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Football play designer for flag and tackle

Design football plays in your browser. Pick a formation, give each player a route, a run or a block, and watch the play run. Print wristbands and playbook sheets, or send your team a link. Free, with no account.

Open the play designerSee example plays

Free · No signup
Flag 4v4 to 9v9 · Tackle 8, 9 and 11-man

11-man tacklePlay-action boot
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Fake the dive, then the QB rolls away from it. The tight end drags across with him and Z runs the corner. Run it after the dive has worked a few times.
Flag and tackleAnimated playsFree wristband printingShare links, no login
How it works

How to create football plays online

  1. 01

    Pick a format and formation

    Choose flag or tackle and the number of players. Start from a formation like I formation, shotgun spread or Wing-T, and add a defensive front if you want one.

  2. 02

    Give each player a job

    Tap a player and pick a route from the route tree, or drag to draw a run, a block, a pass or pre-snap motion.

  3. 03

    Run the play

    Press play. Motion goes first, then the snap, then every route at once, and the ball travels to the receiver or the ball carrier.

  4. 04

    Print it or share it

    Print wristband inserts or a playbook sheet, download a play card PDF, or copy a link your players can open on a phone.

Starter plays

Football plays you can open and change

These are common youth football plays. Open one in the play designer, move players, change a route, and save it as your own.

See all 5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 flag football plays
Formations and fronts

Football formations and defensive fronts, ready to use

Every play starts from a preset, so the line is already set and the backs are at the right depth. Drag any player to adjust the alignment.

  • Tackle football with 8, 9 or 11 players on a side
  • Flip any play left to right with one button
  • Zone and man coverage for the defense
  • Handoffs, pitches and passes move the ball in the animation
Start an 11-man play

Tackle formations

  • I formation
  • Singleback
  • Shotgun spread
  • Shotgun trips
  • Pistol
  • Wing-T
  • Double wing
  • Wishbone
  • Empty

Tackle defensive fronts

  • 4-3
  • 3-4
  • 5-3
  • 6-2
  • 4-4
  • 4-2-5

Flag formations

  • Spread
  • Trips
  • Bunch
  • Stack
  • Single back
  • Under center
  • Empty

Field views

  • Open field
  • Red zone
  • Goal line
Route tree

Football route tree with all 16 routes

Tap a receiver and pick a route by name. The play designer draws it from where that player lines up. For anything that is not on the list, drag from the player and draw the route yourself.

  • HitchRun 5 to 6 yards, stop, and turn back to the quarterback. See it in Quick hitches.
  • SlantTake two or three steps straight ahead, then break inside at 45 degrees. See it in Double slants.
  • Quick outRun 4 to 5 yards and break straight to the sideline. See it in Stick.
  • OutRun 10 yards and break straight to the sideline. See it in Trips flood.
  • InRun 10 yards and break straight across the middle. Also called a dig. See it in Levels.
  • CurlRun about 12 yards, then turn back toward the quarterback on the inside. See it in Curl-flat.
  • ComebackRun about 13 yards, then break back toward the sideline.
  • CornerRun about 10 yards, then angle outside toward the back corner of the end zone. See it in Smash.
  • PostRun about 10 yards, then angle inside toward the goalposts. See it in Play-action post.
  • GoRun straight up the field. Also called a fly or a streak. See it in Four verticals.
  • FlatHead for the sideline right away, a yard or two past the line of scrimmage. See it in Slant-flat.
  • DragCross the field underneath, two or three yards past the line of scrimmage. See it in Mesh.
  • WheelStart toward the sideline like a flat route, then turn up the sideline.
  • WhipStart inside like a slant, plant, and turn back out toward the sideline.
  • BubbleBack away from the line and drift toward the sideline for a quick throw. See it in Bubble screen.
  • SwingLoop out of the backfield toward the sideline and turn upfield.

Each route is drawn for a receiver lined up to the right of the ball. The dashed line is the line of scrimmage.

Play diagram symbols

Football play drawing symbols

The diagrams use the same marks coaches draw on a whiteboard, so a printed play card reads the way your staff expects.

  • RouteA solid line with an arrow. The player runs a pass route.
  • RunA thick line with an arrow. This player carries the ball.
  • BlockA line ending in a flat bar, like a T. The player blocks there.
  • Pre-snap motionA zigzag line. The player moves here before the snap.
  • PassA dashed line from the quarterback to the receiver.
  • OffenseCircles with the position letter inside.
  • CenterA square, so you can find the ball before the snap.
  • DefenseTriangles. Zones show as shaded areas, man coverage as a line to the receiver.
Football playbook maker

Print wristbands, play cards and a football playbook for free

Most play designers charge a monthly fee to print. Here printing is free. Fit 4, 6 or 8 plays on a wristband insert sized for youth or adult wrist coaches, or put several plays on one playbook sheet for the binder.

  • Wristband inserts with 4, 6 or 8 plays per card
  • Playbook sheets with several plays on a page
  • A one-play card PDF with a QR code to the animated play
  • PNG image and a video of the animation
Make a play card
Free vs. paid

A free football playbook maker with printing included

Many football play designers limit free accounts and put printing behind a subscription. Everything in this table is free in the Bravara play designer.

FeatureMany play designersBravara
Wristband printingPaid planIncluded
Playbook sheets and play cardsPaid planIncluded
Saved playsLimited on free plansUnlimited
Animated playsOften paidIncluded
Share link, no player loginOften needs accountsIncluded
Flag and tackleOften one or the otherBoth in one tool
Video and image exportOften paidIncluded
AccountRequiredNot needed
Questions

Football play designer FAQ

Is the football play designer free?

Yes. Drawing, animation, wristband and playbook printing, PDF play cards, image and video export, and share links are all free. You don't need an account, and there is no limit on the number of plays.

Can I draw tackle football plays for 11 players?

Yes. Switch to Tackle and choose 11-man, 9-man or 8-man. Formations include I formation, singleback, shotgun spread, shotgun trips, pistol, Wing-T, double wing, wishbone and empty. You can add a 4-3, 3-4, 5-3, 6-2, 4-4 or 4-2-5 defense.

Does it work for flag football?

Yes. Switch to Flag and pick any size from 4v4 to 9v9. Flag fields show the no-run zones, and the flag formations and zone defenses are built in.

Can I print football wristbands?

Yes. Choose the youth or adult window size and 4, 6 or 8 plays per card. The play designer lays out the insert so you can print it, cut it and slide it into a wrist coach.

How do I share a play with my team?

Press Share play and copy the link. Anyone with the link can watch the animated play on a phone or computer without an account. You can also download a PDF play card, an image or a video.

Where are my plays saved?

Plays save in the browser on the device you are using. They stay there until you delete them or clear your browser data. Use a share link or a PDF to keep a copy somewhere else.

Can I draw my own routes?

Yes. Pick a route from the route tree or drag from a player to draw any path. You can also draw runs, blocks, pre-snap motion, passes, handoffs and pitches.

Free tools

More free football tools

Design your first football play

Pick a formation and you'll have a play drawn in a couple of minutes. It saves on your device as you go.

Open the play designer