Football Route Tree — Visual Reference Poster 🏈
COMPLETE ROUTE TREE SYSTEM
(0-9 Numbering)
9 - GO/FADE
│
│
↑ 20+ yards
│
│
8 - POST │ 7 - CORNER
╲ │ ╱
╲ │ ╱
12-20 ╲ │ ╱ 14-18
yards ╲ │ ╱ yards
╲│╱
6 - COMEBACK ←─────●─────→ 3 - OUT ROUTE
12-18 yards │ 12-15 yards
↑ │
│ │ ↗ 2 - DIG/IN
│ │ ╱ 6-8 yards
│ ╱
4 - HITCH ←──────●────╱
6-8 yards │
↑ │
│ ↑ 1 - QUICK OUT
│ │ 3-5 yards
│
●
│
0 - SLANT
3-5 yards
╱
╱
●
QB POSITION
Route Descriptions
Quick Game (0-5 Yards)
ROUTE 0 - SLANT ROUTE 1 - QUICK OUT
X X
↘ 3-5 yds │ 5 yds
● ●────→
↓ ↓
QB QB
ROUTE 4 - HITCH ROUTE 5 - SPEED SLANT
X X
│ ↑ ↘ 3 yds
│ │ 6-8 yds ●
●─┘ ↓
↓ QB
QB
Intermediate Game (8-15 Yards)
ROUTE 2 - DIG/IN ROUTE 3 - OUT ROUTE
X X
│ │
│ 8-12 yds │ 12-15 yds
●────────→ ●─────────→
↓ ↓
QB QB
ROUTE 6 - COMEBACK ROUTE 7 - CORNER
X X
│ ↑ │ ╱
│ │ 12-18 yds │ ╱ 14-18 yds
●─┘ ● ╱
↓ ↙
QB QB
Deep Game (18+ Yards)
ROUTE 8 - POST ROUTE 9 - GO/FADE
X X
│ ╲ │
│ ╲ 12-20 yds │
● ╲ │ 20+ yds
↓ ╲ │
QB ● ●
↓
QB
Formation Diagrams
3x1 Bunch Formation
H Z X
│ │ │
●───●───● ← 2-3 yard spacing
│
Y QB
│ │
● RB
Formation Call: "Bunch Right"
Personnel: 11 (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR)
3x1 Trips Formation
H Z X
│ │ │
● ● ● ← 5+ yard spacing
│
Y QB
│ │
● RB
Formation Call: "Trips Right"
Personnel: 11 (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR)
Tight Bunch Formation
HZX
│││
●●● ← 1 yard spacing
│
Y QB
│ │
● RB
Formation Call: "Tight Right"
Use: Pick plays, traffic
Core Concepts — Quick Reference
Stick Concept (vs Zone)
H ────────→ (Route 2: Dig - 12 yards)
Z ● (Stick: 8-yard settle)
X ● (Route 4: Hitch - 6 yards)
↓
QB
Read: Middle Linebacker
- Drops → Throw stick
- Sits → Throw dig over top
Smash Concept (vs Man)
H ╱● (Route 7: Corner)
Z ──→ (Route 1: Speed Out)
X ╱● (Route 7: Corner)
↙
QB
Read: Corner/Safety
- 1 High → Corner behind
- 2 High → Speed out underneath
Mills Concept (Flood)
H ──────────→● (Route 2: Drag)
Z ────→● (Route 2: Square-in)
X ● (Route 6: Comeback)
↑
↙
QB
Read: Inside-out
1. Drag (hot)
2. Square-in
3. Comeback
Four Verticals
H │● (Route 9: Seam)
Z │● (Route 9: Seam)
X │● (Route 9: Seam)
↑
QB
Adjust by Coverage:
- Cover 2: Bend to seams
- Cover 3: Outside comebacks
- Man: Push vertical
Running Concepts
Inside Zone
LT LG C RG RT
│ └──●─┘ │ │ ← Double team
│ │ │ │
└──────●─────┘ │ ← Climb to LB
│
QB ●
│
RB ● → Press B gap
Rule: "Big-on-big, work to backers"
Outside Zone
LT LG C RG RT
→ → ← ← ← ← ← Reach blocking
│
QB ● (pitch relation)
│
RB ●→→→→ (stretch)
Rule: "Reach block, get outside"
Power O
FB ↓
LT LG C RG RT
│ ↑ ↑ ← │
│ └─●──┘ │ │ ← Double team
│ │ Pull │ ← RG pulls
│ QB ● │
│ │ │
│ RB ● ←────┘
│ ↑
└─────┘ Power gap
Rule: "Pull and kick, FB leads"
RPO Quick Reference
Zone + Slant RPO
Read: Inside Linebacker
X ● (Route 0: Slant)
↙
QB ● ─── Read ILB
│
RB ● (Zone path)
If ILB:
- Steps up → Throw slant
- Sits → Hand off zone
Zone + Bubble RPO
Pre-Snap Count: 6+ in box
H ●→→→ (Bubble)
Z ● (Block)
X ● (Block)
↓
QB ● Count box
│
RB ● (Zone)
Decision:
- 6+ defenders → Bubble
- 5 or less → Zone run
Game Day Signals
Formation Calls
- Point Right → Bunch Right
- Point Left → Bunch Left
- Both Hands Up → Trips
- Fist → Tight Bunch
Concept Calls
- "Stick" → Stick Concept
- "Smash" → Smash Concept
- "Mills" → Mills/Flood
- "Four" → Four Verticals
Audible Calls
- "Kill! Kill!" → Change play
- "Alert! Alert!" → Hot routes
- "Check! Check!" → RPO read
Situational Football
3rd Down Calls
| Distance | Primary | Secondary |
|---|
| 1-3 yards | Power O | IZ/QB Sneak |
| 4-7 yards | Stick | Smash |
| 8+ yards | Four Verts | Deep concepts |
Red Zone Calls
| Situation | Best Plays |
|---|
| 1st & Goal | Power O, Fade |
| 2nd & Goal | Stick, Pick |
| 3rd & Goal | Slants, Sneak |
Two-Minute Calls
- Quick slants (stop clock)
- Speed outs (sideline)
- Comebacks (stop clock)
- Spikes when needed
Post this reference sheet in the locker room, coaches' booth, and sideline for quick access during games.