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Flag50 Coaches · 5v5 NFL FLAG

The Best NFL Flag Sideline Plays

Late in a half or driving for a score, throws to the sideline are gold. An out route that gets a foot in bounds stops the clock, and a corner to the boundary is a chunk gain with a clean landmark. These are your two-minute plays.

Coaching tip: On sideline routes, teach receivers to work back to the ball and drag a foot in bounds. Catching it moving toward the sideline is how completions turn into out-of-bounds incompletions.
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#1

Stick

Spread Right
Out to stop the clock

The quick out breaks to the sideline where a receiver can get a foot down and kill the clock.

Coaching point: Quick out and stick combo. Ball out fast against pressure. Read the flat defender and throw the opposite.
beginnerquick-gameblitz-beater
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#2

Smash

Trips Right
Corner to the boundary

The corner route attacks the sideline for a chunk gain with a clear landmark.

Coaching point: High-low on the corner defender. Hitch holds him low, corner route beats him deep. The premier red-zone concept.
red-zoneintermediatequick-game
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#3

Flood

Trips Right
Sideline flood

The flat and corner both attack the boundary, giving a high-low right at the sideline.

Coaching point: Three levels on the right: go, corner, flat. QB reads top down and takes what the defense gives.
intermediatedeep-shot
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#4

Quick Slants

Spread Right
Change-up inside

When the defense sits on the sideline, the slant inside is the counter.

Coaching point: Three-step timing. QB throws off the back foot to the first open slant. The best blitz beater in flag.
beginnerquick-gameblitz-beater

Common questions

What are the best sideline plays in flag football?

Out routes and corners. An out breaks to the sideline so the receiver can get a foot in bounds and stop the clock, and a corner attacks the boundary for a chunk gain. Both are ideal two-minute plays.

How do you stop the clock in flag football?

Throw to the sideline. A completed out route where the receiver gets a foot in bounds and steps out stops the clock, which is why sideline concepts are two-minute staples.

How do you teach sideline catches?

Have receivers work back to the ball and drag a foot in bounds. Catching the ball while drifting toward the sideline turns completions into incompletions.

Run these plays this week

Pick the plays that fit your team and print them onto a wristband, or describe your own play in plain English and let Flag50 draw it up. It is all free.