Max Effort Route Tree
Effort
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Run every route in the route tree with maximum effort so receivers build the habit of full effort regardless of route depth or complexity.
What you need
- football
- flags
- cones
Your focus
Receivers who jog shallow routes or ease into breaks undermine the entire offensive timing system. Maximum effort on every route ensures the QB can rely on receiver timing. Building maximum effort on every route is the single most important habit for flag football receiver development.
Call all 9 standard routes (flat, slant, out, curl, dig, corner, post, go, screen) in random order.
Receiver must run each route at 100% effort with full-speed stem, precise break, and maximum extension.
Coach observes every step of every route and gives a pass/fail on maximum effort.
After the tree is complete, receiver confirms which route felt least effortful and repeats it until a pass is earned.
Goal
You've got it when every route in the tree is run full speed with a clean break, the short ones get the same effort as the deep ones.
Helpful cues
- Maximum effort on a curl route: it is 4 yards but run it like a 40-yard score
- Your effort on routes where the ball does not come sets up the ones where it does
- Every route, every rep, every time
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Run only 5 routes; coach pre-selects the one that will receive the ball.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a defender on every route; maximum effort must be maintained through real coverage resistance.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.