Cone Box 1-on-1 Flag Pull (youth flag football drill)
One ball carrier and one flag puller inside a small box of cones. The carrier tries to reach the far end, and the puller has to stop, stay in front and pull a flag without any extra room to chase. It is the best drill for teaching kids to break down before they reach.
Setup
Make a box with four cones, 10 yards wide and 12 yards long. The ball carrier (A) starts in the middle of one end with a football. The flag puller (D) starts 10 yards away, near the other end. The rest of the team waits in two lines outside the box.
How to run it
- On the whistle, the ball carrier runs to score across the far end of the box. They can cut or change speed but must stay inside the cones.
- The flag puller comes forward 2 or 3 yards, then breaks down: feet wide, knees bent, hands low.
- The flag puller slides side to side with the runner, stays in front, and pulls a flag when the runner commits to one side.
- A pulled flag or a runner stepping out of the box is a stop. Switch jobs and send the next pair.
Coaching points
- Stay square to the runner. Turning sideways lets them run right around you.
- Do not lunge from far away. Close the space first, then reach.
- Keep the hands low near the belt, not up by the face.
- Ball carriers: one move, then go. Three jukes in a row just gives the puller time to catch up.
Watch the feet before counting pulled flags
A defender who reaches a flag while running out of control has not learned the main skill. Look for shorter steps, a balanced stop and a reach at belt height. Begin with a jogging runner if the defender repeatedly lunges. Keep waiting players outside the box and send a new pair only when the previous pair clears it.
Move the skill into a sideline situation
After players can stay square in the box, use Sideline Flag Pull to introduce an approach angle. Change one difficulty at a time: runner speed, box width or starting distance. That lets you see which change caused a missed pull instead of making the drill harder in several ways at once.
Common mistakes
- The puller sprints at full speed and runs right past the ball carrier.
- The ball carrier spins in circles and gets turned around. One cut, then straight for the end.
- Kids waiting in line drift into the box. Keep the lines a big step outside the cones.
Make it easier
- Make the box narrower (6 yards) so the puller has less space to cover.
- Have the ball carrier walk fast instead of run for 5 and 6 year olds.
Make it harder
- Make the box wider (15 yards).
- Add a second puller who starts behind the ball carrier and chases, so the first puller only has to slow the runner down.
Used in these practice plans
- 6U Flag Football Practice Plan (8 minutes)
What this drill builds
The skill in this drill shows up in these defenses. Run the drill first, then install them the same week.
- Cover 2 Zone (7v7 defense)
- Man-to-Man with One Rusher (5v5 defense)
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