Flag Football Practice Plan for Kids Who've Never Played

Flag football is booming. NFL Flag leagues are everywhere. And you just got volunteered to coach a team of kids who've never played. No pads, no tackling. Just flags, a ball, and a whole lot of energy.

Here's your complete 60-minute beginner practice plan, step by step.

The 60-Minute Beginner Practice

8 min Warm-Up

• Jog and stretch
• "Flag tag." Everyone wears flags, and they try to pull others' flags while protecting their own. This gets them used to the flag belt immediately, and they'll be laughing within 30 seconds.

12 min Catching and Throwing

• Partner catch at short distance. Start close, move back gradually.
• "Route running 101": Jog 10 yards, turn around, catch. That's an out route. Congratulations, they've run their first route.

10 min Flag Pulling

• 1-on-1 flag pulling drill: the ball carrier tries to get past the defender.
• Teach the basics: eyes on the hips (not the ball), reach and pull.

15 min Simple Plays

Teach 2 to 3 plays. Literally draw them on a whiteboard or in the dirt.

• Play 1: Handoff up the middle
• Play 2: Short pass to the right
• Play 3: QB run

Run each one 5 times. That's it. They don't need a playbook. They need repetitions.

12 min Scrimmage

• Use the 3 plays you just taught
• Let the defense just play. No schemes yet.
• Celebrate completions and flag pulls equally. Both sides should hear "Nice job!"

3 min Huddle

• "What play was your favorite?"
• Assign homework: play catch with someone this week.
• High fives all around.