You've probably seen it on a Saturday morning. A frustrated coach is screaming about a "Post" while an eight-year-old stares back with a look of pure, unadulterated confusion. It’s a mess. Most of the time, the youth football route tree is taught like it’s a graduate-level physics course when it really needs to be more like a game of Simon Says. If the kid doesn't know where he's going, the quarterback—who is probably just trying to remember not to trip over his own feet—doesn't have a prayer of completing the pass.
Teaching a kid to run a route isn't about the NFL. It’s about spacing. Basically, if everyone runs to the same spot, the defense only has to guard one person to stop the whole team. That's why the route tree matters. It’s a map.
Why the Youth Football Route Tree Is Usually a Disaster
Most coaches just grab a diagram from a Madden playbook and hope for the best. Big mistake. High school or college players can handle a full 0-9 tree with "converted" routes based on coverage, but your average 10-year-old is mostly worried about his mouthguard falling out.
The standard youth football route tree uses a numbering system. Even numbers usually go inside; odd numbers go outside. Simple, right? Well, not when you realize half the kids don't know their left from their right under pressure. You have to simplify. You have to speak their language. If you tell a kid to run a "6," he might remember it's an In route, or he might just run in a circle.
Honestly, the biggest issue is depth. In the pros, a "Dig" might be at 12 yards. In youth ball, if the QB can only throw it 15 yards total, a 12-yard break is useless. The timing is completely broken before the ball even leaves the hand. You've got to shrink the dimensions to fit the players' physical reality.
Breaking Down the Basic Numbers
Let's look at what actually works on a dirt-stained jersey. We’ll skip the fancy stuff and stick to the core routes that generate touchdowns in local rec leagues.
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The 1: The Flat
This is a quick out. Three steps up, then a hard turn toward the sideline. It’s a "safety valve" route. If the defense is playing way back, you just dump it to the kid in the flat and let him run. It’s rarely a huge gain, but it keeps the chains moving.
The 2: The Slant
This is the bread and butter of any youth football route tree. Three steps and a 45-degree angle toward the middle of the field. It’s fast. It’s aggressive. If the receiver catches it in stride, he’s gone because youth defenders are notoriously bad at "tracking the hip" on crossing routes.
The 3: The Comeback (or Deep Out)
Honestly? Most youth QBs can't throw this. It requires a lot of arm strength to get the ball to the sideline before the cornerback jumps the route. If you're coaching 8U, maybe just put this one in the "don't bother" pile for now.
The 4: The Curl (The Hitch)
Stop and turn. It sounds easy, but kids always drift. They catch the ball and then move backward. You have to teach them to "come back to the ball." If they just stand there, the defender will just reach around and poke it away. It’s a great route for a kid who isn't the fastest but has good hands.
The 5: The Out
Five yards up, 90-degree turn to the sideline. It’s a classic. The trick here is the "square" break. Most kids want to run a "banana" route—a big, rounded curve. That gives the defender all day to recover. You want sharp corners.
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The 6: The In (Dig)
The opposite of the out. Five to seven yards up, then a hard turn into the middle of the field. This is dangerous territory because that’s where the linebackers live. You need a kid with some "grit" for this one.
The 7: The Corner (Flag)
Run deep and head for the back pylon. This is great against teams that play "Cover 2" (two deep safeties) because they often get sucked into the middle, leaving the corners wide open.
The 8: The Post
Head for the goalposts. It’s the "home run" ball. Every kid wants to run the 8. Every single one. Even the offensive linemen probably think they could pull it off if given the chance.
The 9: The Go (Fly)
Just run. Fast. Don't stop. It’s the simplest part of the youth football route tree, yet it's the one that results in the most "overthrown" balls because kids stop running to look back for the football.
The "Banana" Problem and How to Fix It
If you watch a youth practice, you'll see a lot of rounded routes. Kids run in circles. It’s natural. But in football, rounded routes are "slow" routes.
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To fix this, coaches like Joe Daniel (of Joe Daniel Football) often suggest using "cones" as physical markers. Don't just tell them to turn; make them touch a cone at the breaking point. It builds muscle memory. Eventually, they’ll start making those sharp cuts without the orange plastic helping them out.
Another thing? The "stem." That’s the straight line the receiver runs before the break. If the stem is wobbly, the defender knows exactly where the kid is going. A good youth football route tree implementation emphasizes a vertical stem. Make the defender think you’re going deep every single time. Scaring them is half the battle.
Spacing: The Secret Sauce
You can have the best routes in the world, but if your "1" and your "2" end up in the same three-yard radius, you’re in trouble. This is why "levels" matter.
A "levels" concept basically means you have routes at different depths. One short, one medium, one deep. This forces the defense to make a choice. If the linebacker stays low to cover the hitch, the "In" route behind him should be open. If he drops back, throw the hitch. This is "reading" the defense. Even a 12-year-old can do this if you explain it as "find the guy in the different colored jersey and throw it where he isn't."
Practical Advice for Parents and Coaches
Don't try to teach all nine routes in one day. You'll lose them. Start with three: the Slant, the Hitch, and the Go. That’s enough to win most games at the youth level.
- Focus on the "Break": Spend ten minutes every practice just on the footwork of the cut. Plant the outside foot, drive off it, and snap the head around.
- The "Eyes" Rule: If a receiver's head isn't around, the ball shouldn't be in the air. Teach them that "hands follow eyes."
- Shorten the Tree: For younger ages (6-9), a "7-yard" route is a marathon. Make your breaks at 3-5 yards. It keeps the play in the quarterback's "strike zone."
- Use Visual Cues: Instead of just numbers, use names. "Slant" is more descriptive than "2" for a kid who’s thinking about the post-game snack.
- Film It: Use your phone. Show the kid what a "banana" route looks like versus a "square" break. They usually don't realize they're doing it until they see it.
The youth football route tree is a tool, not a rulebook. Adapt it to the kids you actually have on the field, not the ones you wish you had. If your QB can't throw a "7," stop calling it. If your receiver is the fastest kid in the county, run more "9s."
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your playbook: Strip out any routes your quarterback can't physically throw. If the "out" route always ends up as an interception because of a weak arm, delete it today.
- Implement the "Three-Step Rule": On short routes, the ball should be out by the time the receiver takes his third step. If the QB is holding it longer, the "route tree" doesn't matter because he's going to get sacked anyway.
- Run "Air" Drills: Spend the first 15 minutes of every practice running the full route tree without a defense. This builds the "map" in the players' heads so they don't have to think during the game.
- Prioritize the Slant: It is statistically the highest-completion route in youth football. Master it before moving on to complex double-moves.
- Teach "Stacking": When a receiver runs a "Go" route and gets past the defender, teach him to move directly in front of that defender. This "stacks" the DB behind him, making it impossible for the defender to play the ball without committing a foul.
By simplifying the youth football route tree, you take the "thinking" out of the game and let the kids just play. Speed comes from confidence. When a kid knows exactly where he's going and why, he runs faster, catches better, and actually enjoys being on the field.