Football library · Plays
11-on-11 tackle football plays
Browse 11-player tackle concepts and start with the existing youth tackle install. Teach formation, eligibility, blocking and protection together, using your league’s adopted rules.
Skip to all 27 conceptsMatch the plays to your rules
Library starting settings
Handoffs: allowed. Blocking: allowed. Center receiving: ineligible. Forward catches behind the line: allowed. Direct QB runs: allowed.
These are XO starting settings, not a governing body’s certification. Your saved playbook rules may differ. The example below does not apply a league preset or change a diagram; configure your league’s actual rules before using it.
Rules reference: 11-player youth tackle · check the league’s adopted tackle code
- Start by checking the adopted code, age division, legal formation and receiver eligibility. A player’s route or jersey label in a drawing does not make that player eligible. NFHS, NCAA, NFL and local youth rules are not interchangeable.
- Install the blocking and protection assignments before adding a live defense. Teach techniques allowed by your league and its contact-practice limits; a drawn block is not permission for holding or an illegal block.
- Use the existing youth tackle package below for an initial install. Before adding RPOs or trick plays, review legal exchanges, forward-pass restrictions and ineligible players downfield under your actual code.
NFHS formation guidance · Check your current league and age-division amendments. The collection contains concepts for this player count, not a guarantee that every exchange, route or assignment is legal in your competition.
Which plays should I start with?
Build the run game and a short passing answer together. The existing youth tackle guide pairs Dive, Sweep and Power with Slant-Flat so the line and backs learn a small set of assignments before the call sheet grows.
A practical installation order
- Install Dive first. Rep the stance, snap, handoff, and first-open-crease rule until the offense can execute them without a defense.
- Add Sweep from the same weekly teaching language: secure the exchange, press the landmark, then make one vertical cut.
- Add Slant-Flat as the only pass. Give the quarterback one side, one defender, and two answers instead of a full-field progression.
- Add Power only after the line can execute its down blocks and one puller can reach the landmark safely. Until then, use Dive for short yardage.
- Finish practice with six scripted situations from the call sheet so the offense hears the down, distance, call, and reason together.
Read the youth tackle guide and diagramsSee the printing workflowTeam Coach printing plansBrowse all 27 plays
All 11v11 Tackle plays
Bubble Screen
Quick perimeter screen to a slot receiver retreating behind the line of scrimmage.
basicCurl-Flat
High-low read on the flat defender — outside curl + underneath flat.
basicDive
North-south interior run — back takes the exchange and attacks the first open crease.
basicMesh
Two crossing drags meshing at 5-6 yards with 1 yard of vertical separation.
basicPower
Gap-scheme downhill run with a pulling lineman as lead through a designated gap.
basicQB Draw
Designed QB run from shotgun — blockers sell pass, QB attacks the soft middle.
basicSlant-Flat
High-low on the flat defender — outside slant + flat underneath.
basicSlants
Mirrored quick slants that attack inside leverage on rhythm.
basicSmash
High-low corner-flat combo — outside hitch + corner over the top.
basicStick
3rd-down staple — slot sit + flat underneath, clear out over the top.
basicSweep
Wide perimeter run — back takes the exchange and attacks the edge.
basicBuck Sweep
The Wing-T's signature play — fullback dive fake, both guards pull, halfback attacks the edge.
intermediateBuck Trap
Inside answer off buck-sweep action — halfback fakes the sweep, fullback keeps it up the middle behind a trap block.
intermediateCounter
Misdirection run — back jab-steps strong, then takes the handoff toward the weak side.
intermediateDraw
Late-developing interior run that sells pass first — back takes a delayed handoff into the open middle.
intermediateDrive
Same-side outside shallow under an inside Dig — a two-level middle stretch.
intermediateFlood
Three receivers stretching ONE side at three depths — Corner deep, Out mid, Flat low.
intermediateFour Verticals
FOUR receivers run vertical — outside Gos + inside Seams. Literally requires four verts.
intermediateJet Reverse
Multi-handoff misdirection — initial fake one way, reverse runner attacks the vacated side.
intermediateLevels
Two inside-breakers at two levels — low In (6-8) + high Dig (12-14).
intermediateSnag
Three-receiver triangle — slot snag + outside corner + back flat.
intermediateWaggle
The buck-series counter-pass — two run fakes one way, QB boots opposite with three receiving levels.
intermediateBubble RPO
Inside Zone + Bubble screen tag — QB reads conflict defender for run/throw.
advancedDagger
Same-side inside Seam clears for the outside Dig — a modern NFL shot play.
advancedDouble Reverse
Three-exchange misdirection — the ball changes direction twice before the final edge run.
advancedFlea Flicker
Trick play — back/WR pitches ball back to QB after fake rush, deep throw off run-action.
advancedY-Cross
Inside receiver (Y/slot) runs a deep crosser at 14-16 yds + deep clear + flat outlet.
advanced
Find your football format
Choose the matching collection for starter guidance, diagrams and rules context. Player count and the ruleset both matter.
7-on-7 passing / touch
XO has a 7v7 Touch editor format, but no dedicated passing-tournament library collection. The 7v7 Flag collection is not a tournament-ready substitute.
For example, USA Football’s 7on7 passing rules prohibit running plays and use a four-second release clock. Plan a passing progression within your event’s clock, and confirm center eligibility and permitted contact before adapting a concept.
8v8 and other formats
There is currently no dedicated 8v8 editor preset or library collection. The editor offers 4v4 Flag, but the library has no dedicated 4v4 collection either. Eight-player tackle and 8v8 flag are separate games; removing players from an 11-player diagram does not establish a legal formation.
Check your association’s field dimensions, line/back alignment, eligible receivers and blocking rules. Nebraska’s eight-player tackle differences illustrate the changes, but are not an 8v8 flag rulebook or a universal state standard.
27 11v11 Tackle concepts. Library content uses the shared catalog. Open a concept for its diagram and assignments; check the rules context above before installing it.