Flood diagram
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Three receivers flood the right side at three depths. QB reads it from the top down and throws the out most of the time.
When to call Flood
Call flood against any zone. The deep defender on the right has to run with Z. That leaves the short defender to choose between Y on the out and H in the flat.
It is a good call on second or third and medium. The play needs about three seconds, so avoid it if the rusher has been getting to QB fast.
Flood: each player's job
QB
Read the right side from deep to short. Look at Z on the go, then Y on the out, then H in the flat. Most of the time the throw is Y.
C
Snap and drag across the short middle to the left, away from the trips. You are the outlet if QB is pressured and has to turn away from the flood.
X
Alone on the left. Run a post. That keeps the deep defenders in the middle and on the left from sliding over to the trips side.
Z
Go route up the right sideline as fast as you can. The deep defender on that side has to leave with you.
Y
Push upfield 8 to 10 yards and break hard toward the right sideline. Expect the ball as you come out of the break.
H
Head straight for the right flat, 2 or 3 yards past the line, and turn your head early. If the short defender backs up to cover Y, you get the ball with room to run.
What the quarterback looks at
Go, out, flat. If the deep defender on the right lets Z run past him, throw the go. That is rare. Next, find the short defender. If he is near the line with H, throw the out to Y behind him.
If the short defender drops back under the out, throw the flat to H right away and let him run. When the whole defense slides to the trips side, X on the post or C on the drag will be open on the left.
How to teach Flood at practice
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Line up the trips and walk each route to its depth. Put cones at the flat, the out and 15 yards deep so players can see three levels.
- 2
Add a coach as the short defender on the right. He steps up or drops back, and QB throws the out or the flat off him.
- 3
Add X and C and run it against six defenders in a 3-3.
Common mistakes
- Y and H end up at the same depth. The out has to be at least 5 yards deeper than the flat, or one defender covers both.
- Z jogs the go because the ball rarely comes to him. Then the deep defender drops off and takes the out. Z runs full speed every time.
- QB throws the out late and it floats. The ball should be in the air as Y makes his break.
Flood FAQ
What defense does the flood play beat?
Zone. Flood puts three receivers in an area that two zone defenders are covering.
How is flood different in 6v6 than in 5v5?
The sixth player lets X run a post on the back side while three receivers still flood the right. That gives QB a throw to the left if the defense overloads the trips.
Can a 9 or 10 year old quarterback throw the out route?
Many can if you shorten it. Have Y break at 6 yards so the throw is shorter.
More plays: all 6v6 flag football plays. Draw your own in the flag football play designer.