Playbook Guide
Everything you need to know about our play-calling system
1. Formations
We run a 5v5 offense with 5 eligible players: QB, C (Center), and 3 pass catchers (X, Y, Z). Each formation changes where these players line up before the snap.
Trips
3 receivers on one side of the field.
- X — Iso receiver (alone on the weak side)
- C — Center (snaps the ball, 3rd on the trips side)
- Z — Slot receiver (strong side)
- Y — Outside receiver (strong side)
Deuce
2 WR on the strong side, 1 WR on the weak side. Z lines up as a Halfback in the backfield.
- X — Weak-side receiver
- C — Center (snaps the ball)
- Y — Strong-side receiver
- Z — Halfback (in the backfield, strong side)
Dice
1 RB + 1 WR on the strong side, 1 WR on the weak side. Z lines up as a Running Back in the backfield.
- Y — Weak-side receiver (left)
- C — Center (snaps the ball)
- X — Strong-side receiver (right)
- Z — Running Back (backfield, strong side)
Stable Coming Soon
2 Halfbacks + 1 WR on the strong side. Heavy backfield formation.
2. Left vs Right (Strong Side)
Every formation can be run to the Right (RT) or Left (LT). The direction tells everyone which side of the field is the "strong side" — the side where most of the action happens.
RIGHT (RT)
Strong side is to the right. Trips RT = 3 receivers stacked to the right. Deuce RT = Halfback in backfield on the right.
LEFT (LT)
Strong side is to the left. The entire formation mirrors. Every route flips direction accordingly.
3. Play Naming Convention
Every play follows a simple three-part naming structure:
Formation
Trips, Deuce, or Dice
Side
RT (right) or LT (left)
Concept
Slay, Hit, Out, Saturn, Nissan, Navigator, Subaru, Honda
Examples:
Trips RT Honda— Trips formation, strong side right, Honda conceptDeuce LT Slay— Deuce formation, strong side left, Slay conceptDice RT Saturn— Dice formation, strong side right, Saturn concept
4. Quick Game Concepts
The "One-Syllable" Rule
If the play name is one syllable (Slay, Hit, Out), it means: 3-step drop, get the ball out NOW. Quick 5–7 yard play. No deep shots, no fancy motions.
Slay
Slant + Arrow combo.
- Outside receiver (strong side) → Slant
- Inside receiver (strong side) → Arrow/Flat
- Center → Hitch
- Weak-side receiver → Hitch
- QB → 3-step drop, read strong side
Hit
Everyone runs Hitches/Stops.
- All receivers → Hitch
- Center → Hitch
- QB → 3-step drop, read strong side
Out
Everyone runs Quick Outs.
- All receivers → Out
- Center → Out
- QB → 3-step drop, read strong side
5. Car Concepts
Car concepts are multi-syllable play names. These are designed plays with specific route combinations and often include QB movement.
Saturn
Everyone goes deep. All receivers run Streaks/Verts. Take the top off the defense.
| Position | Route |
|---|---|
| Strong WR | Vert/Streak |
| Slot / HB / RB (Z) | Vert/Streak |
| Center | Vert/Streak |
| Weak WR | Vert/Streak |
Nissan
The weak side is the direction the Center runs a Highway (Wheel route). The weak-side WR runs a Post. The strong-side WR streaks. The HB/Z runs into the flat.
| Position | Route | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Strong WR | Vert/Streak | Clear out deep |
| Slot / HB / RB (Z) | Flat/Arrow | Into the flat on the strong side |
| Center | Highway | Wheel route toward the weak side |
| Weak WR | Post | Post route to the strong side |
Navigator
Everyone runs a Post. QB turns to the strong side but then rolls out to the weak side. The only player going the other direction is the weak-side WR who started there.
| Position | Route | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Strong WR | Post | Post toward the weak side |
| Slot / HB / RB (Z) | Post | Post toward the weak side |
| Center | Post | Post toward the weak side |
| Weak WR | Post | Post toward the strong side |
| QB | Roll out | Fake strong, roll to weak side |
Subaru
Everyone attacks the strong side. QB rolls out to the strong side too. Slants, Posts, and Outs all going toward the strong side of the field.
| Position | Route | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Strong WR | Out | Out to the strong sideline |
| Slot / HB / RB (Z) | Post | Post/Flag to the strong side |
| Center | Out | Out to the strong side |
| Weak WR | Slant | Slant crossing to the strong side |
| QB | Roll out | Roll to the strong side |
Honda
Two strong-side pass catchers cross — one runs a Highway (Wheel) and the other runs a Slant. Center runs an Out to the strong side. The weak-side receiver runs a Streak to clear out.
| Position | Route | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Strong WR | Highway | Wheel route, 5 yards from sideline |
| Slot / HB / RB (Z) | Slant | Slant crossing under the Highway |
| Center | Out | Out to the strong side (safety valve) |
| Weak WR | Vert/Streak | Clear-out deep |
6. Route Tree Reference
These are all the individual routes a player can run. Each has a number, a name used in our system, and a description.
| # | Route Name | Also Known As | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | Flat | Short route to the sideline, stays behind the line of scrimmage |
| 2 | Slay | Slant | Quick diagonal cut across the field toward the middle |
| 3 | Comeback | Comeback | Run upfield 10–12 yards, then cut back toward the sideline |
| 4 | Hit | Curl / Hitch | Run upfield 10–12 yards, then turn back toward the QB |
| 5 | Out | Out | Run upfield 5–7 yards, then hard cut toward the sideline |
| 6 | Dig | In / Dig | Run upfield 5–7 yards, then hard cut across the middle |
| 7 | Corner | Corner / Flag | Run upfield, then break at 45° toward the corner of the end zone |
| 8 | Post | Post | Run upfield, then break at 45° toward the goalpost (middle) |
| 9 | Vert | Fly / Go / Streak | Run straight upfield as fast as possible |
| — | Slugo | Slant & Go | Fake slant, then break upfield deep |
| — | Drag | Drag / Crosser | Short crossing route across the entire field |
| — | Highway | Wheel | Swing out to the flat, then turn upfield along the sideline |
| — | Flat/Arrow | Arrow / Bubble | Short angled route into the flat, slightly behind the line |
| — | Hitch | Hitch / Stop | Short 3–5 yard stop route, turn and face the QB |
| — | Block | Block | Stay and block for the QB (no route) |