Flag and Tackle Football Drills and Practice Plans
Youth football drills, 5-period practice plans and a 12-week season programme for every age group, from non-contact flag football for the youngest players to tackle football for seniors.
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Station-based practices, planned for you
The youngest age groups learn the game through flag pulling, snapping and catching. Tackling arrives later through shoulder-leverage progressions, with safety notes on every drill.
What each age group works on
| Age group | Focus | Season programme | Practice plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1–2 | Flag pulling games, belt etiquette, running with the ball | 12 weeks | 4 |
| Year 3–4 | Open-field flag pulling, the snap and first routes | 12 weeks | 4 |
| Year 5–6 | Rushing the passer, non-contact shield blocking | 12 weeks | 4 |
| Year 7–8 | Shoulder tackle progressions, angle tackling | 12 weeks | 4 |
| Year 9–10 | Zone read, defensive line stunts | 12 weeks | 4 |
| Senior | RPO mesh, goal-line and short-yardage defence | 12 weeks | 4 |
Drill counts by category: attack 11, flag pulling 9, coverage 9, blocking 8, passing 6, tackling 6, special teams 5, plus fundamentals, defence, tactics, snapping, catching, routes and footwork.
Example football drills
Sharks and Minnows Flag Pull and Flag Belt Snatch Tag for Year 1–2. Center Snap and Release Route for Year 3–4. Rush the Passer and Flag Pull and Shield Blocking Shadow Drill (non-contact) for Year 5–6. Then Shoulder Tackle Progression, Angle Tackling and Near-Hip Wrap, Zone Read Mesh and Goal Line Stand for older players.
Coaching tips include colour-coded wristband playbooks for youth, equal touches in flag, and heat and hydration in gear. Learn the game on the free American football rules and positions pages.
Then track the game down by down
Down-by-down game tracker with drives, field position and the clock, and the final score sent to parents.
Down-by-down game tracker
Record each play with down, distance and field position, follow the drive, keep the clock, and score touchdowns and conversion tries.
Final score to every parent
When you finalise the match, coaches, players and linked parents get a push notification with the result.
Common questions
Are there flag football drills for young kids?
Yes. Year 1–2 to Year 5–6 focus on flag football: flag pulling, snapping, catching and non-contact blocking.
What is a 5-period practice?
A practice split into five timed periods (warm-up, individual, unit, team and cool-down) so every player gets lots of reps without standing in lines. The practice plans follow it.
How is tackling taught?
Through shoulder-leverage tackle progressions from Year 7–8, with safety notes on every contact drill.
Is the Training Hub free?
The Training Hub is included with Squaddie. See pricing for what each plan includes.
Run a sharper football practice this week
Drills, 5-period practice plans and a season programme for your age group.
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