Quarterback drops and play calling
Ready when: Snap and handoff (i1) and Routes (i2) started.
What you are learning
Running a play as a team: draw it in the huddle, say it, then snap, step back (the drop) and throw before the blitzer pulls the quarterback's flag. Defenders keep talking so everyone knows whom they mark.
Words on this card Flag, Huddle, Centre, Quarterback, Receiver, Handoff, Fake handoff, Blitz, Route, Slant, Drop, Roll-out
- Flag
- A belt with two strips of cloth hanging at the hips. Pulling one off stops the ball carrier.
- Huddle
- The team standing close together before a play to agree what to do.
- Centre
- The centre passes the ball back between the legs or from the hands to start a play; that pass is the snap.
- Quarterback
- The player who takes the snap and throws or hands off the ball.
- Receiver
- A player who runs to catch a pass.
- Handoff
- The quarterback giving the ball straight into a running player's arms.
- Fake handoff
- Pretending to hand off, then keeping the ball.
- Blitz
- A defender who runs straight at the quarterback after the snap to pull a flag. Nobody may block the blitzer.
- Route
- The path a receiver runs to get free for a pass.
- Slant
- Route names. Slant: a few steps, then a sharp diagonal cut. Hitch: run forward, stop and turn back. Out: run forward, then cut straight to the sideline. Post: run forward, then cut toward the middle of the goal end. Corner: run forward, then cut toward the far corner. Fly: run straight and fast.
- Drop
- The quarterback stepping back after the snap before throwing.
- Roll-out
- The quarterback running sideways to throw on the move.
Set up
A ball, cones, a whiteboard or a piece of paper.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- In the huddle, draw a simple play: who snaps, who runs which route.
- Say the play aloud and break the huddle with a clap.
- Snap; the quarterback takes three steps back, looks at the receivers and throws.
Your part while they practise
Be the blitzer: after the snap sprint at the quarterback to pull the flag; nobody blocks you.
Step by step
- Draw a play in the huddle.
- One-step and three-step drops.
- A roll-out.
- A fake handoff, then a throw.
- Defenders keep talking so everyone knows whom they mark. Check the league's rush rules before using drops.
How much: 8 plays 12 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Call it, run it
The team calls a play, runs it, and says why it worked.
Who plays: the attacking team against you as the blitzer; then swap roles.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The team huddles and calls a play
- Snap. You count "one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi" aloud, then run at the quarterback
- The quarterback must throw before the flag is pulled
- 8 plays; then each player says why one play worked
- Fair play
- Count to 5 for a younger team.
- Points
- 1 point for a completed pass; 3 points for a pass that gains 10 yards; 1 point to the blitzer for each flag pulled before the throw.
- Fouls
- No points for that play
- Anyone blocking the blitzer
- Running a different play from the one called
- The quarterback running past the line before throwing
- Winning
- The team beats the blitzer's score after 8 plays.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 12 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A slow blitzer.
A live defence.
What you will see, and what to say
- the quarterback stares at one receiver
Look off, then throw
Look one way, throw the other. - the play is forgotten
Say the play first
Everyone says their job in the huddle.
Self-check
The group runs 3 plays correctly in a row.
Stop and get a coach when
Repeated misses and frustration.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains decision-making, timing.
awiseathlete.com/sports/flag-football/flag-football-i3