Every great youth receiver starts with the same short list of routes, not a sprawling NFL route tree, just the handful of easy football routes for kids that are simple enough to learn fast but effective enough to beat real coverage. Most young players only know the streak and the slant, and that is not enough once flag football turns into tackle football with real coverage reads.
This guide covers the basic football routes for kids every coach or parent should teach first, in the order kids are actually ready for them, plus a quick-reference chart, the footwork and catching mechanics behind each route, how to drill them with just one parent and a ball, and an age-by-age progression that turns a clean route into a completed pass.
Quick Answer
The easiest football routes for kids are the streak (go), slant, hitch, out, and post, five routes that cover the short, intermediate, and deep zones of the field with the simplest footwork. The youngest flag football players (ages 5-7) usually start even simpler, with just the streak, the flat, and a basic slant, before adding any route that needs a sharp plant-and-break.
The 5 Basic Football Routes Every Kid Should Learn First
Youth coaches almost always teach the same five routes first because they are the simplest to run and the hardest for young defenders to stop. Learn these, in roughly this order, before adding anything else to the route tree.
Streak (or go route): the receiver sprints straight downfield at full speed with no cuts at all. It has zero footwork to learn, which is why it is usually the very first route taught to kids as young as 5 or 6. Slant: the receiver takes 2-3 steps straight upfield, then breaks at a 45-degree angle toward the middle of the field, the easiest route that actually requires a cut, since it is just one break and a quick throw. Hitch (also called a curl or stop): the receiver sprints 5 yards downfield, then plants and turns back to face the quarterback, with no cutting left or right, which makes it a natural second or third route to add. Out: the receiver runs 5-7 yards upfield, plants the inside foot, and breaks sharply toward the sideline, teaching a cleaner, sharper cut than the slant. Post: the receiver runs 8-10 yards upfield, then angles diagonally toward the middle of the field aiming for the far goalpost, usually the first deep route kids learn because the wide angle is forgiving even when the cut is not perfect.
The Flat Route: Often the Very First Route for the Youngest Players
Before a young player ever runs a slant, many flag football coaches start with something even simpler: the flat route. The receiver takes a step or two upfield, then turns immediately and sprints toward the sideline while staying shallow, usually no more than 3-5 yards downfield. There is no plant, no angle to judge, and no real cut, just a straight line to open space.
The flat pairs naturally with the streak as a first install for 5- and 6-year-olds because both routes are single, straight-line movements with no deceptive footwork involved. It also teaches a concept kids will use for years: getting to open grass quickly is often more valuable at this age than running a technically perfect route.
Every Kid-Friendly Route at a Glance
This chart lines up each route with how deep it runs and what age it usually gets added, so a coach or parent can scan it on the sideline.
- Flat — 3-5 yards, straight to the sideline, no cut; first taught around ages 5-6.
- Streak — full speed straight downfield, no cut; first taught around ages 5-6.
- Slant — 2-3 yards, 45-degree break to the middle; first taught around ages 6-7.
- Hitch/curl — 5 yards, plant and turn back to the QB; first taught around ages 8-9.
- Out — 5-7 yards, sharp break to the sideline; first taught around ages 8-9.
- Post — 8-10 yards, diagonal break toward the far goalpost; first taught around ages 10-12.
That list covers nearly every route a youth offense will ever call. Anything beyond it, like a corner, dig, or double move, is a variation on these same breaks run from a deeper stem.
How the Route Tree Numbering Works
Coaches at every level, from youth leagues up through the NFL, often call routes by number instead of by name, so it helps parents and young players to understand the pattern. In a standard nine-route tree, odd numbers break toward the sideline and even numbers break toward the middle of the field: 1 is the flat, 2 is the slant, 3 is the comeback, 4 is the curl or hitch, 5 is the out, 6 is the dig, 7 is the corner, 8 is the post, and 9 is the streak or fade.
Youth teams rarely need the full nine-route tree, the five or six routes covered above handle almost every beginner install a coach will call. But knowing the numbering helps a parent follow along when a coach shouts a route number from the sideline instead of its name, and it gives kids a shared vocabulary they will keep using as they move up levels.
The Foundation: Stance, Release, and Stem Speed
Every great route starts before the ball is snapped. Receivers should stand in a balanced two-point stance with their inside foot back and weight on the balls of their feet, then explode off the line at full speed for the first 5-7 yards, a stretch coaches call the stem. One of the most important habits a young receiver can build is running every stem at the same speed regardless of which route is coming, because defenders read a change in pace instantly.
Drill it with five cones set at 7 yards: have receivers explode off the line and freeze at the cone, 10 reps per practice. This builds the explosive first burst that makes every route on this list actually work.
Catching Mechanics: Hands, Eyes, and Tucks
Running a clean route means nothing if the catch falls apart at the end, and catching mechanics are where most youth receivers lose completions. The first fix is hands: young players naturally want to trap the ball against their chest, but coaches should drill hands-only catching, forming a triangle or diamond with the thumbs and fingers and plucking the ball out of the air before it ever touches the body. The second fix is eyes: the receiver’s head should turn to find the ball the instant they finish their break, and the eyes should stay on the ball all the way through the catch rather than peeking at the defender or the ground, which coaches call looking the ball in. The third fix is the tuck: the moment the ball is secured in both hands, the receiver tucks it high and tight against the ribcage with one arm wrapped fully around it, then turns upfield.
A simple drill for all three: have a partner toss short, soft passes while the receiver calls out a number or color flashed on the ball before catching it, which forces the eyes to stay locked on and trains the hands to work independently of the body.
Drilling the Routes: Footwork for Slant, Hitch, Out, Post, and Streak
Once a receiver knows the basic routes by name, drill each one against air first, then against a shadowing defender. Run each route 10 times without a defender, then 10 times with one, before moving to the next route.
For slants, the receiver explodes 3 steps upfield, plants the outside foot, and breaks at a 45-degree angle. For hitches, the receiver runs hard for 5 yards, sinks the hips, and turns back to the quarterback. For outs, the receiver runs 5-7 yards, plants the inside foot, and breaks sharply toward the sideline. For posts, the receiver runs the stem to 8-10 yards, then angles toward the middle at roughly 45 degrees before straightening out to stay in stride with the throw. For streaks, there is no footwork to coach at all, the focus is top-end speed, arm drive, and turning the head to find the ball without slowing down. Footwork at the top of the route is everything; wasted steps cost separation on every one of these routes.
How to Practice These Routes With Just One Parent and a Ball
None of these routes require a full team to drill. A parent or sibling can stand in as the quarterback and a stack of anything flat, cones, shoes, a backpack, works as a marker for the stem distance. Have the player run the route on their own first without a ball, focusing only on the plant foot and the angle of the break, then add a soft toss once the footwork is clean.
A youth-size football that fits the player’s hand is worth using over a regulation ball at this stage, since it is easier to grip and makes the catching drills above far less frustrating. Calling out the route name before each rep, instead of letting the player run the same one on repeat, also builds the habit of reacting to a call rather than just memorizing one pattern.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down Young Receivers
Rounding the cut instead of planting and breaking at a sharp angle is the single biggest issue coaches see, it turns a slant or an out into a lazy arc that gives the defender time to recover. The fix is simple: slow the route down, exaggerate the plant foot, and speed it back up once the angle is clean.
Slowing down before the break is the second-most common issue, since it tips off the defender before the cut even happens. Changing speed through the stem but not through the break is the habit to drill. The third issue is dropping the eyes to watch the feet during a cut instead of staying square to the quarterback, a receiver who cannot find the ball immediately after breaking will drop passes they got open for.
Age-Based Progression: What to Teach and When
Ages 5-7 (flag football): players typically master the streak, flat, and simple slant since these require no defensive reads or deceptive movements. Ages 8-9: most children are prepared to add the hitch and out once their footwork and balance improve enough to plant hard without losing speed. Ages 10-12: introduce the post and any route depending on a believable fake, like a double move, once a receiver can run the first part at full speed and still control the break angle.
By ages 13 and up, most players moving into tackle football with real route-tree terminology already have these five or six routes down cold, which makes learning the fuller nine-route system, and option routes based on coverage, a much shorter jump.
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football routes for kids FAQs
What are the easiest football routes for kids?
The streak, flat, and slant are easiest because none of them require reading the defense or selling a fake, they involve straight lines or a single clean break, which is why coaches teach them first to players as young as 5 or 6.
What are the basic football routes every kid should learn?
The five basic routes are the streak, slant, hitch, out, and post, which cover the short, intermediate, and deep zones of the field and provide enough variety to beat most youth-level coverage.
How many routes are in a youth route tree?
The full NFL-style route tree has nine numbered routes, but youth teams typically only need five or six, the streak, flat, slant, hitch, out, and post handle nearly every beginner concept.
What age should kids start learning football routes?
Children can start with the simplest routes, the streak and flat, as early as ages 5-6 in flag football, with the slant following around ages 6-7, the hitch and out at ages 8-9, and double-move routes reserved for ages 10-12.
What’s the difference between a hitch and a curl route?
In most youth playbooks, hitch and curl are two names for the same route: the receiver sprints downfield, plants, and turns back to face the quarterback without cutting left or right.
Can you practice football routes without a full team?
Yes. A single parent can act as the quarterback and use any flat object as a stem marker. Have the player run the route without a ball first to lock in the footwork, then add a soft toss once the break is clean.
What route should a youth quarterback throw first?
The slant and the flat are the easiest routes for a beginner quarterback to complete because the throw is short and the receiver’s path is simple to anticipate, making them the natural pairing with the streak during early practices.
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