Bunch Scissors (5v5 Flag Football)
Bunch puts three receivers in a tight triangle on one side. In 5v5 that is every receiver except the center. Scissors has two of them cross deep: the outside man runs a post and the inside man runs a corner, so their paths form an "X". The third runs a quick flat. Defenders who play man have to sort out the release, and a deep safety has to choose between two routes.
What it beats
- Man coverage. Defenders stacked over a bunch have to sort out who has whom at the release.
- Single safety or two-deep. Post and corner pull the safety in opposite directions.
- Pressed defenders. A bunch gives receivers free releases, because the defenders can't all line up tight.
Formation and routes
Bunch right, a tight triangle about 2 yards apart outside the right hash. Point man Y on the line, Z behind and outside, X behind and inside. C at center, QB in shotgun. Five players: QB, C, X, Y, Z.
- Z (outside): post at 8–10 yards, breaking toward the middle.
- X (inside): corner at 8–10 yards, breaking toward the sideline. X crosses under Z's path.
- Y (point): quick flat at 2 yards to the right.
- C: snap, short hook over the ball at 4 yards (the hot read).
- QB: Y first if the flat is open immediately. Then the safety: if he goes post, throw corner. If he goes corner, throw post.
How to run it
- Line up the bunch. Make sure nobody moves before the snap, unless the play calls for motion.
- Y releases flat to pull the underneath defender out.
- Z and X drive vertically 6–8 steps, then break. Z goes inside on the post, X goes outside on the corner, and their paths cross.
- Decide who goes over and who goes under ahead of time. In this version X stays under Z at the cross.
- The QB reads the deepest defender's hips and throws away from where they turn.
Coaching points
- The point man's flat sets everything up. If the defense ignores Y, take the free completion.
- Break at the same depth every time. Scissors works on timing, and the QB should know exactly when the cuts happen.
- No contact at the release. Bunch releases get tight. Run your own path and don't screen.
- Throw the corner high and outside, and the post on a line.
Common mistakes
- Z and X cross at the same depth and run into each other.
- The QB holds the ball waiting for the deep cross and runs out of pass clock.
- The bunch is set so tight that the receivers trip over each other at the snap.
- Bunch is run to the short side, which leaves the corner route no room.
Variation: Bunch Switch Flat
Z and X swap jobs: X runs the post and Z runs the corner. Y runs a quick out instead of a flat. Use it once teams start sitting on the original version.
Rules check
Bunch releases and crossing routes are legal when no receiver blocks or screens a defender. Some leagues set formation rules, such as the number of players on the line or spacing from the center. Check your league.
Printable wristband card
BUNCH R SCISSORS | Z: post 9 | X: corner 9 (under) | Y: flat | C: hook 4 | QB: Y > safety read
Short form: BUNCH SCIS: Z post, X corner, Y flat, C hook
FAQ
- What is a bunch formation in flag football?
- A bunch formation lines up three receivers close together in a triangle on one side of the field. The tight alignment makes it hard for defenders to press or play clean man coverage, and it sets up crossing routes and quick releases.
- What is the scissors concept?
- Scissors is a two-route combination where the outside receiver runs a post and the inside receiver runs a corner, so their paths cross. The deep safety can't cover both, so the QB throws to the receiver the safety doesn't follow.
- Is a bunch formation legal in 5v5 flag football?
- Generally yes. Flag football leagues allow bunch alignments as long as the formation follows the league's line-of-scrimmage rules and nobody blocks or screens. Formation rules vary, so check your league's rulebook.
Animate this play free in Formation Lab — draw Bunch Scissors, watch the crossing timing animate, and text it to your team.