The kid running the ball has two jobs: hold the ball and protect the flag. If they drop the ball or get the flag pulled, the play is over. This drill teaches the basic body position.
What you need: Flag belts and flags. A foam football. A 20x20 yard area.
Setup: Runner with the ball at one end. Two defenders 10 yards away. Goal line at the back of the box.
How to run it:
- Runner sprints toward the goal line carrying the ball.
- Two defenders try to pull the flag.
- Runner uses cuts and changes of direction (no stiff arm at this age) to avoid the pulls.
- Reset. Run 5 reps with the runner switching roles.
- Last round: runner has to use both hands on the ball. Tighter ball security.
What to watch: The ball position. The ball should be tucked tight against the chest and rib cage. A loose ball is a dropped ball.
If they’re struggling: Drop to one defender. Or shorten the box.
If they’ve got it: Add a third defender. Or add a cone gauntlet they have to weave through.