First Flag Football Practice of the Season (60 minutes)
A 60-minute plan for the very first practice with a new team, any age. It covers names, how flag belts work, pulling flags, the handoff, catching and two easy plays, and it ends with a short scrimmage so everyone goes home having played football.
Goal for today
Every kid learns every teammate's name, can put on a flag belt, pull a flag, take a handoff and catch a soft pass, and knows two plays by name.
The schedule
- 0:00
HuddleWelcome and flag belts5 min
Circle up. Each player says their name and favorite animal. Show how to put a flag belt on: flags on the hips, belt snug, jersey tucked in so it does not cover the flags.
- 0:05
DrillSharks and Minnows Flag Game7 min
A fun, fast warm-up that also teaches what a flag pull is. Start with one shark.
- 0:12
DrillSideline Flag Pull Drill8 min
Walk the first two reps. Praise good angles, not just pulls.
- 0:20
WaterWater break5 min
Everyone drinks, even the kids who say they are not thirsty. Coaches set up the next station while they drink.
- 0:25
DrillHandoff Exchange Drill8 min
Coaches play QB for the first round so every runner gets a clean handoff.
- 0:33
DrillDiamond Hands Partner Catch8 min
Short, soft throws at 3 yards. Step back only after 5 catches in a row.
- 0:41
Team installTeam install10 min
Walk through each play three times at half speed, then run it at full speed against no defense. Give each play a name the kids shout in the huddle.
- 0:51
ScrimmageMini scrimmage7 min
Half the team on offense, half on defense. Coach calls one of the two plays each snap. Switch sides halfway. No score, just reps.
- 0:58
HuddleCool-down huddle2 min
Take a knee. Ask each kid one thing they learned. Team cheer on three.
- 1:00
Done
Short on time? The 45-minute version
Keep the welcome, the fun game and a real scrimmage. The first practice has one job: kids leave wanting to come back. Here is exactly what to trim and the one block to cut when you only have 45 minutes.
What to say to the kids
- "Welcome to the team! Today we are going to learn names, pull flags and run our first two plays."
- "When I blow the whistle, everybody freezes and looks at me. Let's practice that right now."
- "Mistakes are fine. Trying hard is what I care about."
- At the end: "Who pulled a flag today? Who caught a pass? Everybody did something new. See you next practice!"
What to bring
- Flag belts for every player (plus a few spares)
- 8 to 12 cones
- 3 or 4 footballs in the right size
- A roster with parent phone numbers
- Name tags or tape and a marker
- Water and a small first aid kit
Drills in this practice
Plays to install
Game this week? Open these plays as big sideline cards with a playing time tracker in Game Day.
Planning the whole season? The 8-week season plan tells you which plays, drills and defense to add each week. Want to write your own? Print the blank practice plan template.
For players at home: want more football between practices? Football Bros is a free arcade football game that runs in the browser with no download or login. It's no substitute for reps, but it keeps kids thinking about passing, running and tackling.
More plans: 6U · 8U · 10U · 12U · 14U
Use the first practice to learn the team's starting point
Watch who can put on a belt, receive a handoff, catch a short throw and follow a lining-up instruction. Rotate those jobs so every player gets a chance. These observations help you choose the next lesson; they are not reasons to lock players into permanent positions after one practice.
Leave with one clear next step
Before the final huddle, ask players to line up for one installed play without a long explanation. If the formation is still confusing, repeat that play next time rather than adding more names. Use the first-season checklist to handle equipment and parent communication outside the practice blocks.
Content updated