How to Create Wrist Band Plays for Flag Football

When playing flag football, you will want to have your team prepared to know what to do on each play. To do this, you create plays ahead of time and assign these plays names. Your quarterback can write on a wristband the play names in a type of football shorthand and call them in the huddle. This will allow your team to stay organized and play its best football because there is no question about which play has been called.

Instructions

1. Determine your team's primary play. In flag football, 90 percent of the plays will be through the air. Your top play should be one that you believe will almost always result in a first down. A right-handed quarterback, will want to roll to the right after receiving the snap and the top receiver should run 10 yards down the field and then cut sharply to his right. Refer to this play as "roll 11-right square." "Roll" refers to the quarterback's initial movement, "11-right" means a receiver starts on the right side and "square" means the pattern is square out. The secondary receivers should also run their patterns.

2. Figure out your team's most explosive play. Your No. 2 receiver may be faster than your top receiver, but his hands may not be quite as dependable. Nevertheless, you want the No. 2 receiver to run the majority of your deep patterns. Have him run a deep pattern straight up the hashmark. Call this play "drop 22 deep" and put it on the wrist band. "Drop" refers to the quarterback dropping straight back in the pocket, "22" refers to your No. 2 receiver and "deep" refers to a long (bomb) pattern.

3. Determine your team's second-most dependable play. Remember to spread the ball around to all your team's receivers, giving them a chance to have an impact on the game. A button hook pattern may be one of the plays you put on the wrist band. Refer to it as "drop 33 hook 10." "Drop" refers to a straight dropback by the quarterback, "33" refers to your No. 3 receiver, "hook" refers to the button hook pattern and "10" refers to running 10 yards before the pattern is completed.

4. Figure out your best running play. There is not much running in flag football, but you will have a few opportunities for productive running plays during the game. Your quarterback will probably be in the best position to execute these running plays. Have him roll to his right and cut off the furthest blocker on the right side and continue to run outside. If he has good speed, he can break this run a long way. Call this play "roll right, run right" write it on the wristband.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your plays and your nomenclature simple to avoid confusing your players.

• Stay calm and don't yell at teammates who make mistakes.