Introduction
Football, a game of strategy, precision, and athleticism, often seems simple at first glance. However, beneath the surface lies a complex network of plays, formations, and, perhaps most importantly, route trees. Understanding the football route tree is crucial for anyone who wants to truly appreciate the intricacies of the sport, whether you’re a player, coach, or just a passionate fan. This comprehensive guide will delve into the world of route trees, explaining what they are, how they work, and why they’re so vital to offensive success. And, for those who want to take their football knowledge to the next level, we’ll also offer a valuable resource: a free football route tree pdf to help you visualize and master these essential concepts.
A route tree, at its core, is a standardized system of passing routes that wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs run on the field. Think of it as a playbook within a playbook, a system of plays that allows the offensive coordinator to have a wider variety of plays to choose from while keeping things easy for the quarterback, receivers, and the offensive line. This streamlined approach allows for precise execution and helps the offense to exploit weaknesses in the opposing defense. By learning these routes, players understand their responsibilities and can make adjustments based on defensive coverage. Fans, in turn, can decipher the play calls and gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening on the field.
Understanding the Basics: What is a Route Tree?
Now, let’s get to the basics. What is a “route” in American football? In simple terms, a route is the path a receiver runs to catch a pass. It’s not just running straight; it involves a specific pattern of movement, which can include running downfield, cutting sharply, or making a lateral movement. Each route has its own name and is designed to achieve a specific goal, like gaining yardage, drawing the defense, or creating a mismatch.
A route tree is a collection of these pre-determined routes. Coaches use these routes to build their playbook. The route tree allows for a variety of passing plays that can be executed from a multitude of formations. A well-designed route tree offers options for short, intermediate, and deep passes, allowing the quarterback to quickly assess the defense and select the best option. The standardization and understanding of how different routes work in tandem are what make the route tree so important.
Route Tree Variations and Common Routes
There are several core routes that make up the foundation of any football route tree. The understanding of these routes will make learning the game of football much easier. We’ll break these routes into a few categories:
Go or Fly Route
We’ll begin with the Go or Fly Route, a fundamental route. This is a straight, vertical run down the field, typically aimed at stretching the defense. The receiver’s goal is to outrun the defender and get behind the coverage for a deep pass.
In Route
Then we have the In Route, where the receiver runs a route that cuts toward the middle of the field. This is frequently used for shorter, quick throws that gain a positive yardage. It’s particularly effective against zone defenses.
Out Route
The Out Route is the mirror image of the in route, as it has the receiver cut toward the sideline. It is useful for getting the ball quickly to the edge, where receivers can make yards after the catch.
Comeback Route
Comeback Routes are designed to give the quarterback a quick and easy read in situations when the defense is playing off. The receiver runs upfield and then cuts back toward the quarterback.
Curl Route
Curl Routes are usually run around 8-12 yards and quickly come back towards the quarterback. This is another route that’s quick to throw to, and is useful for short-yardage situations.
Slant Route
Slant Routes involve a quick, diagonal cut across the field, usually towards the middle. This is one of the quickest routes and is designed for getting the ball into the receiver’s hands as fast as possible.
Flat Route
Flat Routes involve a short run to the sidelines. These are excellent routes to use to spread the defense and give the quarterback a quick outlet.
Seam Route
Seam Routes are a vertical route that is designed to get between the safety and the cornerbacks, the “seam” of the defense.
Post Route
Post Routes involve a diagonal cut towards the middle of the field, but at a deeper depth than a slant. The goal is to try and get behind the safety.
Corner Route
Corner Routes send the receiver diagonally towards the sideline after gaining some depth. This route is used to try and beat the cornerback to the sideline.
Route Combinations
Beyond individual routes, the route tree shines when various routes are combined. Understanding route combinations is crucial to understanding how the offense attacks the defense. We’ll consider a few:
Route combinations add another layer of complexity to the passing game. A common combination is “levels,” where one receiver runs a short route, while another runs a deeper route. This creates a “high-low” read for the quarterback. Another example is “flood,” where three receivers attack different levels of the defense, creating a wide range of passing options. Some routes are designed to clear out areas of the field, making room for other receivers to get open. The key is understanding that the routes work together and allow the offense to attack different areas of the field, creating opportunities for big plays and first downs.
How Route Trees Affect Offensive Strategy
How do these route trees affect offensive strategy? Let’s explore that.
Play Calling
Play calling is fundamentally linked to the football route tree. A coach can design a variety of plays utilizing specific routes, tailoring the strategy to exploit the weaknesses of the opposing defense. The more options that a coach has at his disposal, the more difficult it is for the defense to prepare. The route tree gives the quarterback a solid basis for what they should be doing on the field.
Reading Defenses
The route tree also affects how the quarterback and receivers read the defense. The ability to read defenses and find the open receiver is crucial to offensive success. Coaches emphasize the importance of pre-snap reads, allowing the quarterback to anticipate the coverage and choose the most advantageous route. Knowing how to read the defensive coverage and adjust a route on the fly is essential for a quarterback to succeed.
Receiver Responsibilities
Receivers need more than just speed. They have to master the footwork, the timing, and the technical aspects of running each route. This includes knowing when to make cuts, how to maintain the proper depth, and how to adjust their routes based on the defender’s positioning. Route running is an art form and requires constant practice and refinement. The perfect route is a combination of the receiver’s physical skills and their understanding of how to beat the coverage.
Route Tree for Different Positions
Different positions on the field have specific roles within the route tree. Wide receivers, for example, often run the longer routes like Go, Post, and Corner routes.
The positions also have specific routes to run depending on the side of the field they are on. On the outside, they might run longer routes, while from the slot, they may be closer to the line and running quick passes.
Tight ends are versatile and can run various routes. They may run short routes, intermediate routes, and even vertical routes. Their ability to block and catch makes them valuable assets in a route tree.
Running backs have route trees as well, designed primarily to get out into the flat for a quick pass, or get on a swing route and catch the ball running towards the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they might also be expected to block.
Using and Learning from a Football Route Tree PDF
Now, let’s talk about how you can use a football route tree pdf to your advantage. A PDF document provides a convenient way to learn and visualize the concepts we have discussed. It’s a resource you can access anytime, anywhere, making studying and practicing route trees easy and accessible.
A good football route tree pdf will provide easy-to-understand diagrams, showing different routes and play concepts. It might also include explanations of the routes, diagrams of the offensive formations, and strategies of how to attack different coverages.
Using a football route tree pdf is not just about memorizing routes. The best PDF resources will also give you the knowledge to analyze the defenses and the strategies behind offensive plays.
Benefits of Knowing the Route Tree
Knowing the route tree has clear advantages. It helps you understand the strategic aspects of football and will make watching the game much more enjoyable. This information can enhance player performance and assist coaches in making successful play calls. A deeper appreciation of the game also comes with knowing the ins and outs of the football route tree.
Where to Find Additional Information and Resources
Want to go further? There are additional resources, like books and coaching materials, that can help expand your knowledge of the game. There are websites dedicated to providing detailed information, strategy discussions, and film reviews that you can use.
Conclusion
The football route tree is the foundation of passing plays. Knowing the route tree makes you a better player, coach, and fan. The more you understand the routes and how they work, the more enjoyable the game will be. Download the football route tree pdf and use it to increase your knowledge of this great game.