Objective
Teach every receiver the core flag football routes at consistent depths, and give the offense a numbered route tree so plays can be called in one word in the huddle.
Setup
Area
Half of a 5v5 field (about 30 x 25 yards), cones at 3, 5 and 10 yards from a line of scrimmage
Players
4–10 players: one quarterback (a coach works well) and two lines of receivers
Equipment
4–6 balls, 8–10 cones, Flag belts (optional for this drill)
Duration
10–15 minutes
How it works
- 1
Teach the stance and the stem
Receivers line up on the line of scrimmage in a two-point stance, outside foot back, weight on the front foot. The stem is the straight vertical run before the break: every route starts by attacking straight upfield so the defender cannot read the route from the first two steps.
- 2
Run the quick routes at 3 yards
Flat: 1–2 yards upfield, then flatten to the sideline. Slant: three hard steps, then cut inside at about 45 degrees. Drag: angle inside immediately and cross the field at 2–3 yards deep, sitting down in open grass. Coach the plant foot on every break (outside foot to go inside, inside foot to go outside).
- 3
Run the intermediate routes at 5 yards
Out: stem 5 yards, plant, and break flat to the sideline. Curl: stem 5–6 yards, stop, and turn back inside toward the QB, working back a step to the ball. For young groups, mark the break point with a cone so the depth becomes muscle memory.
- 4
Run the deep routes at 8–10 yards
Post: stem 8 yards, then break at 45 degrees toward the middle of the end zone. Corner: stem 8 yards, then break at 45 degrees toward the back pylon. Go: sprint straight up the sideline without slowing. Wheel: start like a flat, then turn upfield along the sideline, ideal from the backfield or a slot.
- 5
Add the catch and the tuck
The QB throws on the break. Receivers show two hands with thumbs together above the chest, index fingers together below it, catch away from the body, and tuck the ball before turning upfield. Switch lines so everyone runs from both sides.
| Number | Route | Depth | Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 0–2 yards | Flattens to the sideline right away |
| 2 | Slant | 3 steps (about 2–3 yards) | 45 degrees inside |
| 3 | Comeback | 8–10 yards | Back toward the sideline, working to the ball |
| 4 | Curl | 5–6 yards | Stops and turns back inside to the QB |
| 5 | Out | 5 yards | 90 degrees to the sideline |
| 6 | Dig (in) | 6–8 yards | 90 degrees inside |
| 7 | Corner | 8–10 yards | 45 degrees to the back pylon |
| 8 | Post | 8–10 yards | 45 degrees to the middle of the end zone |
| 9 | Go | Full sprint | No break, straight upfield |
Coaching points
Sell every stem at full speed; a receiver who slows down before the break tells the defender which route is coming.
Break at the called depth every time, because in a timing offense the QB throws to a spot, not to a player.
Look for the ball out of the break, head first, then hands, never the other way round.
Against zone, sit down in the open space between defenders; against man coverage, keep running away from your defender.
Add double moves such as the stop-and-go and the post-corner only after the single-break routes are clean, because they need a believable first break.
Variations
Numbered route tree
Number the routes so a play call is a three-digit code read from left to right, one digit per receiver: 1 flat, 2 slant, 3 comeback, 4 curl, 5 out, 6 dig, 7 corner, 8 post, 9 go. In this classic tree odd numbers break to the sideline and even numbers break inside, though programs number their trees differently, so settle one version for your team.
Route on air to live defender
Once depths are consistent, add one defender playing loose man coverage at 5 yards. The receiver has to win with the stem and the break rather than just running a shape, and the QB practises throwing away from the defender's leverage.
Build it in Coach Board
Receivers learn the tree faster when they can see all nine routes at once. Draw your route tree once in Coach Board on the flag football field: one receiver at the line and nine arrows fanning out at the right depths, in the order of their numbers. Then build each play on its own board by placing your receivers and drawing their routes, animate the play so kids see who breaks first, and share the link so players learn the tree on their phones before practice.