The Lateral
A lateral, also called a backward pass or pitch, is a pass or toss of the ball to a teammate behind you. Any teammate behind the invisible line sideline to sideline where the ball left your hand for the lateral is fair game (the green O’s in the picture below). Laterals are a great way to extend plays, confuse defenders, and create unique offensive opportunities.
Why Use Laterals?
Evading Pressure: If you're being chased by a defender, a quick lateral to a teammate who's open can create space and keep the offense alive.
Here’s a successful lateral in a non-contact 7s league. Shoutout to the player in green who gets a great interception. She is surrounded by the other team so she laterals to a teammate right before her flag is pulled. The defenders who were originally pursuing her position on the field now need to redirect and pursue the next ball carrier. The forced redirection creates enough space for additional yardage and ultimately a touchdown.
Here’s another successful lateral this time in a contact 5s format. Shoutout to #12 who decides to keep the ball as QB and has a great, shifty run evading defenders. When the defenders close in, she throws a backward pass (laterals) to her teammate across the field. The teammate has a lane up the sideline and runs it in for a touchdown.
Misdirection: Once you’ve established yourself as a player who laterals, you can fake a lateral to confuse the defense. A fake lateral can draw defenders out of position or cause them to freeze on their feet opening up a lane for you to make a move and gain additional yardage.
Here’s a successful fake lateral in the same contact 5s game. Shoutout to #22 who gets another great interception and runs toward a defender. She fakes the lateral causing the defender to freeze on her feet just long enough for #22 to get around the edge and take it to the house. You can see #2 and another teammate trailing ready for an additional lateral in case someone chased her down.
Things to Consider with Laterals
While laterals can be a game-changer, there are also some things to keep in mind:
Laterals aren’t allowed in every league or ruleset: Check that rulebook or ask a coach or captain to ensure laterals are fair game.
You have to throw a lateral behind you: You can't throw a lateral forward and have it be a legal pass. If you’re running at full speed, be aware of your forward momentum carrying the ball forward unintentionally. That would be a penalty–an illegal forward pass.
Precision is key: A lateral can be intercepted by the defense. Make sure you don’t accidentally lateral to a defender.
Develop timing: A dropped lateral stops the play and the ball is spotted at the point where it was dropped. Practice your laterals with your teammates to ensure smooth execution. Work on throwing laterals towards your left, right, and behind you. Throw them overhand and underhand. Practice at full speed.
Always be prepared to receive a lateral: If your teammate gets the ball, instead of watching their run or taking a quick break from the game, trail behind them to be in position for a lateral. You might be able to gain a few extra yards in the process.
Laterals can add a fun and exciting element to your flag football game. By using them strategically and practicing your technique, you can outsmart the defense and get a few extra yards on the path to victory.