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Flag football drills: flag pulling, routes, and the 7v7 run game

Flag football drills teach the four skills that decide youth games: pulling flags, running routes on time, catching under pressure, and, in 7v7, handing off and running the jet sweep. Each Flag50 drill guide lists the skill, ages, players, space, equipment, and time, and names the playbook plays the drill supports.

The Flag50 playbook ships 19 seed plays across 10 formations, and every drill guide in this topic names the exact plays it prepares your team to run.

By Jay Fraser. Published . Updated .

Drill guides and collections

  • 10 flag pulling drills that actually work Coming soon

    The collection to start every practice from, ordered so one practice covers all ten.

  • Best flag football drills for kids Coming soon

    Age-sorted drills for 6U through 12U with a coaching point for each.

  • Handoff and jet sweep drills for 7v7 Coming soon

    The exchange, the mesh point, and the sweep timing NFHS teams need.

  • Route running drills for 7v7 receivers Coming soon

    Stems, breaks, and timing against the deeper 7v7 field.

  • Quarterback drills when the QB cannot run (5v5) Coming soon

    Footwork and release for a quarterback who lives behind the 7-yard rusher.

  • Defensive drills: reading the quarterback and pulling in space Coming soon

    Pursuit angles, breakdown, and the open-field pull.

How to use drills in a practice

  1. 1Open every practice with one flag pulling drill. Flag pulling is the skill that loses games when it is missing.
  2. 2Add one route or handoff drill that feeds a play you already run. Pull the play from the playbook browser so the drill matches the diagram. 7v7 playbook browser.
  3. 3Finish with a scrimmage that uses the wristband, so the drill work shows up in a real call. Coaching tools.
  4. 4Count flag pulls in Coach Lite so players see the drill paying off in the box score.

Drill categories and what they feed

SkillWho needs it mostMinutes per practicePlays it supports
Flag pullingEvery player, every age10Every defensive scheme
Route runningReceivers, 8U and up10 to 15Quick game, deep shots, sideline plays
Catching6U and 8U first10Screens and quick throws
Handoffs and sweeps7v7 teams under NFHS rules, 6v6 teams10Jet sweeps and play action
Quarterback footwork5v5 quarterbacks who cannot run10Everything behind a 7-yard rush line

Coach Lite

Keep score and stats for your team with Coach Lite, then send parents one link to follow live.

Get early access. Leave your email and we'll email you the moment your spot opens up.

Frequently asked questions

Q01How long should a flag football drill last?+

Ten minutes for youth players, fifteen at most for high school. Kids stop improving before they stop moving. Run the drill, coach one point, then move to the next block. A 60-minute practice fits four blocks and a scrimmage.

Q02What is the most important drill in flag football?+

Flag pulling. A team that pulls flags in the open field wins games it has no business winning. Run one flag pulling drill at the start of every practice all season, and the defense will look coached even when nothing else does.

Q03Do 7v7 girls teams need different drills than 5v5 teams?+

Yes, because 7v7 under NFHS rules has a run game and 5v5 under NFL FLAG rules does not. A 7v7 team drills the handoff exchange, the jet sweep, and play-action reads. A 5v5 team spends that time on quarterback footwork and quick releases against the rusher.

Q04How many drills should I run in one practice?+

Three or four. One flag pulling drill, one skill drill tied to a play you run, one team period that installs or reviews plays, and a scrimmage. More than that and nothing gets enough reps to stick.

Q05Can I run flag football drills with only one coach?+

Yes. Pick drills that run in lines or pairs so you can watch from one spot, and use a parent as the ball feeder. The drill guides here mark the ones that work with a single coach and a dozen kids.

Sources

Part of the Flag50 coach library. Do it now on the 7v7 tool page, 6v6 tool page, or 5v5 tool page.