AS A YOUTH FOOTBALL coach, your team needs to be prepared to attack a variety of basic alignments. This article provides you with two effective plays (a run and a pass) to utilize against the most common youth defenses—the 4-3, 4-4, 5-2 and 6-2.

All of our play calls start with a color (formation), a direction (left or right), a first number (the back who will be carrying the ball), a second number (the hole they will be going through) and a last word(s) to specify the type of play that has been called. 

plays vs. 4-3 defense

Two plays we use to beat the 4-3 defense are White Left 37 Crossbuck and White Right Double Flair.
X White Left 37 Crossbuck. In this play, the “White” signifies you have a receiver lined up on each side of the formation. The “left” indicates the tight end and flanker are on the left side. The “3” stands for the fullback and the “7” is for the hole (between the tackle and the guard) that the FB is attacking.

DIAGRAM 1: White Left 37 Crossbuck Vs. 4-3. In this play, the following is a list of player responsibilities:
Center: Blocks the Mike linebacker to the right.  


Left Tackle and Tight End: Double-team blocks the Sam LB.

Left Guard: Blocks the left defensive tackle to the right.

Right Guard: Pulls left and trap-blocks the left defensive end.

Split End: Lines up 10 yards outside the right tackle and blocks the cornerback.

Flanker: Lines up 10 yards outside the TE and blocks the strong safety.

Quarterback: Drops his left foot behind the his right foot and swings his left foot around so his feet are parallel and his back is facing the LOS. Fakes handoff to the tailback. Hands the ball to the FB.

Tailback: Slants toward the 6-hole. Fakes receiving handoff from QB and fills for the right OG.

Fullback: Lets the TB clear, then slants toward the 7-hole. Takes the handoff and runs to daylight.

X White Right Double Flair. The formation is the same as the previous play. The side for the flanker and TE changes from left to right.

DIAGRAM 2: White Right Double Flair Vs. 4-3.


Offensive line: Pass block.

TE: Runs a deep 6 route (the “6” is from a typical passing tree, signifying a slant-in route).

SE: Lines up 10 yards outside the left OT. Runs a 4 (10-yard in) route.

Flanker: Lines up 10 yards outside of TE and runs a 6 route.

TB: Runs a flair route to the left.

FB: Runs a flair route to the right.

QB: Takes a 5-step drop and reads the following progression: SE, TB, flanker, FB and TE.

plays vs. 4-4 defense

Two effective plays we use to beat the 4-4 defense are the Black 47 Crossbuck and the White Right 6-7-4

Full Flair.

v Black 47 Crossbuck. In this play, the “Black” signifies a double TE formation with a full-house backfield.

The “4” stands for the flanker (wingback or slot) and the “7” is for the hole (between the tackle and the guard) that the wingback is attacking.

DIAGRAM 3: Black 47 Crossbuck Vs. 4-4 Defense.


Center: Blocks the right ILB.

Left TE: Blocks the left ILB.

Left OT and OG: Double-team blocks the left DT.

Right OG: Pulls left and trap-blocks the left DE.

Right OT: Blocks the right OLB.

Right TE: Blocks the right DE to the right.

FB: Fakes taking a handoff and fills for right OG.

TB: Goes through the 5-hole and blocks the left OLB.

QB: Drops his right foot and fakes a handoff to the FB. Pivots his left foot and drops his right foot behind the 9-hole. Hands the ball off to the WB in the 7-hole.

WB: Delays one count and takes a handoff while angling to the 7-hole.

v White Right 6-7-4 Full Flair Vs. 4-4 Defense. This split-WR set has the TE on the right. The “6-7-4” signifies the route to be run as explained below.

DIAGRAM 4: White Right 6-7-4 Full Flair.

OL and TB: Pass block.

TE: Runs a 7 route (a 7-yard hook to the outside).

SE: Lines up 10 yards outside of the left OT and runs a 6 route (a 7-yard and slant-in route).

Flanker: Lines up 10 yards outside of the TE and runs a 4 route (a 10-yard in route).

FB: Runs a flair route.

QB: Takes a 5-step drop and reads the following progression: FB, flanker, TE and SE.

plays vs. 5-2 defense
Two effective plays we use against a 5-2 defense are the Blue Left 24 Belly and the White Right Screen Left.

i Blue Left 24 Belly. In this play, the “Blue” signifies the SE and the slot WR are on the same side of the field (the left due to the “Left” call). The “2” (TB) is getting the ball and hitting the 4-hole (between the OT and TE).

DIAGRAM 5: Blue Left 24 Belly Vs. 5-2 Defense.


Center: Blocks the noseguard left.

Left OT: Blocks left DT to the left.

Left OG: Blocks the Sam LB left.

Right OG: Pulls right and trap-blocks the right DE.

Right OT and TE: Double-team block the right DT.

SE: Lines up 12 yards outside the left OT and blocks the SS.

Slot: Lines up 7 yards outside the left OT and blocks the FS.

QB: Fakes to the FB, takes two lateral steps right and hands the ball to the TB in the 4-hole.

FB: Fakes 38 belly and blocks the Will LB.

TB: Takes three lateral steps right, takes a handoff from the QB, hits the 4-hole square and runs to daylight.

i White Right Screen Left. This split-WR set has the TE on the left.

DIAGRAM 6: White Right Screen Left Vs. 5-2 Defense.


Center, Left OG and Left OT: Pass block for two counts, then shift left to form the screen wall. Release downfield after the TB hollers, “Go!”

Right OG and OT: Pass block.

SE: Lines up 10 yards outside of the left OT and runs a 0 route (fly).

TE: Runs a 6 route.

Flanker: Lines up 10 yards outside of the TE and runs a 0 route.

FB: Pass blocks.

TB: Chip-blocks the left DE with his right shoulder, then loops back to receive the ball from the QB. Hollers “Go!” when he receives the ball.

QB: Takes a 5-step drop while staring down the TE. Stops, then takes two more steps back and looks at the TB. If TB is covered, throws the ball at his feet. If not, throws the ball to TB.

plays vs. 6-2 defense

Two effective plays we use against a 5-2 defense are the Blue Right 11 Bootleg and the White Left 0-4-0.

s Blue Right 11 Bootleg. The WRs line up on the right side of the formation for this play.

DIAGRAM 7: Blue Right 11 Bootleg Vs. 6-2 Defense.


Center: Blocks the Will LB.

Left OT: Blocks the left DT to right.

Left OG: Blocks the left DG to right.

Right OG: Pulls left. Leads for QB.

Right OT: Blocks right DT to right.

TE: Blocks the left DE to right.

SE: Lines up 12 yards outside of right OT and blocks the CB.

Slot: Lines up 7 yards outside of right OT and blocks the FS.

FB: Fills for the right OG.

TB: Fakes taking handoff from QB and hits the 6-hole hard. Blocks the Sam LB.

QB: Drops right foot, takes two lateral steps right and fakes handoff to TB. Pulls the ball into his midsection and sprints left. Reads the block of the right OG and runs to daylight.

s White Left 0-4-0. This split-WR set has the TE on the left.

DIAGRAM 8: White Left 0-4-0 Vs. 6-2 Defense.


OL: Pass blocks.

SE: Lines up 10 yards outside of right OT and runs a 0 route.

TE: Runs a 4 route.

Flanker: Lines up 10 yards outside of the TE and runs a 0 route.

TB and FB: Pass block to outside.

QB: Takes a 5-step drop and reads this progression: TE, flanker and SE. If the FS is overly aggressive and jumping the 4 route, have the TE run a 3 route.

For more game-tested youth football plays, check out Chris Booth’s new book, “101 Youth Football Plays.”