NFL FLAG - USA Football
FUNdamentals Clinics
NFL FLAG - USA Football
FUNdamentals Clinics
NFL PLAY 60 Youth Football Festival clinics will introduce boys and girls to four USA Football
FUNdamentals flag football skills, all while including the element of continuous play. The field will
be split into 4 mini fields with 4 continuous 5-on-5 flag football games (2 2-minute halves). The
four skills that will be taught and implemented in the scrimmages are passing, catching, agility
and flag pulling.
Participants: 60-70 girls and boys
Clinic Timeline:
• Kids arrive in the center of the field for emcee introductions
• Groups of 15-20 participants will report to fields 1-4
• Coaches will teach 3 minutes of a particular skill to all participants
• Coaches quickly split the group into 3 teams of 5 participants
• 2 teams stay on the field, 1 proceeds to the sideline
• 3 two minute halves of flag football scrimmages begin; each team participates in
2 minutes of offense, 2 minutes of defense, and 2 minutes on the sidelines;
coaching emphasis should be placed on the skill the participants just learned during the game
• Each rotation will last approximately 12 minutes
• Participants rotate to next field and continue until all participants have played on all four fields
• Kids convene in the middle of the field for emcee initiated Q&A session for NFL players
Field 1
Field 2
(Quarterbacks)
(Running Backs)
Field 4
Field 3
(Flag Pulling)
(Wide Receivers)
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Field 1: Quarterbacks
Skill: Quarterbacks
Drill: Passing Practice
Objective of the drill: To teach kids how to properly grip and throw a football
Equipment: 15-20 footballs
Set up and Execution:
1. Break kids evenly into 2 lines spaced an arm’s length apart;
Each line should be facing a partner in the opposite line
2. Footballs are given to each kid from one chosen line
3. The kids practice throwing a ball back and forth with their partner while the coaches give tips up and down the line to the kids throwing the footballs
Coaching points:
Grip:
1. Index finger near the tip of the ball across the seam
2. Middle and ring fingers across the laces with fingertips on the surface of the ball
3. Pinky finger rests on the laces
4. The non-passing hand should rest lightly on the underside of the football
Throwing:
1. Set – Plant feet under hips
2. Step - Foot opposite the passing hand pointed at target
3. Delivery - Transfer weight using hip rotation, square to the target area
4. Release - snap wrist, arm extended at the target
5. Finish - Arm should ‘rip’ across the body diagonally, palm and thumb
of the throwing hand facing downward
Field Diagram:
3
Field 2: Running Backs
Skill: Running Backs (Agility)
Drill: Halfback Gauntlet
Objective of the drill: To teach proper stance, how to receive a handoff
and running with a football
Equipment: 15 to 20 footballs
4 agility bags
1 hand held blocking shield
Set up and Execution:
1. Single file line 5 yards back of the line of scrimmage in a 2 point stance
2. QB (coach) hands ball off into the running backs “window”
3. Running back receives handoff and runs through the agility bags, spaced with
3-5 yards in between, demonstrating different techniques securing the football
4. DB (coach) holds a hand shield at the end line for running back to practice a spin move
5. Running back then sprints 5 yards to the end of the line
Coaching points:
2 Point Stance:
1. Spread feet evenly under hips
2. Knees bent slightly
3. Balanced on balls of the feet
4. Palms of hands on the knees
5. Back slightly forward with head up
Forming a Pocket:
1. Inside forearm horizontal to the ground across chest, palm facing down
2. Outside forearm across the stomach, palm facing upward
3. Clamp down on ball with both arms, do not use hands
Spin Move:
1. Lean into defender using the spinning foot and shoulder
2. Spin body completely around in the opposite direction
3. Separate from the defender, protect the football, place spinning foot down
and explode upfield
Field Diagram:
4
Field 3: Wide Receivers
Skill: Wide Receivers
Drill: Passing Tree
Objective of the drill: To teach catching a football above and below
the waist, as well as over the shoulder
Equipment: 15 to 20 footballs
Set up and Execution:
1. Evenly split the kids into two lines
2. Coaches throw 3 different passing routes to receivers
a.5 yard hook
b.10 yard post
c. Go route
3. After catching the football, receiver sprints upfield and then back to the end of the line
Coaching points:
Catching a Football – Above the waist:
1. Never take your eyes off the football
2. Spread fingers wide apart with thumbs and index fingers touching to create a triangle
3. Cock wrists keeping palms facing football
4. Catch the football with fingertips, watching the nose of the football into the triangle
5. Tuck the football in the outside arm
Catching a Football – Below the waist:
1. Never take your eyes off the football
2. Spread fingers wide apart with pinky fingers touching to create a basket
3. Palms facing upward
4. Catch the ball, watching it into the basket
5. Tuck the football in the outside arm
Catching a Football – Over the shoulder:
1. Never take your eyes off the football
2. Spread fingers wide apart with pinky fingers touching to create a basket
3. Arms extended out and up with palms facing upward
4. Catch the ball, watching it into the basket
5. Tuck the football in the outside arm
Field Diagram:
5 yard hook
Go route
10 yard post
5 yard hook
Go route
10 yard post
5
Field 4: Flag Pulling
Skill: Defensive Backs (Flag pulling)
Drill: Open Field Tackling
Objective of the drill: To teach the proper technique of flag pulling
Equipment: 5 to 10 footballs
4 cones
Set up and Execution:
1. Set up 2 cones 10 yards apart, 5 yards off the line of scrimmage
2. Place 2 cones 8-10 yards apart on the line of scrimmage
3. Form one line behind one cone that will be ball carriers
4. Have one person stand at the opposite cone as the defender
5. The ball carrier runs forward with the ball
6. The defender attacks the ball carrier, grabs the flag
7. Ball carrier becomes defender, defender to the end of the line
8. Time permitting, the same drill can be run with the ball carrier cutting toward
a cone on the line of scrimmage for Angled Open Field Tackling
Coaching points:
1. Keep your eye on the ball carrier’s waist/hip area – not feet/head
2. Square body up to the ball carrier
3. Keep center of gravity low, knees bent, chest upright
4. Break down, lower hips, and keep your eyes on the flag
5. If the flag is missed, be careful not to grab or hold onto the ball carrier’s clothes or limbs
Field Diagram:
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