to the deeper in-route; if the defender backs up, it goes to the shorter one.
Levels (5v5)
Z runs an 8-yard in and Y runs a 3-yard in underneath it, both breaking toward the middle from the right side.
Double In (7v7)
Two receivers run in-routes at different depths, about 10 and 5 yards.
Dagger (7v7)
The right slot runs a seam while the outside receiver breaks inside at 12 yards behind the underneath coverage.
Vertical and deep-shot concepts (6)
Receivers run deep to stretch the safeties, either straight up the field or with a break that crosses a deep defender's face. Each play keeps a short outlet for when the deep routes are covered.
The read: The quarterback counts the deep defenders before the snap and throws away from them, or takes the outlet. Deep throws are completed less often than short ones, so call these when the defense has crept up.
Four Verticals (7v7)
All four receivers run straight downfield, stretching the defense deep across the whole width of the field.
Spread Verticals (5v5)
Three receivers run vertically in separate lanes while the center settles at 6 yards.
Scissors (7v7)
The outside receiver runs a post and the left slot runs a corner, crossing at different depths.
Post Wheel (7v7)
The outside receiver runs a post toward the middle while the slot runs toward the flat and turns up the sideline on a wheel.
Wheel (5v5)
H leaves the backfield toward the right flat, then turns straight up the sideline into a wheel that ends about 14 yards deep.
Slant and Go (5v5)
Y sells a hard slant for three steps, then plants and runs upfield and back to the right sideline.
Which concept should you teach first?
Start with one two-receiver read, because the quarterback only has to watch one defender. Add a crossing concept when teams start playing man-to-man against you, and a three-level concept when they sit in a zone. Keep one deep shot for when the defense moves up. Three or four concepts that your team runs well are worth more than a thick playbook.
Match a concept to the coverage: plays against zone · plays against man-to-man. Learn the route names on the Learn pages, then print your calls as wristband cards.