Falcon Receiver Fundamentals
Huddle – The receiver who brings the play in will tell the QB the play, take his place in the huddle and leave with the center after the first time the QB says the formation and play.
Sprint to your landmark and get in your stance.
LG C RG
LT Y RT
X Z
HB QB FB
Stance – Upright, two-point stance with staggered feet, inside foot
(closest to QB) forward and a slight bend in the knees. Hands should be at chest level, ready to run, hand fight or block.
Alignment – W, X (flex), and Z will use the hash marks and numbers as landmarks for alignment depending on where the ball is placed, in the middle of the field or a hash mark.
X and Y will always line up on the line of scrimmage, W and Z will line up behind the line with their toes even with the heels of the nearest down lineman.

Middle of Field – If the ball is placed in the middle of the field, the W, X (flex) and
Z will align at the top of the numbers
(closest to center of field).

Into Boundary – If the ball is on a hash mark and the receiver (Z below) is aligned into the boundary, align at the bottom of the numbers.

To the Field – If the ball is on a hash mark and the receiver is aligned to the wide side of the field (W right), align on the opposite hash mark.
Snap Count – Since you may align 7-10 yards away from the quarterback, the receiver’s head and eyes should always be toward the football. Leave when you see the ball is snapped, NEVER on the snap count! Check with the side judge to get proper alignment,
X and Y on the line, Z and W off.
Off the Ball – It is imperative that all receivers sprint from the line of scrimmage on every play, regardless of run or pass. We want to break the Corner’s cushion as fast as possible.
Also make sure your first step is forward. You can accomplish this by pushing forward with your back foot to start route.

Falcon Receiver Fundamentals
Blocking – NO BLOCK, NO ROCK!
This will be our motto in the receiving corps.
Receivers must become great Stalk and Downfield Blockers for our running game to be successful. We will run more often than pass, so the best blockers WILL PLAY MORE!
Stalk Blocking – Play Side
1.
Sprint off the line of scrimmage
2.
Aim for outside (closest to sideline) shoulder of DB, if DB resists, a huge running lane opens
3.
Sink hips and chop feet when near DB (2-3 yds.)
4.
Meet force with force! DO NOT GIVE DB A RUNNING
START ON YOU!
5.
Keep eyes up, chest up and feet moving
6.
Engage DB on chest plate with thumbs up and elbows pointing down
7.
Keep feet moving (wide base and shuffle) so you stay between DB and ball carrier
Stalk Blocking – Back Side
1.
Same as play side above
2.
Take a greater angle inside to cut off back side DB or safety from making the play in a cut back lane.
Downfield Blocking
1.
If you aren’t the intended receiver, find the ball and sprint to help.
2.
Put a hat on the closest pursuer, if none; look downfield for someone to put a hat on.
Catching – The following techniques will be used when catching balls:
1.
Come out of cuts or plants and snap head and hands around towards ball.
2.
For balls above the waist, form hands in a diamond shape
(thumbs and index fingers touching) with palms facing out
3.
Balls below the waist, put pinkies together with palms facing up (basket)
4.
Keep arms extended, hands away from body whenever possible, catch ball out in front, or at its highest point
5.
Catch with fingertips, don’t let ball get to palms or body whenever possible
6.
Tuck ball under arm with three points of contact; fingers over tip of ball, forearm squeezing ball against belly
7.
Turn up field and try to score!
Running Routes – All routes must be sprinted, even when you are not the intended receiver. Route running must be precise, with correct cuts, plants and field depth. Our passing game depends on the skill to which our receivers run routes.

Falcon Receiver Fundamentals
Hard Cuts – Cuts made on out (1 & 3) routes must use the following techniques:
1.
Sink Hips
2.
Chop feet
3.
Hide numbers (chest down)
4.
Plant on opposite foot
5.
Snap head and hands toward football
Speed Cuts – Cuts made on slant (2), fade, dig (6) and post/corner
(7 & 8) routes must use the following techniques:
1.
Give a head and shoulder fake or stutter fake
2.
Press off opposite foot
3.
Snap head and hands toward football
Plants – Plants will be used on hitch, comeback (5), boiler, and hook (4) routes:
1.
Sink hips
2.
Chop feet
3.
Hide numbers (chest down)
4.
Plant on opposite foot
5.
Snap head and hands toward football and work back to QB or sideline
Route Tree – Many of our pass plays will feature numbered routes from the route tree.
Odd numbered routes will be run toward the sideline, 9 is downfield, and even numbered routes will be run toward the middle of the field.
9
7
8
5
6
3
4
10 yds.
2
Hitch
5 yds. 1
0
Arrow

Falcon Receiver Fundamentals
Formations
Right/Left – This is our base formation, with a tight end. Right or Left call tells the Y and Z which direction to align, X always aligns opposite the call. A Flex call tells the
X to split out to his landmark in a 2 pt. stance.
X or X
Flex
Y
Z
Pro – Similar alignment to Right and Left, but the backs are split in the backfield.
X Y
Z
Ace – Similar to Right and Left, but one back comes out and is replaced by an extra receiver, W who aligns opposite the right or left call.
X Y
W Z
Twins – X Flexes out 2 yards in a 2 pt. stance with W splitting the difference between
X and T opposite of the call. Y flexes out 2 yards in a 2 pt. stance and Z aligns one yard out and one yard back off the ball to the call side.
X Y
W Z
Bunch – Spread formation with TE wide and 2 as slot on the call side, with SE and 4 in same alignment on the opposite side.
X Y
W Z
Falcon – Similar to Right/Left Flex, but Z aligns opposite the call in the slot halfway between X and T, and W aligns to the call side in Z’s normal position.
X
Z
Y
W