Seven and eight year olds can learn positions and simple routes. Keep explanations under a minute, rotate everyone through quarterback and center, and add one new thing per practice. Flag pulling is still the skill that decides most games.
Download the PDFThe 60 minutes at a glance
- 0-10 minWarm-up10 min
- 10-30 minSkill stations20 min
- 30-40 minTeam period10 min
- 40-55 minScrimmage15 min
- 55-60 minCooldown5 min
Warm-up: 10 minutes
A relay and a mirror drill, so the warm-up is already flag pulling practice.
- Flag relayA relay race where the baton is a flag. Conditioning that young players ask to do again.
- Mirror drillA ball carrier tries to get past a defender in a narrow lane. The defender copies every move and pulls the flag.
- Mirror: shuffle, do not cross your feet.
- Keep the relay races short so nobody stands around.
Skill stations: 20 minutes
Two stations, 10 minutes each. Station one is routes, station two is the snap and the throw.
- Route tree walk-throughEvery receiver learns the four routes most flag playbooks are built from: hitch, slant, out and go.
- One-knee throwsPartners throw to each other from 1 knee. With legs out of it, players can feel the grip, the elbow and the finish.
- Shotgun snap targetCenters snap to a quarterback in shotgun who holds her hands as a target at chest height. Count how many land in the target.
- Routes: walk, jog, then run.
- Everyone throws and everyone snaps. You do not know your quarterback yet.
Team period: 10 minutes
Install one play and review one. Offense against air, then against a walking defense.
5v5 plays: Slant-flat (#1), Jet sweep (#9).
- Show the play on a whiteboard or the diagram, then run it.
- Check your ruleset before running the jet sweep in a no-run zone.
Scrimmage: 15 minutes
Controlled scrimmage, offense against defense, rotating positions every series.
5v5 plays: Slant-flat (#1), Curl-flat (#7), Man with one rusher (#12).
- Coach the defense on breaking down before the pull.
- Count reps so every player gets the same number of snaps.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Stretch, water, and one sentence on what to work on at home.
- Praise effort by name.
- Remind families about the next game.
What to stat at this age
- Flag pulls for every defender. Over a few weeks it shows who is learning to break down.
- Completions and incompletions, so you see which kids can catch in traffic.
- Touchdowns and who scored them. Spread them around.
Stat the scrimmage in the BreakAway app the same way you stat a game. The how to stat guide covers every button, and the rules page covers rush distance and no-run zones.
Tips for 7 and 8 year olds
- Use the same five-block shape every week so practice runs itself.
- Wristbands are too much at this age. Call plays by name.
- If a drill is not working after three minutes, move on.
