Quick pass
Double slants
Double slants puts two slants on each side of a 6v6 spread.
Open in the play designer6v6 flag football plays
6v6 flag football plays add one receiver to the 5v5 game. The plays on this page use a spread with two outside receivers and two slots, or trips to one side. Each has an animated diagram and a job for all six players.
5 plays
6v6 pass plays
Beats zone
Smash
Smash pairs a 5-yard hitch with a corner route on each side.
Open in the play designerBeats man
Mesh
Mesh sends H and Y across the field in opposite directions, about a yard apart, 3 to 5 yards past the line.
Open in the play designerBeats zone
Flood
Flood lines up in trips right and sends three receivers to the right side at three depths.
Open in the play designerDeep shot
Hitch and go
Hitch and go is a double move for Z.
Open in the play designerHow 6 on 6 flag football plays are different
Six on six is common in rec leagues and church leagues, and it sits between 5v5 and 7v7. Rules vary more here than in the other formats. Some leagues allow screen blocking and some limit who can catch a pass, so check your league's rules. The plays on this page assume no blocking and an eligible center.
The extra receiver gives you two players on each side of the center. You can run a two-man route combination on both sides at once, like the hitch and corner in smash. The defense gets an extra player too, and most teams use him as a third deep defender.
6 on 6 flag football plays to install first
Double slants is the easiest. All four receivers slant inside and the quarterback picks a side before the snap. For a run, add the jet sweep once the motion timing is clean in practice. H comes in motion from the left slot and takes a handoff around the right edge.
After that, add one play for each kind of coverage. Mesh crosses the two slots underneath and beats man. Smash and flood both beat zone by giving one defender more than one receiver to cover.
The deep shot and the defense
Hitch and go is the deep ball. Z runs the same 5-yard hitch he has run all game, then takes off. Save it until the defender on Z starts breaking forward.
On defense, begin with the 3-3 zone. Three defenders take the short thirds and three take the deep thirds. It is simple to teach and hard to throw deep against.
6v6 flag football plays FAQ
What is the best formation for 6v6 flag football?
A spread with two receivers on each side of the center is the most common. It makes the defense cover the whole width of the field. Trips to one side is a good change when you want to overload a zone.
Can I use 5v5 plays in a 6 on 6 league?
Yes, with one more route added. Give the sixth player a slant or a go on the side with fewer receivers so he takes a defender with him.
What defense should a 6v6 flag football team run?
A 3-3 zone is the usual starting point. Each player has one area, and three deep defenders make long passes hard to complete. Add man coverage later if your defenders are fast enough to stay with receivers.
Is 6v6 flag football the same as NFL FLAG?
NFL FLAG plays 5v5. Many rec and church leagues play 6v6 with their own rules, so read your league's rule sheet before the first practice.
Free flag football play designer
Open the play designerDraw your own flag football plays
Start from any play on this page or a blank field. Give each player a route, watch it run, and print it on wristbands. The flag football play designer page shows how it works, and there are more free tools on the football coaching tools page.