How to Run a Curl Route: Receiver Training

The curl route is a medium distance pass play. It is a play designed to “take what they give you”. The Curl Route is very effective play used to catch the defense off guard when the D is set up to defend against the long ball.

The focus of this article is receiver training about the basic fundamentals you need for running a curl route, beginning with how to line up and concluding with variations of patterns you can use learning how to run the curl route.

***Lining Up****

How a receivers lines up is not important for running a curl route.

*** Release from the Line Of Scrimmage***

Once the play starts and you release from the LOS, you want to explode from your stance running straight down field. You want the defensive backs to think you are running fly pattern.


You want to run between 10, 15 to 20 yards down field, the usual length of a curl pass pattern. You are running down the field; keep your eyes looking straight ahead. You need the defender to buy the fly pattern and have a cushion between you and him, so when you break into your curl he has too much ground to make up to defend against the pass. Curl routes usually are run between 10, 15. or 20 yards in length then you run either towards the sideline or the center for the field and begin your curl.

***Receiving the Pass***

After you have run your route and curled in, be ready to catch the pass. Curl passes are usually timing patterns. In most cases the quarterback will have thrown the ball as you make your cut curling back. To make this an effective play, you want o practice your curl route with your quarterback, getting your timing in sync.

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