Free flag football plays
24 plays for 5v5 and 7v7 flag football (19 for 5v5, 5 for 7v7), each with a diagram, the quarterback's read, coaching points and a rules check against the IFAF rulebook. Add any of them to the free play maker, change it, and print wristband cards.
Start with a few quick passes your team can run in its sleep, add one deep shot and one red-zone play, and keep a trick play in your pocket. Every play here was checked against the IFAF International Flag Football Rules 2023, the rules used at the World Championships and the 2028 Olympics, with notes on how NFL FLAG differs. Only a forward pass caught beyond the line is legal in a no-run zone, and flag football has no blocking, so none of these plays rely on screening a defender.
Quick passes
5v5 · Easy
Double Slant
The double slant is the best first-down play in 5v5 flag football: both outside receivers break inside on the same step, and the ball is out in two seconds.
5v5 · Easy
Stick
Stick is a three-receiver flag football concept: a go route clears the deep defender, the slot sits at 5 yards, and the center runs to the flat, giving the QB a simple two-man read.
5v5 · Easy
Curl-Flat
Curl-flat puts a high-low read on both sides of the field: outside receivers curl at 9 yards while the slot and center run to the flats, so the QB can work whichever side the defense leaves soft.
5v5 · Easy
Quick Hitches
Quick Hitches sends every receiver 5 yards and turns them back to the QB. It's the fastest completion in flag football and the answer to a defense playing off.
5v5 · Easy
Bubble Screen
The bubble screen turns an aggressive rush into open grass: the slot bows back behind the line and catches a quick toss while the outside receiver clears the defender away. No blocking needed.
7v7 · Medium
Snag
Snag (or Spot) builds a triangle on one side: a corner route, a slot that settles at 5 yards, and a running back flat. Three receivers against two defenders gives the QB an easy read.
Intermediate
5v5 · Medium
Smash
Smash pairs an outside hitch with a slot corner route, putting the corner defender in a high-low bind. It's the classic answer to a two-deep flag football defense.
5v5 · Medium
Flood
Flood sends three receivers to one side at three depths (deep, medium and short) so a zone defense runs out of defenders. A top-down read makes it a reliable scoring play.
5v5 · Medium
Drive
Drive stacks a shallow cross under a 10-yard dig so one underneath defender has to choose. It's a reliable chain-mover against man and zone in 5v5 flag.
5v5 · Medium
Levels
Levels runs two in-breaking routes from the same side at 5 and 10 yards. The QB reads one middle defender and throws to whichever level they leave.
7v7 · Medium
Trips Flood
A 7v7 flag football flood from a trips formation: go, out and flat attack one side at three depths while a post and dig hold the middle and backside.
7v7 · Medium
Post-Dig
Post-dig (also called Mills) runs a post over a 10-yard dig from the same side, putting the deep middle defender in a bind in 7v7 flag football.
7v7 · Advanced
Y-Cross
Y-Cross sends the slot on a deep crossing route from one side of the field to the other, with a go to clear the safety and a curl-flat underneath. A 7v7 flag football staple.
Deep shots
5v5 · Medium
Four Verticals
Four Verticals sends every receiver deep to stretch a 5v5 defense past its breaking point. One safety can't cover two seams, so the QB reads the safety and throws away from them.
5v5 · Medium
Post-Corner Combo
The post-corner combo sends two receivers from the same side in opposite directions deep. A single safety can't turn both ways, so one of them comes open.
5v5 · Medium
Hitch-and-Go
The hitch-and-go is the flag football double move: the receiver fakes a hitch, the defender bites, and the receiver turns upfield behind them.
Trick plays
5v5 · Easy
Center Leak
The center leak rolls the whole offense right, then throws back to the snapper sneaking out to the left. It's legal in IFAF flag because the snapper is an eligible receiver.
5v5 · Medium
QB Throwback
In the QB throwback, the QB hands off to a sweeping running back and slips out the other way. The back throws it back across the field, and because the ball was returned, the QB can run after the catch.
5v5 · Medium
Flea Flicker
The flea flicker hands off, pitches the ball back to the QB behind the line, and throws deep to a receiver whose defender crept up to stop the run. Legal under IFAF rules.
5v5 · Easy
Reverse
The reverse fakes everything one way and runs the other: the running back goes left and hands off to a receiver looping underneath back to the right. The best first trick play for young teams.
5v5 · Medium
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty: the QB pump-fakes right with the ball held high, and the running back circles behind to take it and run left. In IFAF flag, the pump fake doesn't release the rushers.
5v5 · Advanced
Double Pass
The double pass: the QB throws a backward lateral to a receiver behind the line, who throws deep to a teammate on a stutter-go. Only the second throw is a forward pass, so it's legal.
7v7 · Easy
Jet Motion Fake
A 7v7 jet motion play: a receiver sprints across the formation, the QB fakes the hand-off, and throws back to the side the motion just left. Legal because the motion is parallel to the line.