The flag football drill library
Ten field-tested drills cover everything a K–4th grade team needs: pulling flags, catching, the QB exchange, running routes, and team defense. Run 2–3 as simultaneous stations, rotate every 5–7 minutes, and never let kids stand in line.
Defense drills
Flag Pull Relay
The first drill of every season. Pulling flags, disguised as a game.
Flag Tag Warmup
Everyone chases everyone. Best five minutes in youth sports.
Containment
Teach defenders to force runners back inside, not chase them.
Defensive Positioning
Where to stand and what to guard, before the ball is snapped.
Deep Pass Coverage
Run with the receiver, then find the ball.
Pursuit Angles
Chase where the runner is going, not where they are.
Offense drills
Catch and Run
Soft hands, tuck the ball, go. The foundation of every offense.
QB–Center Exchange & Handoffs
Snaps and handoffs until they’re boring. Boring is the goal.
Route Running Basics
Out routes and slants: walk it, jog it, run it.
Outside Handoffs (Sweeps)
Get to the edge before turning upfield.
How to combine drills into a practice
Pick one defense drill and one offense drill per station block, run them simultaneously, and rotate groups every 5–7 minutes. Ready-made combinations by season phase are in the station combos guide, and full practices are in the practice plans.
Quick answers
How many drills should one practice include?
Four to six, run as two blocks of stations going at once. That sounds like a lot until you realize it’s the same drills a one-at-a-time practice would run, minus the standing in line.
How long should each drill run?
5–10 minutes per group at K–1st, up to 15–20 minutes by 3rd–4th grade. Change before boredom arrives, not after.
Do I need special equipment?
Cones, three footballs, and the league flag belts cover every drill on this site. Stations run at the same time, so one ball per station.
Want this as a printable?
Get the GoCoach season kit: printable practice plans, checklists, play cards, and the parent email templates. Free for parent coaches.