Your first practice is Saturday. Here’s everything you need.
You need four things before your first flag football practice: a few pieces of gear (about $50), one email to parents sent tonight, one simple 60-minute practice plan, and one play. That’s it. All four are on this page. You can be ready in one evening.
What you’re feeling right now is normal
Every parent coach has the same moment: you said yes at the sign-up table, and now it’s real and you haven’t played football since middle school. Take a breath. The kids are 4 to 10 years old. They don’t need an expert. They need an adult with a plan. By the end of this page, you’ll be that adult.
What to buy (tonight, one cart, about $50)
- A whistle. Non-negotiable. It’s how you get 12 kids to stop moving.
- 10–12 cones. Flat disc cones are fine. You’ll use them every practice.
- 2 youth footballs sized for your age group (ask your league, or buy "pee-wee" size for K–2).
- A small first aid kit with ice packs. Most leagues require one on the sideline.
- A clipboard for your roster and plan. Looking organized is half of being organized.
Your league usually provides flags and jerseys. Confirm at gear pickup, details in the pre-season guide.
What to email parents tonight
Copy this, fill in the brackets, send it to the team list. Do not overthink it.
More templates, weekly updates, playing-time conversations, end-of-season thank-yous, live in the parent management guide.
Your first 60 minutes, minute by minute
| Time | Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00–0:05 | Arrival & warm-up run | Burn energy so they can listen |
| 0:05–0:10 | Huddle: names & 3 rules | Whistle means stop. We hustle. We’re good teammates. |
| 0:10–0:25 | Flag Pull Relay | The core skill of the sport, plus you see who’s aggressive |
| 0:25–0:30 | Water break | Non-negotiable, every practice |
| 0:30–0:45 | Catch and Run | Who has hands, who’s fast, who needs soft throws |
| 0:45–0:55 | Scrimmage (you play QB) | Controlled chaos; you observe everyone |
| 0:55–1:00 | Closing huddle & high fives | End on a win. Tell them one thing they did well. |
Age-specific versions of this plan, with what to actually say to the kids: K–1st, 2nd grade, 3rd–4th grade.
The one play to install
Run Right (and its mirror, Run Left). QB takes the snap and hands the ball to a runner moving right. One decision, one handoff, one direction. Walk through it five times slowly, then run it live. A team that runs one play well beats a team that runs five plays badly. Full details in your first play.
What “good” looks like on Saturday
Good is not touchdowns. Good is: every kid knows your name, nobody cried for long, they ran one play that mostly worked, and at pickup a kid tells their parent practice was fun. That’s a coaching win in week one. The rest of the season builds from the season checklist.
Quick answers
Can I really coach flag football with no experience?
Yes. At ages 4–10, coaching is 80% organization and energy, 20% football. If you can run a kid’s birthday party, you can run a flag football practice. The plans on this site tell you exactly what to do, minute by minute.
How long should the first practice be?
One hour. Attention spans at this age cannot handle more, and most leagues schedule 60 minutes. Keep drills to 10–15 minutes each and never let kids stand in line for long.
What if I don’t know the rules of my league?
Read your league’s rule sheet before Saturday and check the rules section on this site for the common variations, 5v5 vs 7v7, rushing rules, field size. Knowing two or three local rules cold makes you look far more prepared than you feel.
Want all of this as one printable packet?
Get the GoCoach season kit: printable practice plans, checklists, play cards, and the parent email templates. Free for parent coaches.