In flag football the stiff arm is legal as long as it’s open palm and not in the face. Used right, it keeps the defender’s hand off the flag. Most kids forget they have a free arm. Teach them to use it.
What you need: A foam football, flag belts, two players.
Setup: Runner with ball, defender 5 yards away. Open grass.
How to run it:
- Runner sprints forward.
- As defender approaches, runner extends the OFF arm (the one without the ball) with open palm.
- Stiff arm pushes the defender’s shoulder or arm to keep distance. Not the face. Not the chest.
- Runner keeps moving past the defender, ball still tucked tight.
- Do 6 reps. Switch sides.
What to watch: Open palm, not a fist. Closed fists are illegal contact and unsportsmanlike. Open hand only.
If they’re struggling: Walk through the move at half speed. Practice the arm motion without the run.
If they’ve got it: Add a juke. Stiff arm to one side, then juke the other way.