Finding the right plays for your 6-on-6 flag football team can be challenging. This guide provides you with a strategic approach to building a playbook, focusing on simple yet effective plays suitable for printable PDFs. We'll cover various formations, routes, and key strategies to dominate the field. Remember, successful flag football hinges not only on the plays themselves but also on your team's execution and understanding of the game.
Why a Printable PDF Playbook?
A printable PDF playbook offers several advantages:
- Accessibility: Easily accessible on any device, even without internet access.
- Organization: Keeps plays neatly organized and readily available during games.
- Customization: Allows coaches to tailor plays to their team's strengths and weaknesses.
- Team Communication: Facilitates easy sharing and learning amongst players.
Basic 6-on-6 Flag Football Formations
Before diving into specific plays, understanding common formations is crucial. Here are two foundational formations:
- Trips Right/Left: Three receivers lined up to one side of the field, with two receivers on the opposite side. This creates mismatches and gives you more options.
- Spread Formation: Receivers are spread across the field, typically wider than in the trips formation. This stretches the defense and opens up passing lanes.
Simple & Effective Flag Football Plays (Printable)
This section outlines basic plays easily adaptable for a printable PDF playbook. Remember to adjust based on your team's personnel and opponents.
Play 1: Corner Route (Trips Right)
- Formation: Trips Right
- Route: One receiver runs a corner route (downfield, then cuts sharply towards the sideline).
- Route: The second receiver runs a slant (across the middle).
- Route: The third receiver runs a short out route (across the field, near the sidelines).
- QB: Reads the defense. If the corner is tight on the corner route, the QB throws the slant. If the slant is covered, the QB throws the out route or keeps the ball.
Play 2: Deep Post and Drag (Spread)
- Formation: Spread
- Route: One receiver runs a deep post (straight downfield).
- Route: Another receiver runs a drag route (across the middle).
- QB: The quarterback looks for the deep post, looking for an early completion. If the defense covers it, a quick drag route can create an easy gain.
Play 3: Screen Pass (Trips Left)
- Formation: Trips Left
- Route: The closest receiver runs a short, quick out route.
- QB: The quarterback throws a short, quick pass to the receiver, with blockers protecting the pass.
- Purpose: Useful for getting yardage on crucial downs and relieving pressure on the quarterback.
Play 4: Hitch and Go (Trips Right)
- Formation: Trips Right
- Route: One receiver runs a short hitch (quick out route and comes back in) to act as a decoy.
- Route: Another receiver runs a go route (deep, straight downfield) after the hitch receiver attracts the defender.
- Purpose: This takes advantage of defensive misdirection.
How to Create Your Printable PDF Playbook
- Choose a Design: Use a word processor (Microsoft Word, Google Docs) or a dedicated graphic design program (Canva, Adobe InDesign)
- Layout: Create clear diagrams illustrating player positions and routes. Use simple, easy-to-understand symbols.
- Add Descriptions: Write concise descriptions of each play including the formation, routes, and quarterback reads.
- Consider Color-Coding: Use different colors to highlight different positions or routes for better readability.
- Convert to PDF: Save your document as a PDF for easy printing and sharing.
Additional Tips for Success
- Practice: Regular practice is essential for mastering these plays and building team chemistry.
- Adapt: Be flexible. Don't be afraid to adjust your plays based on your opponents' strategies.
- Communication: Clear communication on the field is critical for successful execution.
By implementing these strategies and creating a well-organized printable PDF playbook, your 6-on-6 flag football team will be well-equipped to succeed. Remember, this is a foundation – expand your playbook over time as you gain experience and learn your team's strengths.
