Flat
1 to 2 yardsGet outside fast, turn around at 1 to 2 yards and look for the ball. The quick answer to a fast rusher.
Used in: Curl-Flat, Bunch Slant-Flat-Corner, Flood
Flat in the glossaryThe flag football route tree
A route is the path a receiver runs. Every pass play on this site is built from the same small set of routes. Learn these, and any diagram tells you exactly what each kid does.
How to read these diagrams
- Each route is drawn for one receiver on the right side of the ball. Inside means toward the QB (left on the diagram); outside means toward the sideline.
- The solid white line across the field is the line of scrimmage. The dashed lines are every 5 yards.
- Depths are yards past the line of scrimmage. Young kids do not know what 5 yards feels like, so set a cone at the break point and let them run to it.
- Most teams mirror these on the left side. A slant from X on the left goes toward the middle the same way.
The routes
Flat · Slant · Hitch · Curl · Out · In · Dig · Drag · Post · Corner · Go · Seam · Wheel · Snag · Swing · Slant-and-go
Slant
1 to 3 steps, then on an angleHard steps straight up, then cut on an angle toward the middle. The QB throws as soon as the cut happens.
Used in: Bunch Slant-Flat-Corner, Stack Go-Out, Slant and Go
Slant in the glossaryHitch
5 yardsFive hard yards, stop, turn and face the QB. Good against a defender playing far back.
Hitch in the glossaryCurl (hook)
6 to 7 yardsPush to 6 or 7 yards like a deep route, then stop, turn toward the QB and come back a step.
Used in: Curl-Flat, Drive, Dagger
Curl in the glossaryOut
4 to 5 yardsStraight up, plant under control, and cut flat to the sideline. The throw has to leave as the receiver cuts.
Used in: Stack Go-Out, Scissors, Post Wheel
Out in the glossaryIn
5 yardsStraight up, then cut flat toward the middle. Keep it flat, do not drift upfield.
Used in: Double In
In in the glossaryDig
8 to 12 yardsA deeper in route. Run hard to the depth, then cut across behind the short defenders.
Used in: Drive, Dagger, Double In
Dig in the glossaryDrag (shallow cross)
2 to 5 yardsCross the field flat and shallow, and keep running after the catch. Two drags going opposite ways make Mesh.
Drag in the glossaryPost
7 to 8 yards, then deepStraight up, then angle deep toward the middle of the field. Beats a safety who drifts wide.
Used in: Post Wheel, Scissors, Sweep Right
Post in the glossaryCorner
6 to 7 yards, then deepStraight up, then angle deep toward the back corner. The QB throws it high toward the sideline.
Used in: Smash, Flood, Snag, Bunch Slant-Flat-Corner
Corner in the glossaryGo (vertical, fly)
DeepStraight downfield at full speed from the first step. Even when the ball goes elsewhere, it pulls a defender deep.
Used in: Spread Verticals, Four Verticals, Stack Go-Out
Go in the glossarySeam
DeepA go route from the slot, up the lane between the outside receiver and the middle of the field.
Used in: Four Verticals, Dagger, Spread Verticals
Seam in the glossaryWheel
Flat, then deepStart out like a flat route, then turn and run straight up the sideline past the defender who jumped the flat.
Used in: Post Wheel
Wheel in the glossarySnag (sit)
5 yardsRun 5 yards, slide inside into open space and stop, facing the QB. Sitting still is the whole route.
Used in: Snag
Snag in the glossarySwing
Backfield to 1 yard beyond the lineCurve out of the backfield toward the sideline, then get beyond the line before catching a forward pass under NFL FLAG rules. This drawing ends 1 yard beyond the line; a backward transfer follows different rules.
Used in: Four Verticals, Dagger
Swing in the glossarySlant-and-go (double move)
Fake short, then deepSell a slant for three hard steps, then plant and run deep. Only works after the defense has seen the real slant.
Used in: Slant and Go
Slant-and-go in the glossaryTeaching routes to kids
- Name every route one way. Pick slant, out, curl and so on, or use kid words like "lightning" for a slant, and never switch mid-season.
- Cones at the break. Put a cone where the cut happens. Kids learn depth by running to it.
- Hard cuts beat speed. A sudden stop or cut gets a receiver more open than a fast rounded path.
- Short routes first. The flat, slant, hitch and curl win most youth games. Add the post, corner and wheel once kids can catch on the run.
- Some teams number routes (for example 1 for the flat through 9 for the go). There is no single standard, so if you use numbers, write your own list on the wristband card.
Next: learn the rest of the words in the flag football glossary, or how to call plays so the kids know which route to run.
Separate the route name from the play name
A route describes one receiver's movement. A play combines several routes with a formation and a quarterback decision. Teach the slant, out and curl as individual movements before adding a concept such as Curl-Flat. Keep the same word for the same movement across coaches and players.
Use landmarks your team can repeat
Start with cones at the chosen break points and remove them after several clear reps. Then add a reachable throw, followed by a controlled defender. Route depth depends on the concept and the passer's timing; a route tree is not a rule that every team must use the same distances. Route Tree on Cones gives a station setup.
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