Flag football play maker

How to use the play maker

1. Pick 5v5 or 7v7. The field matches IFAF sizes: 25 yards wide for 5v5 and 30 yards wide for 7v7. A standard formation loads so you're not starting from nothing.
2. Place players. Drag a position from the row above the field, or tap it and then tap the field. Drag any player to move them.
3. Draw routes. Select a player, choose Draw route, then tap each point of the route. Choose a route (arrow), motion (dashed) or stop-and-sit (T). Tick Curved for wheel and out-and-up style routes.
4. Or start from a play. Start from a play adds any of the free library plays (double slant, flood, smash, trick plays and more) so you can change them instead of drawing from scratch.
5. Build your playbook. + New play adds the next number; Duplicate copies a play so you can build its mirror or a variation. Move plays earlier or later to group them, for example 1–4 quick passes and 5–8 runs.
6. Pick your wristband size and how many plays go on each card (1 to 12), then print. The card previews update as you draw. Print at 100% and cut on the lines.
7. Print the coach’s call sheet. A full page with the same numbers, bigger diagrams and your note on each play. You call the number, and the players read the same play on their wrist.

Everything saves in your browser as you go. Copy share link sends the whole playbook to an assistant coach or a parent helper. Save file downloads it so you can open it on another computer or keep a copy for next season.

What the symbols mean

Every position has its own shape, letter and colour, so a card printed in black and white still reads correctly:

• C: center, a square
• QB: quarterback, a filled circle
• X, Y, Z: receivers, open circles
• RB: running back
• H, F: extra receivers for 7v7
• Solid arrow: route · dashed: motion · T: the route stops and sits in open space. Flag football has no blocking, so a T never means “block”.

You can relabel any player with up to two letters, so your team's own names ("S" for slot, "W" for wing) show up on the card. New to route names? Our flag football route tree explains each one.

Wristband card sizes

Wristbands hold the card in a clear window. These are the common insert sizes the play maker prints:

Card size	Insert	Cards per sheet
Flag football insert	4.00 × 3.00 in	4
Adult / varsity three-window	4.75 × 2.75 in	3
Adult wide	5.25 × 3.25 in	2
Youth	4.50 × 2.25 in	3
Mini	3.50 × 2.50 in	6

Is your wristband a different size? Choose Custom size and enter the window’s width and height in inches. Window sizes vary by brand, sometimes by a quarter inch. Print one sheet, cut one card, and test-fit it before cutting the rest. The wristband play sheet guide covers how to number plays and call them from the sideline.

Printing at the right size

• In the print dialog, set Scale to 100% (or Actual size) and turn off Fit to page. This is the usual reason a card comes out too small for the window.
• Each sheet has a 1-inch square in the top corner. Measure it with a ruler. If it isn't exactly 1 inch, the print was scaled.
• Cards sit edge to edge, so each cut is one straight line across the sheet. Crop marks outside the cards line up with each cut, and a paper trimmer makes quick work of it.
• Printing in black and white? Untick Print in colour. Shapes and letters carry the meaning, so nothing is lost.
• Heavier paper or card stock (65–110 lb) holds up better than printer paper and still fits most windows.

Laminating your cards

Sweat and rain ruin paper cards by the second game. To make them last:

• Use thin 3 mil laminating pouches. Thicker 5 to 10 mil pouches make a stiff card that often won't slide into the wristband window.
• Quick: laminate the printed sheet, then cut on the lines. The cut edges are open, but the wristband's sleeve protects them in most weather.
• Fully sealed: choose Custom size and print the cards ¼ inch smaller than the window, laminate the cut cards with gaps between them, then trim leaving ⅛ inch of plastic all round. The finished card is exactly the window size.
• Let inkjet prints dry fully before laminating so the ink doesn't smear. Laser prints can go straight in.
• No laminator? Clear packing tape on both sides works. So do self-seal laminating sheets. And many wristbands already have a vinyl window that keeps a plain paper card dry enough for one game.

Our guide to laminating wristband cards walks through both methods step by step, with pouch thicknesses and no-laminator options.

Frequently asked questions

What size are flag football wristband play cards?

It depends on the wristband. Common insert sizes are about 4 × 3 inches for flag football wristbands, 4.75 × 2.75 inches for adult three-window wrist coaches, 4.5 × 2.25 inches for youth and 3.5 × 2.5 inches for mini bands. Window sizes vary by brand, so print one card and test-fit it before cutting the rest.

Why is my printed play card the wrong size?

Almost always because the print dialog scaled the page. Set the scale to 100% or Actual size and turn off Fit to page. Every sheet from this play maker has a 1-inch square in the corner; measure it with a ruler to confirm the print is true size.

Should I laminate wristband play cards?

It helps with sweat and rain. Use thin 3 mil laminating pouches so the card still slides into the wristband window. The quick way is to laminate the printed sheet and cut on the lines. For fully sealed edges, print the cards a quarter inch smaller, laminate them with gaps between them, and trim leaving an eighth of an inch of plastic. Clear packing tape on both sides works if you don't have a laminator.

Is the play maker free, and is my play uploaded?

It is free with no sign-up. Plays are drawn and saved in your browser. A share link stores the play in the part of the URL after the #, which browsers never send to the website.

Does it follow IFAF flag football rules?

The fields match IFAF: 25 yards wide for 5v5 and 30 yards wide for 7v7. The editor flags a few IFAF issues, such as more than one player in motion, but it doesn't block anything, so it also works for leagues with their own rules.