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8",{"type":8,"value":172,"toc":173},[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":174},[],"2027-02-26",[],{},"\u002Fschedule\u002F2027-02-26-week-8",{"description":11},"schedule\u002F2027-02-26-week-8","8","Q_sP7Yr0dSb6edqK5A3YtHQjPodDo_DnolliftFBIj4",{"id":184,"title":185,"body":186,"category":379,"description":191,"extension":15,"image":69,"imageAlt":69,"meta":380,"navigation":71,"path":381,"publishedAt":382,"seo":383,"slug":384,"stem":385,"summary":386,"__hash__":387},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fyour-first-practice-plan.md","Your first practice plan",{"type":8,"value":187,"toc":367},[188,192,197,232,236,241,244,248,260,264,267,295,299,302,306,309,313,316,320,346],[189,190,191],"p",{},"New to coaching? You don't need a thick playbook to run a great first practice. Kids want to move, touch the ball and have fun. Here's a simple plan you can adjust to your division's age and attention span.",[193,194,196],"h2",{"id":195},"before-practice","Before practice",[198,199,200,214,220,226],"ul",{},[201,202,203,207,208,213],"li",{},[204,205,206],"strong",{},"Know the rules."," Read the ",[209,210,212],"a",{"href":211},"\u002Frules","rules"," so you can teach the game the way it's played at our field.",[201,215,216,219],{},[204,217,218],{},"Bring gear:"," footballs, flag belts, cones and water.",[201,221,222,225],{},[204,223,224],{},"Learn names first."," Kids play harder for a coach who knows their name.",[201,227,228,231],{},[204,229,230],{},"Recruit a helper."," A second adult makes stations possible.",[193,233,235],{"id":234},"the-plan","The plan",[237,238,240],"h3",{"id":239},"_1-dynamic-warm-up","1. Dynamic warm-up",[189,242,243],{},"Jogging, high knees, butt kicks, side shuffles and backpedals across the field. Finish with a few short sprints. Keep everyone moving; no standing in long lines.",[237,245,247],{"id":246},"_2-flag-pulling","2. Flag pulling",[189,249,250,251,254,255,259],{},"Pair players up. One jogs and cuts while the other closes in, breaks down, and pulls a flag with both eyes on the hips. Swap roles often. Talk about the rules: ",[204,252,253],{},"no grabbing jerseys, no holding, no diving into the ball carrier, and no pulling flags off players without the ball",". See ",[209,256,258],{"href":257},"\u002Fnews\u002Fteaching-flag-pulling-and-avoiding-flag-guarding","Teaching flag pulling and avoiding flag guarding"," for more.",[237,261,263],{"id":262},"_3-skill-stations","3. Skill stations",[189,265,266],{},"Split into small groups and rotate:",[198,268,269,275,281],{},[201,270,271,274],{},[204,272,273],{},"Throwing:"," grip, step toward the target, and follow through. Short distances first.",[201,276,277,280],{},[204,278,279],{},"Catching:"," hands up, thumbs together for balls above the chest, pinkies together below. Look the ball in.",[201,282,283,286,287,290,291,294],{},[204,284,285],{},"Snapping and handoffs:"," center-to-QB snaps between the legs, then clean handoffs behind the line. Remind players there are ",[204,288,289],{},"no pitches or laterals"," in our league, and ",[204,292,293],{},"no handing off to the center"," on the first handoff.",[237,296,298],{"id":297},"_4-routes-and-a-few-simple-plays","4. Routes and a few simple plays",[189,300,301],{},"Teach two or three basic routes (a quick out, a slant and a go route) and put them into a couple of plays your team can run all season. Simple and repeated beats complicated and confused.",[237,303,305],{"id":304},"_5-scrimmage","5. Scrimmage",[189,307,308],{},"Finish with 6 on 6 or small-sided games. Rotate positions so every player gets a turn at quarterback, receiver, rusher and defensive back. Call out rules as they come up: the 7-yard rush line, the 7-second pass clock and the no-run zones.",[237,310,312],{"id":311},"_6-huddle-up","6. Huddle up",[189,314,315],{},"End on a positive note. Recognize effort and good sportsmanship, and give a clear reminder of the next practice and game.",[193,317,319],{"id":318},"tips-that-make-a-big-difference","Tips that make a big difference",[198,321,322,328,334,340],{},[201,323,324,327],{},[204,325,326],{},"Short and active beats long and perfect."," Avoid long lines and long talks, especially with younger kids.",[201,329,330,333],{},[204,331,332],{},"Everyone plays, everyone sits."," Start building that rotation in practice.",[201,335,336,339],{},[204,337,338],{},"Praise effort out loud,"," and correct quietly and specifically.",[201,341,342,345],{},[204,343,344],{},"Keep parents in the loop"," with a quick message after each practice.",[189,347,348,349,355,356,361,362,366],{},"For more ideas, NFL FLAG has free ",[209,350,354],{"href":351,"rel":352},"https:\u002F\u002Fnflflag.com\u002Ffootball-drills",[353],"nofollow","drills"," and ",[209,357,360],{"href":358,"rel":359},"https:\u002F\u002Fnflflag.com\u002Fflag-football-plays",[353],"plays",". Adapt them for 6 on 6 and our no-pitch rule. And read our ",[209,363,365],{"href":364},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcoaching-guidelines-for-the-new-season","coaching guidelines"," before the first game.",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":368},[369,370,378],{"id":195,"depth":12,"text":196},{"id":234,"depth":12,"text":235,"children":371},[372,373,374,375,376,377],{"id":239,"depth":31,"text":240},{"id":246,"depth":31,"text":247},{"id":262,"depth":31,"text":263},{"id":297,"depth":31,"text":298},{"id":304,"depth":31,"text":305},{"id":311,"depth":31,"text":312},{"id":318,"depth":12,"text":319},"Coaches",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fyour-first-practice-plan","2026-09-24",{"title":185,"description":191},"your-first-practice-plan","news\u002Fyour-first-practice-plan","A simple, ready-to-run practice for first-time coaches: warm-up, skill stations and a scrimmage, built around our home field rules.","kGbAH_ldWXHbcCAJwL1aNa4-QPs1eU3SZidP8Z1HwSc",{"id":389,"title":258,"body":390,"category":379,"description":546,"extension":15,"image":547,"imageAlt":548,"meta":549,"navigation":71,"path":257,"publishedAt":550,"seo":551,"slug":552,"stem":553,"summary":554,"__hash__":555},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fteaching-flag-pulling-and-avoiding-flag-guarding.md",{"type":8,"value":391,"toc":540},[392,399,403,408,422,428,445,448,452,479,485,489,521,525,528],[189,393,394,395,398],{},"Flag pulling is to flag football what tackling is to tackle football. Flag guarding costs ",[204,396,397],{},"10 yards and loss of down",", and it's one of the most common penalties young players get called for. Teach both early and your team will be ahead all season.",[193,400,402],{"id":401},"what-the-rules-say","What the rules say",[189,404,405],{},[204,406,407],{},"A legal flag pull:",[198,409,410,413,416,419],{},[201,411,412],{},"Only happens when the ball carrier has full possession of the ball.",[201,414,415],{},"Never involves diving, tackling, holding or running through the ball carrier.",[201,417,418],{},"Can never involve trying to strip the ball. Stripping is a 10-yard penalty and an automatic first down.",[201,420,421],{},"Never targets a player without the ball. Pulling a receiver's flag before the catch is an illegal flag pull (5 yards and an automatic first down), and repeated off-ball pulls will be penalized.",[189,423,424,427],{},[204,425,426],{},"Flag guarding"," is any attempt by the ball carrier to keep a defender from the flags:",[198,429,430,433,436,439,442],{},[201,431,432],{},"stiff-arming",[201,434,435],{},"dropping a head, hand, arm or shoulder over the flags",[201,437,438],{},"covering the flags with the jersey (jerseys must be tucked in every play)",[201,440,441],{},"diving, leaping or jumping to avoid a flag pull",[201,443,444],{},"spinning out of control",[189,446,447],{},"Spins and jump cuts are legal, as long as the player stays on their feet and in control.",[193,449,451],{"id":450},"coaching-flag-pulling","Coaching flag pulling",[453,454,455,461,467,473],"ol",{},[201,456,457,460],{},[204,458,459],{},"Eyes on the hips."," The hips go where the ball carrier goes. Watching the ball, the head or the feet leads to missed pulls.",[201,462,463,466],{},[204,464,465],{},"Break down."," Shorten your steps and lower your hips as you get close, so you can react to a cut.",[201,468,469,472],{},[204,470,471],{},"Angle, don't chase."," Take a path that cuts off the ball carrier instead of running behind them.",[201,474,475,478],{},[204,476,477],{},"Two hands, then show it."," Reach for the flag with both hands. Once it's pulled, hold it up high so the official sees it.",[189,480,481,484],{},[204,482,483],{},"Drill:"," pair players in a 5-yard-wide lane. The ball carrier tries to get past while the defender breaks down and pulls. Swap every rep. Make it a game by counting clean pulls.",[193,486,488],{"id":487},"coaching-ball-carriers-to-avoid-flag-guarding","Coaching ball carriers to avoid flag guarding",[198,490,491,497,503,509,515],{},[201,492,493,496],{},[204,494,495],{},"Carry the ball away from the flags,"," high and tight, never down by the hips.",[201,498,499,502],{},[204,500,501],{},"Hands away from the belt."," Swing your arms naturally and never reach back over the flags.",[201,504,505,508],{},[204,506,507],{},"Win with your feet."," Teach jump cuts, change of pace and spin moves done in control.",[201,510,511,514],{},[204,512,513],{},"Stay on your feet."," No diving for extra yards and no hurdling defenders. Leaving your feet is only allowed to avoid a collision.",[201,516,517,520],{},[204,518,519],{},"Tuck in before every snap."," Make \"jerseys tucked, flags on the hips\" part of the huddle routine.",[193,522,524],{"id":523},"sideline-habits","Sideline habits",[189,526,527],{},"Players who aren't in the game shouldn't be pulling flags on the sideline, especially with younger kids. Save it for practice drills.",[189,529,530,531,534,535,539],{},"Find the full rules on our ",[209,532,533],{"href":211},"rules page",", and more defensive drills from NFL FLAG on their ",[209,536,538],{"href":351,"rel":537},[353],"drills page",".",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":541},[542,543,544,545],{"id":401,"depth":12,"text":402},{"id":450,"depth":12,"text":451},{"id":487,"depth":12,"text":488},{"id":523,"depth":12,"text":524},"Flag pulling is to flag football what tackling is to tackle football. Flag guarding costs 10 yards and loss of down, and it's one of the most common penalties young players get called for. Teach both early and your team will be ahead all season.","\u002Fuploads\u002Frunner-chase.jpg","A ball carrier in a green jersey runs with the ball while a defender in purple chases his yellow flags",{},"2026-09-23",{"title":258,"description":546},"teaching-flag-pulling-and-avoiding-flag-guarding","news\u002Fteaching-flag-pulling-and-avoiding-flag-guarding","Flag pulling is the most important defensive skill, and flag guarding is one of the most common penalties. Here's how to coach both.","z7-5WgeZ4tvVVUiXObvzi2tD_3YQDQBw5VUh3f-dx0c",{"id":557,"title":558,"body":559,"category":670,"description":563,"extension":15,"image":69,"imageAlt":69,"meta":671,"navigation":71,"path":672,"publishedAt":673,"seo":674,"slug":675,"stem":676,"summary":677,"__hash__":678},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-flag-football.md","Why flag football?",{"type":8,"value":560,"toc":662},[561,564,568,575,579,586,590,593,619,623,626,630,638,642,645],[189,562,563],{},"Flag football is one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country, and it will be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Here's why so many families in Englewood are choosing it.",[193,565,567],{"id":566},"its-non-contact","It's non-contact",[189,569,570,571,574],{},"There's no tackling or blocking, and defenders can't dive into the ball carrier. Instead of bringing the ball carrier to the ground, defenders ",[204,572,573],{},"pull a flag"," from their belt. There are fewer players on the field than in tackle football, and our rules strictly penalize rough play. It's football without the collisions.",[193,576,578],{"id":577},"everyone-touches-the-ball","Everyone touches the ball",[189,580,581,582,585],{},"With six players a side and no linemen, every player on offense is an eligible receiver, and any player can take a handoff. Our coaches follow a simple rule: ",[204,583,584],{},"everyone plays and everyone sits",". Your child won't spend the season on the bench.",[193,587,589],{"id":588},"it-builds-real-athletic-skills","It builds real athletic skills",[189,591,592],{},"Flag football develops:",[198,594,595,601,607,613],{},[201,596,597,600],{},[204,598,599],{},"Speed and agility:"," cutting, spinning and changing direction to avoid flag pulls.",[201,602,603,606],{},[204,604,605],{},"Hand-eye coordination:"," throwing, catching and pulling flags.",[201,608,609,612],{},[204,610,611],{},"Football IQ:"," reading defenses, running routes and knowing the rules.",[201,614,615,618],{},[204,616,617],{},"Fitness:"," games are fast and players are always moving.",[193,620,622],{"id":621},"it-teaches-more-than-football","It teaches more than football",[189,624,625],{},"Our coaches focus on teamwork, sportsmanship and confidence. Players learn to respect opponents, teammates and referees, to win and lose with grace, and to support each other. Those lessons last long after the season ends.",[193,627,629],{"id":628},"its-for-everyone","It's for everyone",[189,631,632,633,637],{},"Boys and girls ages 5 to 17 play in our five divisions, grouped by age. No experience is needed. Teams are formed at ",[209,634,636],{"href":635},"\u002Fnews\u002Fdraft-day-is-saturday-december-12","Draft Day",", so every team gets a fair mix of new and returning players.",[193,639,641],{"id":640},"it-fits-a-busy-family-schedule","It fits a busy family schedule",[189,643,644],{},"Games are played on Friday nights and run about 50 minutes, including timeouts and halftime. The league provides jerseys, shorts and flag belts, so you need little more than shoes, water and a mouthpiece.",[189,646,647,648,651,652,656,657,661],{},"Ready to play? Use the ",[204,649,650],{},"Sign up"," button on our ",[209,653,655],{"href":654},"\u002F","home page",", or check the ",[209,658,660],{"href":659},"\u002Ffaq","FAQ"," for more details.",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":663},[664,665,666,667,668,669],{"id":566,"depth":12,"text":567},{"id":577,"depth":12,"text":578},{"id":588,"depth":12,"text":589},{"id":621,"depth":12,"text":622},{"id":628,"depth":12,"text":629},{"id":640,"depth":12,"text":641},"Guides",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-flag-football","2026-09-25",{"title":558,"description":563},"why-flag-football","news\u002Fwhy-flag-football","Non-contact, fast-paced and open to everyone: why flag football is a great sport for kids ages 5 to 17.","beh-SMlqfZqsXu9hBmB-uBjBheysTWg9N3FbF5CQoDs",1791132560670]