Trap 34
Fullback or tailback hits a quick inside trap up the middle.
Concept: Backside guard pulls to trap the first down lineman past the down block.
Grows with your players
Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.
- 6UIntroduce: Nail the snap/exchange, aim the right hole, and finish downhill.
- 8UAdd the lead: Add the pulling guard(s) leading through the hole.
- 10UAdd deception: Add the fake/mesh — and a counter off the very same look.
- 12UMaster it: Run it fast both directions and check into it by defensive look.
Every position's job
Take the snap, reverse pivot, and hand quickly to the fullback or tailback hitting the A-gap on the trap.
Take the quick handoff, aim for the outside hip of the center, and run downhill off the trap block.
Fake the opposite direction or fill to hold the linebackers.
Pull flat and trap-block the first down lineman past the playside down block, kicking him out.
Block back on the backside gap to seal the trap.
Down-block or release inside past the trapped man to the linebacker.
Down-block the first inside defender to wall off the lane.
Hinge and cut off backside pursuit.
Down-block the end or release to the linebacker.
Release and stalk-block the corner downfield.
How to teach it
- 1Let the defensive lineman come upfield — the trap works because he penetrates and gets kicked out.
- 2Pulling guard traps with his inside shoulder and drives the man out of the hole.
- 3Ball-carrier hits it downhill left off the trapper's block.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Playside guard blocks the man who should be trapped — fix by teaching him to leave that man and go inside/second level.
- !Pulling guard traps the wrong defender — fix by counting the first man past the down block as the target.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.