Coach's Playbook: Trips Swing Pass

"Trips Swing Pass" is very similar to my previous flag football play "Trips Center Screen"  conceptually except the rolls of the center and running back are reversed. 

The 3 wide receivers (A, B, D)  line up to the far right near the sideline and close together (this is the same for all "Trips" formations).  The quarterback (Q) is under center (C) and the running back (R) is lined up on the opposite side from where the wide outs are lined up, 3-4 yards deep.

At the snap of the ball the 3 wide receivers all run deep post patterns.  These are the decoys.  The center (C) will hesitate for a second then run a short slant toward the opposite sideline.   The running back (R) comes behind the quarterback running parallel to the line of scrimmage.  As the running back nears the sideline, in the area that the wide receivers (A, B, D) have vacated, he should turn up field.   The quarterback (Q) should them be able to pass the ball aiming in front of the running back so that he is able to catch the pass on the run.   It takes some practice but once executed correctly the "swing pass" is a very effective toss that gets your running back outside with the ball.

If the running back does not get open, the center (C) is the short dump off option.  

 

After we call this play a few times,  I like to confuse the defense by lining in the same football formation as if we are running the same play and then using one of these 2 options instead:

• A fast hand-off to the running back (R) 
• Faking a hand-off to the running back then throwing deep to one of the wide outs - D, B, or A.

You can find similar flag football plays on Youth Flag Football HQ website.