Flag Football: Building a Team Playbook
Each team draws three flag football passing plays on cards, with routes for its receivers, and tests them in 5-on-5 games. Students practice group tactical planning, quarterback-receiver timing and defense.
How to play
- Make four teams of 6 with three cards each. Explain three routes, hook, slant and go, and how to draw them with arrows (4 min).
- Each team designs three plays with a code name, a quarterback and a route for each receiver (5 min).
- Walk-through with no defense: run each play twice and fix the one that fails (4 min).
- 5-on-5 games on 30 x 15 m (33 x 16 yd) fields: the offense gets four downs to score and calls plays in the huddle by code name only.
- Pull a flag to stop the ball carrier; a touchdown from a playbook play is worth 6, an improvised one 4. Possession changes after a score or four downs (12 min).
- Wrap-up: each team explains why its best play fooled the defense (3 min).
Rules
- No contact: no blocking with hands and no tackling, only flag pulls.
- The quarterback may not run until three seconds after the snap.
- Flags hang loose at the waist, never tied.
- No touching a receiver while the ball is in the air.
Variations
Easier
No pass rush and five downs.
Standard
Three plays per team, four downs and open defense.
Harder
The defense draws two coverages and the quarterback must read which is in use before throwing.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: play quarterback or lead play designer who calls plays in the huddle.
- Visual impairment: use a bright ball and short routes with a guide partner.
- Lower skill level: may hand the ball off instead of throwing.
Learning goals
- Design offensive plays as a group with clear routes.
- Time the throw with the receivers' movement.
- Test a plan in live play and adjust it.
Equipment for a class of 25
- foam footballs: 4
- flag belts: 50
- cones: 16
- cards: 12
- markers: 4
Teacher tip
Ask for routes that cross as little as possible to avoid receiver collisions. Save the cards: next class teams can add to their playbook.
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