position number

Question
QUESTION: My son was in a freshmen High School footbal camp and the coach had asked the kids "who's a 1, 2, or a 3? I have never heard these terms before. Can you explain?

ANSWER: Dear Ruel,
I am going to need more information in order to answer your question. What position does your son play? And what were the football players doing, when the coach asked the question?
Your friend, Louis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Louis,
My son plays wide receiver and they were doing catching drills

Answer
Dear Ruel,
I think, what the coach was talking about is the passing tree. Some coaches name their pass plays, while others use the numbers system to communicate to their receivers what pass routes to run. Here is a list of the most basic pass routes listed by their identification numbers.

1. Out

2. Slant

3. Deep Out

4. Comeback

5. Deep In

6. Flag

7. Post

8. Go

The distance is determined by the coach and the type of offense being used by your football team. Here is example on how the system can be used. The play called is 123, starting from the left, wide receiver runs an out route, the tight-end runs a slant, and the slot-back runs a deep out. Like I said this is one way to use this system. However, it is not the only way it can be used.

My advice to you is to just ask the coach. Football Coaches love it when a football player shows an interest and ask questions. Remember they are there to teach you how to play the game of football.
Your friend, Louis