How long should flag football practice be for 9-10 year olds?

Sixty minutes. Ages 9-10 players get the most from short drills, lots of reps and a scrimmage at the end.

What drills are best for 9-10 year olds?

Flag pulling at game speed, routes at the right depth, quarterback footwork and zone drops. Every drill on the drills page lists the ages it suits.

How many plays should 9-10 year olds run?

Three to five, with one zone defense and one man defense.

Can I print this practice plan?

Yes. The plan is a free one-page PDF, letter size, with every block, its minutes and the coaching points.

What should I stat at practice?

Stat the scrimmage in the BreakAway app the way you stat a game. The plan lists what matters most at this age. Statting is free.

Does this plan work for 5v5 and 7v7?

Yes. The drills work for both. The team period and scrimmage use plays from the 5v5 or 7v7 playbook; swap in the matching play from the other one if your league plays the other format.

Flag Football Practice Plan for 9-10 Year Olds

Nine and ten year olds are ready for real football ideas. Teach them to read 1 defender, play a zone and run routes to the right depth. Keep everyone moving and keep rotating spots. Start teaching why a play works, not just where to run.

Download the PDF

The 60 minutes at a glance

0-10 minDynamic warm-up10 min
10-30 minPosition stations20 min
30-40 minTeam period10 min
40-55 minScrimmage15 min
55-60 minCooldown5 min

Dynamic warm-up: 10 minutes

Agility and flag pulling at game speed.

5-10-5 shuttleSprint 5 yards one way, 10 back the other way and 5 to finish. It builds the change of direction every route and every flag pull uses.
Breakdown and pullThe defender sprints at a ball carrier. She chops her feet, gets low and pulls the flag as the carrier cuts. This is the most important defensive drill in flag football.

Stay low through the shuttle turns.
Sprint, then sit, then pull.

Position stations: 20 minutes

3 stations. Swap every 6 or 7 minutes. One for passers and centers, one for receivers, one for defense.

Quarterbacks: feet set the timing.
Receivers: five yards means five yards.
Defenders: low pedal, break on the arm.

Team period: 10 minutes

Offense installs one play while the defense learns its zone drops, then swap.

Zone dropsIn a zone, each defender learns which part of the field is hers. She watches the quarterback from there.

5v5 plays: Stick (#4), Two-deep zone (#13).

Teach the read on stick: watch the underneath defender.
In zone, eyes on the quarterback.

Scrimmage: 15 minutes

Full 5v5 with game rules. Call plays from your sideline the way you will on game day.

5v5 plays: Slant-flat (#1), Stick (#4), Smash (#5), Jet sweep (#9), Two-deep zone (#13).

Play man for one series and zone for the next.
Run the rush exactly as your ruleset does on game day.

Cooldown: 5 minutes

Stretch, then two minutes on what the scrimmage stats showed.

Name one thing the defense did well and one the offense did.
Keep it positive and short.

What to stat at this age

Catches and misses for each quarterback. Then you pick your passer from real numbers.
Flag pulls by defender, and interceptions.
Rushes and rushing yards if your ruleset allows run plays.

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 9 and 10 year olds

Start keeping a simple depth chart, but keep rotating.
Install no more than one new play a week.
Teach the rules: down, distance, no-run zones in your ruleset.

Flag football practice plan for 9-10 year olds