Cover 4: 7v7 high school flag football defense

Cover 4 is a 7v7 high school flag football prevent defense. Four defenders split the deep field into quarters, two cover the short field, and one rusher comes on the snap. It almost never gives up a long touchdown, so save it for the end of a half or a long-yardage down.

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 LOS LC LS RS RC W M R
Four Deep

How to run it

  1. LC lines up 8 yards off the widest receiver on the left and drops to the deep outside left quarter, about 15 yards.
  2. LS lines up 12 yards deep, left of center, and drops to the deep inside left quarter, about 16 yards.
  3. RS lines up 12 yards deep, right of center, and drops to the deep inside right quarter, about 16 yards.
  4. RC lines up 8 yards off the widest receiver on the right and drops to the deep outside right quarter, about 15 yards.
  5. W lines up 6 yards deep, left of center, and takes the short left side, 0 to 10 yards.
  6. M lines up 6 yards deep, right of center, and takes the short right side, 0 to 10 yards.
  7. R lines up 3 yards off the ball, in the gap right of the center, and rushes the QB on the snap.
  8. Center: W or M, by side.
  9. Run fit: R chases, W and M fill on a handoff or scramble, the nearest deep defenders come down, the corners keep contain.
  10. High school fields are 40 to 53 yards wide, so line the corners up wider and add 1 to 2 yards to the deep depths.

The coverage read

Each deep defender keeps the receiver in their quarter in front of them. W and M take anything short inside. On a throw to the flat, the nearest deep defender comes downhill and pulls the flag.

  1. LC DEEP QUARTER
  2. LS DEEP QUARTER
  3. R RUSH

When to call it

  • The last play of a half or game, or any time the offense needs a long gain.
  • Not an every-down defense: the flats are open.

Tags and formation

Four Deepzonefour-deepsituational

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Common questions

How do you line up Cover 4 in 7v7 high school flag football?

Four defenders play deep: the corners 8 yards off the outside receivers and two safeties 12 yards back on either side of the center. W and M sit 6 yards deep inside, and the rusher starts 3 yards off the ball.

What beats Cover 4 in 7v7 high school flag football?

Quick throws to the flats outside W and M, and runs by the back or the quarterback, because four defenders start deep. Give up the short catch and rally fast.

When should you call Cover 4 in 7v7 high school flag football?

When one long completion would lose the game: the final play before halftime, a last-second heave, or a long-yardage down late in a close game.

Video transcript

Cover 4. Four defenders drop into deep quarters. W and M sit underneath, and one rusher comes on the snap. Nothing gets over the top, so come downhill fast on anything short. Build your plays free on Flag Fifty.

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