Flag football is popular for youth leagues, particularly co-ed ones, because it involves many of the same skills and the fast-paced excitement of tackle football but with a much lesser risk of injury. While many of the offensive drills used by flag football players will be the same as those used in tackle football, defensive drills are focused around flag-pulling.
Basic Flag Pull Drill
Line up all but one team member single file at one end of the field, wearing their flag belts. Have one team member, who will be the defender, stand about five yards away facing the line. The first player in line should run toward the defender, at the last minute cutting to the right to run past, while the defender tries to grab her belt. The next player in line should then run out, cutting to the left, and the entire line should alternate sides as they take turns running past the defender. Speed up the drill as you go along, and repeat until each team member has had a turn at playing the defender.
Receiver Flag Pull Drill
Split the team into two groups, receivers and defenders. Have the receivers line up horizontally, then toss one of them the ball. The defenders must immediately swarm the ball-carrier, trying to pull the flag as quickly as possible. This will allow the defenders to practice flag pulling on the fly, without knowledge of who, or where, the receiver will be.
Angle Pulling Drill
Set up two cones on the line of scrimmage, one about 10 yards to the right and the other about 10 yards to the left. Have each player wear a flag belt and pair up with another similar-sized player, with one being the running back and the other the linebacker. Position the players between the cones, facing each other about 10 yards apart. When you blow the whistle, have the running back sprint toward whichever cone she chooses. The linebacker must then take an angle of pursuit that will allow him to reach the running back before she gets past the cone. The linebacker will need to reach out across the body of the running back to grab her flag but should not make contact.
Flag Pulling Duel
Set up four to six cones to mark off a small square or circle. Have two players at a time enter the ring, each wearing a flag belt. Players will compete to see who can pull off the other's belt first. The winner will then take on a new challenger, until everyone on the team has had a chance to play. Then try it again, this time with each player keeping one hand behind his back.
References
- "Coaching Kids Flag Football"; Danford Chamness; 2002
- Knowledge Spot: Flag Football Drills and Practice Plans
- i9 Sports: Coach's Guide Drills and Games
- Doug Hinrichs, Coach; i9 Sports Flag Football; Silver Spring, Maryland
Member Comments