---
title: "Trips Formation in Football Explained"
description: "Trips puts three receivers to one side of the formation. How it lines up, what it forces the defense to show and the passing concepts run from it."
url: https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/formations/trips/
---

formation

# Trips Formation

Trips is a 3x1 formation: three receivers to one side, one to the other. Overloading one side forces the defense to show how it covers three receivers, which often tells you the coverage before the snap.

![Trips Lt formation diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/formations/trips-left.webp)

Trips Lt

![Trips Rt formation diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/formations/trips-right.webp)

Trips Rt

## How Trips Lines Up

In Crucible's Trips, three receivers (including the tight end) line up strong and one backside, with a back next to the QB in the shotgun. Trips Left and Trips Right are mirror images.

## What It Does to a Defense

- It creates a numbers problem: the defense must rotate, check to a special trips coverage or leave the backside receiver one on one.
- That backside receiver is often one on one. If the corner gives free access, or presses with no help over the top, it is an easy throw.
- Three receivers to one side make Stick and three-level concepts like Sail natural.

## How to Read It

Count the defenders over the three receivers. If a safety comes over to match them, the backside or the middle is lighter. If not, the trips side has the numbers.

## Concepts Crucible Runs From Trips

-

![Boot diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/boot.thumb.webp)

Boot HB Option / Bow

-

![Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/dig.thumb.webp)

Dig HB Option / In
-

![Slope diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/slope.thumb.webp)

Slope HB Option / Slim

-

![Branch diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/branch.thumb.webp)

Branch Branch / Arrow / Go

-

![Cafe diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/cafe.thumb.webp)

Cafe Diagonal / Corner / Curl

-

![Dancer diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/dancer.thumb.webp)

Dancer Branch / Crease / Dagger

-

![Curl diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/curl.thumb.webp)

Curl Diagonal / Curl
-

![Hank diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/hank.thumb.webp)

Hank OTB / Diagonal / Curl

+ 7 more in Crucible

## Trips Plays in Crucible

-

![Branch Slope diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/branch-slope.thumb.webp)

Branch Slope

-

![Cafe Stop diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/cafe-stop.thumb.webp)

Cafe Stop

-

![Dancer Boot diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/dancer-boot.thumb.webp)

Dancer Boot

-

![Hank Curl diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/hank-curl.thumb.webp)

Hank Curl

-

![Icon Boot diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/icon-boot.thumb.webp)

Icon Boot

-

![Pin Cobb diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/pin-cobb.thumb.webp)

Pin Cobb

-

![Sail Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/sail-dig.thumb.webp)

Sail Dig

-

![Scissors Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/scissors-dig.thumb.webp)

Scissors Dig

+ 2 more in Crucible

## Related passing concepts

-

![Sail diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/sail.thumb.webp)

Sail Sail / Option / Pogo
-

![Scissors diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/scissors.thumb.webp)

Scissors Diagonal / Sail / Pogo

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