Reverse diagram
- 1
QB hands to Y heading left, and the defense chases. Y hands it to X coming back the other way with the whole right side open.
When to call Reverse
Call it when defenders are all running to the ball on your sweeps. Save it for once or twice a game, in the middle of the field and outside the no-run zones.
Skip it against a disciplined defense that keeps a player home on each edge.
Reverse: each player's job
QB
Take the snap and hand to Y as Y crosses behind you going left. Then step out of the way, because two players are about to trade the ball near where you are standing.
C
Snap and run a 5 yard hitch in the middle.
X
Start wide left. At the snap, come back behind the line running to the right. Take the handoff from Y, keep going around the right end and turn up the sideline.
Y
From the right slot, run left behind the QB and take the first handoff. Keep running left like it is a sweep, then hand the ball to X as you pass each other.
Z
From the right, run a post. Take your defender to the middle of the field so the right sideline is empty when X arrives.
What the quarterback looks at
Nobody reads a defender until X has the ball. Before that, the whole play is two clean exchanges. Y and X should agree that X always passes on the side closer to the line of scrimmage.
Once X has it, X looks at the right edge. If a defender stayed home, X cuts up inside that player. If the edge is empty, X runs for the sideline and turns upfield.
How to teach Reverse at practice
- 1
Start with Y and X only. Jog toward each other and hand off ten times with no snap.
- 2
Add the QB and C. Now there are two handoffs, so run it at half speed until both are clean.
- 3
Run the jet sweep, then the reverse, against your own defense so they see how alike the two plays start.
Common mistakes
- The second handoff happens too deep. Keep the exchange within 5 yards of the line.
- Y slows down before handing off, and the defense stops chasing. Run full speed through the exchange.
- X looks back at the QB before the snap and gives the play away. Eyes stay upfield until the ball is snapped.
Reverse FAQ
Is a reverse legal in flag football?
Most rule sets allow more than one handoff as long as each one happens behind the line of scrimmage. A few leagues limit handoffs, so check your league's rules.
What is the difference between a reverse and a jet sweep?
A jet sweep is one handoff to a player in motion. A reverse adds a second handoff to a player going the opposite direction.
How often should I call trick plays in flag football?
Once or twice a game. A reverse works because the defense has been chasing your normal runs.
More plays: all 5v5 flag football plays, trick plays. Draw your own in the flag football play designer.