Flag Tag
A playful warm-up for the youngest players, all wearing flag belts. Kids practise quick changes of direction, finding space and pulling flags – the basic skill of flag football – with no contact at all.
Ladder and Cone Relay
A relay for quick feet and coordination. Kids go through an agility ladder, weave through cones or step over mini hurdles and finish with a sprint – lots of movement and short queues.
Catch and Run
Kids catch a short pass on the move, tuck the ball away and run into the "end zone" for a touchdown. The drill trains catching with the hands and carrying the ball securely.
Hand-off and Ball Security
A relay in which the ball is passed on with a proper hand-off and carried through a gauntlet of team-mates who poke at it. Players learn to take the ball correctly and keep it secure under pressure.
3-Cone and 5-10-5 Shuttle
Two classic speed and agility tests run as stations: the 3-cone (L-drill) and the 5-10-5 pro shuttle. Players train acceleration, braking, a low centre of gravity in the turns and quick changes of direction.
QB Drops and Timing
The quarterback works on the snap under center, 3-step and 5-step drops and throwing in rhythm with the receiver's break. The receivers work on running the route at the right depth so the ball arrives as they break.
Pursuit Drill
The whole defense trains pursuit angles. When the coach throws out to the sideline, everyone sprints his angle to get in front of the ball carrier – players close to the ball run flat angles, deep players run steeper ones.
Inside Run – Inside Zone
Offensive line, tight end, quarterback and running back against a 4-3 front. The line works on zone steps and double teams that climb to the linebackers, the back reads and cuts back, and the defense works on filling its gaps and tackling.
Pass Protection vs Pass Rush
The offensive line and the back work on pass protection against four pass rushers and a blitzing linebacker. The line works on the kick-slide, punch and anchor, the back picks up the blitz and the quarterback steps up in the pocket and throws.
Mini Flag 3-on-3
The first real game: three against three with the coach as quarterback for the team with the ball. A hand-off run and a short pass all the way into the end zone. Kids learn to attack forward, pull flags and that everyone has a job.
Four Downs to Score
Flag 4-on-4 from the 10-yard line: the offense has four downs to score a touchdown. First down: a jet sweep to the left, the flag is pulled at the 5. Second down: the slant behind the rusher's back into the end zone. Kids learn downs, field position and using the whole width.
Play-Action Bootleg
Fake outside zone to the right, the quarterback boots to the left. Rep 1: the linebackers and the backside end bite, the tight end's drag is open in the flat. Rep 2: the end stays home, so the quarterback sets and throws the comeback at the sideline. Teaches the quarterback to read the backside end.