NFT: Flag Football

...ages were 5-8 and it was ridiculous. Oldest players were all on 2 of the 4 teams, so the only play I could possibly run on offense was 'QB Sneak' - any other play resulted in an instant sack.

We lost our games by epic scores like 42-0, 35-0. Fun times for the kids.

We DID score one TD that season.

You guessed it - on a QB sneak.

That was my first and last expedition into my districts football league.

The only pass play you need.

Line a kid up in the slot and have him run a drag and get in the way of the blitzer "legally".

Roll out sprint outs to your shiftiest WR who can break a tackle and get up the sideline.

Even just the slightest misdirection to delay the blitzer, so run some reverse action for a WR and have the QB fake it to him to get him to take a false step then a quick out, slant or comeback. Every once in a while give it to the WR on the reverse, and rarely, fake it - then have the QB throw it to the WR still on a quick lobbed wheel route up the sideline.

Run slants and seams to the vacated area of the blitzer.

Last resort - quick sprint out to the RBs dominant hand, then a quick throwback to the WR once the blitzers committed to trying for the sack.

EXACTLY what Young Elijah said, verbatim. They'll get it instantly.

(Seriously, my 8 and 10 year olds are trying flag football this fall -- the fact that there are even plays and a playbook is already a little daunting.)

comes straight over the center area from 7 yards back. one rule i dont like is there has to be a hand off, no toss sweeps etc. and all passes have to be past the line of scrimmage.

Do a version of this and it works even in this age group.

Big play and kids love it.

Put the kid with the best hands split wide right.

Your fastest kid split wide left.

Everybody else runs deep left. You want to clear out the right side.

Kid on rich does a short in. Only about 3-5 yards. Pass is thrown just to the right of center.

Kid on left does the same but shorter. Comes straight across.

Two kids cross with the pitch right off the hip to the fast kid and he will go up the sidelines for a long one.

I used this for 3-4th graders.

We were overmatched but this one play worked every game.

Use it to open your 2nd series for a long play.

Go back to it in 2nd half.

And do it again with the first kid faking he pitch and taking it up the sideline.

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Most flag leagues have more defenders than offensive players because scoring is crazy easy otherwise.

Basically, with 5v5 any missed flag pull should essentially be a TD with any of your fastest kids.

Main strategy should be:
If zone coverage, run curls/comebacks. Then stop-and-go's.
If man coverage, slants/crosses/ins. Then slant-and-go's.

Unless you got Dan Marino's illegitimate son on your team, keep it on the ground.

Best plays are getting your fastest kids into open field with pitches, and teaching smart technique for avoiding flag grabs. Quick hips cause trips.

That's all I got.

Described works wonders.

Quick screen left and pitch. Easy play for the QB.

Single WR left and wide.

On snap he delays a second or 2 and runs down LOS. quick throw by QB.

Just have him keep it the first time. After catch he runs up field. If the WR makes a play and gets any yards hey will over play it next time.

Next time, have the center go underneath him for a pitch.

On the pitch just have the kid run hard and just pop the ball off his hip like a rugby pitch.

The kids love these plays and like practicing them.

It’s up to the kid catching the pitch to run underneath the runner. All it takes is a little practice.

Are you playing the crazy rules with no QB runs, no laterals, no runs near the goal-line, etc?

Either way, if motion is allowed, have someone in motion towards the QB before the ball is snapped. Either misdirection, or a handoff and run, or have them throw. Every once in a while have the motion guy seal the edge on a blitzer to keep them honest.

Have to have a mindset more like an old skool wishbone than a pro offense.

This thing should pop wide open.