Trips flood diagram
- 1
Three receivers at three depths on one side. A zone can't cover all three, so QB reads high to low: go, out, flat.
When to call Trips flood
Call it against a 3-2 zone or any defense where players guard an area. On the right side the zone has one short defender and one safety for three routes.
It is weaker against man, since each receiver keeps a defender.
Trips flood: each player's job
QB
Look right from the snap. Peek at Z's go, then throw the out to Y as Y comes out of the break at 10 yards. X in the flat is the short answer.
C
Snap and drag to the left at 3 to 4 yards, away from the trips. You are the throw if the QB gets rushed and has to turn away from the flood.
X
You are the inside receiver in the trips. Run the flat to the right sideline at about 2 yards deep and pull the short defender down with you.
Y
From the middle spot in the trips, run 10 yards straight up and cut hard to the right sideline. The ball should arrive as you come out of the cut.
Z
Lined up widest, run a go route up the right sideline.
What the quarterback looks at
The read goes high to low. First check the safety on the right. If the safety lets Z run by, throw the go. That does not happen often, so most throws go to Y on the out.
For the out, watch the short defender on the right. If that player stays back under Y, drop the ball to X in the flat for an easy 4 or 5 yards. If the defender runs up to X, Y is open behind.
How to teach Trips flood at practice
- 1
Line up the trips and have each receiver say a depth out loud. Z says deep, Y says 10 and X says 2.
- 2
Run the three routes on air and check the spacing.
- 3
Put one coach at short defender and one at safety. The QB calls out who is open before throwing.
Common mistakes
- Y cuts the out at 6 or 7 yards and ends up next to X. Mark 10 yards with a cone.
- X stops in the flat too close to the ball. Keep running to the sideline so the short defender has to widen.
- The QB waits to see Y open before throwing. Throw to the spot.
Trips flood FAQ
What is a flood concept in flag football?
A flood concept puts more receivers on one side of the field than a zone has defenders there. The routes are stacked at three depths, so covering two of them leaves the third open.
Does trips flood beat a 3-2 zone?
The 3-2 has one short defender and one safety on each side, and this play sends three receivers into their area. Read the short defender and throw away from that player.
Can a young quarterback make the out throw?
The 10 yard out is the hardest throw in this play. If your QB cannot reach it yet, shorten Y's route to 7 yards and keep X at 2.
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