5v5 Flag Football Playbook: Defense Coach Kit (18 Defense Calls, Wristband Cards & Practice Plans)

Stop chasing and start calling defenses. The Hot Route Press 5v5 Flag Football Playbook: Defense Coach Kit is a printable, ready-to-run defense system for youth flag coaches (ages about 6–14). It's built around the NFL FLAG 5v5 rules: 7-yard rush line, up to 2 rushers with a hand up, no delayed rush, free releases, and flag pulls on the ball carrier only.

Which leagues? Written for NFL FLAG 5v5 leagues (official NFL FLAG rulebook, current edition) and any 5v5 league that uses the 7-yard rush line. Ages 8U and younger: NFL FLAG regular-season rules don't allow rushing unless there's a handoff, so this kit marks the 6 no-rush calls (12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 52) that work for those teams.

What you get (instant download, 7 PDFs, 40 pages):

• 25-page Playbook. 18 defense calls with one full page each: color-coded defenders, rush lanes, zone areas and man matchups, a job for every player, when to call it, keys and adjustments, and coaching points. Also includes a how-to-use page, legend, a positions and rush-line page, table of contents, call index with quick calls by situation, and a rules quick-reference.

• Wristband Cards: Adult/Teen. 4.75 × 2.6 in cards with the call number, name, diagram and each player's one-word job, plus cut lines.

• Wristband Cards: Youth. Bigger and simpler 3.5 × 2.25 in cards, plus blank "MY CALL" cards to draw your own.

• Defense Call Sheet. All 18 calls on one page, plus a by-situation sheet (first series, 1st & 2nd down, 3rd/4th short and long, vs a running team, vs a passing team, automatic checks vs trips/stack/bunch, protect a lead, no-run zone / goal line, extra points).

• 4 Practice Plans + Week 1–4 Install Order. 60-minute plans, minute by minute, with defensive drills and games.

• Reading the Offense Cheat Sheet. Spot trips, stack and bunch, count receivers, and know when the handoff frees everyone to cross the line.

• Teaching Defense to 6–10 Year Olds. Three skills (pull the flag, take an angle, stay in front), a simple no-rush youth defense, and games that teach it.

The 18 calls:

• Man: 11 Man-0 Rush, 12 Man Free, 13 Star Double

• Zone: 21 2-2 Rush, 22 3-1 Rush, 23 3-2 Sink, 24 2-3 Prevent, 25 1-3-1

• Pressure: 31 Double Heat, 32 Handoff Hunter, 33 Edge Contain

• Checks: 41 Trips Check, 42 Stack Check, 43 Bunch Check

• Goal line / no-run zone: 51 Goal Line Squeeze, 52 Goal Line Wall

• Extra points: 61 PAT 1 Stop, 62 PAT 2 Stop

Every call page has a rule check strip (how many rushers, 7-yard start, hand up, free releases), so you never call an illegal rush. Many calls work with no rusher at all, which helps in younger divisions where rushing isn't allowed.

Pairs with the 5v5 Flag Football Playbook: Offense Coach Kit: same colors, same layout and the same number system.

Formats: US Letter PDFs. Print at home or at any print shop at 100% / "Actual size."

Good for: NFL FLAG leagues, rec leagues, school and church leagues, and 5v5 tournaments. Works for new coaches and veterans.

Please note

• This is a digital download. Nothing physical ships, and wristbands and sleeves are not included.

• Personal or single-team use. Please don't resell or share the files.

• Leagues differ. Check your league's local rules (field width, rushing, age-division changes) before game day.

• Hot Route Press is an independent coaching resource. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL or NFL FLAG. "NFL FLAG" is used only to describe the rule set these calls follow.