Martin Bathke

Youth Sports Supervisor

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Flag Football Lesson Plans

6th-8th Grade (Middle School)

• Throw the football accurately while under pressure
• Catch consistently while running routes and adjusting to the ball
• Understand how routes work together
• Make smart decisions as a ball carrier
• Understand defensive leverage, pursuit angles, and help responsibilities
• Understand situational football
• Demonstrate leadership, accountability, teamwork and sportsmanship

Seasonal Goals

• Week 1
• Primary Skill: Offensive Execution
• Secondary Skill: Passing & QB Decisions
• Week 2
• Primary Skill: Route Combinations
• Secondary Skill: Offensive Movement & Spacing
• Week 3
• Primary Skill: Defensive Coverage
• Secondary Skill: Communication & Pursuit
• Week 4
• Primary Skill: Team Offense
• Secondary Skills: Defensive Adjustments
• Week 5
• Primary Skill: Situational Football
• Secondary Skills: Game Strategy & Decision-making
• Week 6
• Primary Skill: Team Concepts
• Secondary Skills: Football IQ & Leadership

• Coaching Tips:
• Challenge players to understand the why on how a play works
• Encourage the QB to read the defense
• Teach the receivers how their routes work
• Reinforce that everyone has a responsibility on every play
• Emphasize defensive communication
• Use small-sided game to increase repetitions
• Rotate players through multiple positions
• Introduce situational football regularly
• Encourage players to take leadership roles
• Ask players to explain their decisions after drills and scrimmages
• Praise communication, effort, preparation, leadership, and teamwork
• Prepare players for more competitive football

Weekly Skill Progression & Coaching Tips

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Jogging, high knees, side shuffles, backpedaling
• Partner passing
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Teach:
• QB grip and throwing mechanics
• Throwing on the move
• Catching away from the body
• Route timing
• Offensive spacing
• Reading the first defensive option
• Making quick decisions
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• QB Progression Drill, Route Timing Drill
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• 2-on-2 Passing Challenge
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• Focus on: Offensive spacing, Route timing, QB decisions, Defensive alignment
• Game Focus
• Make smart passing decisions
• Execute routes correctly
• Avoid forcing passes into coverage
• Communicate throughout the play

Week 1- Offensive Execution & Passing Fundamentals

• Drills
• QB Progression Drill
• Split the team into four lines. One for QB, one for the primary receiver, one for the secondary receiver, and one for the check-down. Coach will give the 4 players that are up some routes and what to do. After the QB clearly looks at all three receivers, coach will yell out 1, 2 or 3. QB will throw to either the primary, secondary or check-down receiver respectively.
• Route Timing Drill
• Have multiple lines of QBs and receivers going where they are running various routes at different depths. Everyone should be working on the timing of the route and the throws.
• 2-on-2 Passing Challenge
• 2 receivers compete against 2 defenders played in the red-zone. The goal for the defense is to make stops with effective communication while offense is trying to create separation and be able to read the coverage

Week 1- Drills Explained

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Partner passing
• Route Running warm-up
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Teach:
• Route depth and timing
• Crossing and vertical routes
• Spacing between receivers
• Creating defensive conflicts
• Moving after the catch
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Route Combination Drill, Flood & Mesh Concept, QB Read Drill
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• 3-on-3 Passing Game
• Focus on: Route combinations, spacing, reading defenders
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• Use multiple route combinations
• Game Focus
• Use route combinations effectively
• Recognize open space
• Make quick QB decisions
• Keep the offense moving

Week 2 - Route Combinations & Offensive Movement

• Drills
• Route Combination Drill
• Create two separate receiver lines either to be on the right or left of the QB. Have the players run these route combinations to work on timing and spacing: slant/flat, curl/out, go/out, crossing routes and any other combinations that you plan on using.
• Flood & Mesh Concept
• This will piggyback on the previous drill focusing more on both the flood concept (3 receivers attacking one side of the field) and the mesh concept (receivers cross at shallow depths)
• QB Read Drill
• Set up two receiver lines. As the coach you will act as the DB and tell your QBs to watch you to simulate defensive movement so that they can know who is open. Give the receivers two different routes and pick which one you will play on. Make sure players are rotating around.
• 3-on-3 Passing Game
• Use everything from the drills above to complete a couple of drives focusing on passing the ball upfield.
• Focus on: Route combinations, spacing, reading defenders

Week 2 - Drills Explained

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic stretching
• Defensive slides
• Sprint recovery & backpedaling
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Teach:
• Defensive leverage
• Reading receiver routes
• Passing off receivers in coverage
• Defensive communication
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Mirror Coverage Drill, Zone Drop Drill, Coverage Communication Drill
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• 1-on-1 Coverage Drill
• Defense earn points: Incomplete passes, interceptions, proper coverage, flag pulls
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• Focus on different coverages
• Game Focus
• Communicate before the snap
• Stay disciplined in coverage
• Prevent big plays
• Rally to the football

Week 3 - Defensive Coverage & Defensive Communication

• Drills
• Mirror Coverage Drill
• Create a single line, the first person will start on defense while the second person will start on offense. The offensive person will go in and out jogging towards the defender. The defender will stay low in a stable position turning their hips in whichever direction the offensive player is going. Have them go about 15-20 yards, then the offensive player will go on defense and the defensive player at the back of the line.
• Zone Drop Drill
• Have a full defense and have them simulate different coverages and knowing their assignments. Have them react to the QB and then have the QB toss the football up in the air so that the defenders can high point the ball.
• Coverage Communication Drill
• Have a full defense with some players on offense simulating motions, crosses, open receivers and offensive formations. Defense needs to call out what they see before the play as well as during.
• 1-on-1 Coverage Drill
• Coach will play as the QB while the players will take turns between offense and defense. Focus on this drill is on the defense.
• Defense earn points: Incomplete passes, interceptions, proper coverage, flag pulls

Week 3 - Drills Explained

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic stretching
• Passing on the move
• Short sprint work
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Teach:
• Offensive motion
• Formation adjustments
• Reading defensive alignment
• Changing routes based on coverage
• Defensive adjustments
• Communicating assignments
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Motion & Formation Drill, Offensive & Defensive Alignment Drill
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• 4-on-4 Situational Passing
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• 7v7 and let the players make their own adjustments for both offense and defense
• Game Focus
• Adjust to defensive coverage
• Communicate changes
• Recognize mismatches
• Stay composed when the defense changes

Week 4 - Team Offense & Defensive Adjustments

• Drills
• Motion & Formation Drill
• Have a full offense and have the players simulate different motions and shifts before the snap.
• Offensive & Defensive Alignment Drill
• Have a full offense and defense and have both sides start adjusting to each other. Do not go full speed let them jog just so that they can see what is happening around them.
• 4-on-4 Situational Passing
• Offense has two tries to get 20 yards otherwise it is a turnover on downs. Players need to understand and focus on the defensive coverages and vice versa for the offense. You can also do it going into the end zone.

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Week 4 - Drills Explained

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic stretching
• Reaction drills
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Teach:
• Red-zone offense/goal-line defense
• 4th Down decision making
• Protecting a lead/Playing from behind
• Using the sideline
• Understanding remaining time
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Red-Zone & Goal-Line Drill, 2-Minute Drill
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• Situational 7v7
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• Game Focus
• Understand the score and situation
• Manage possessions intelligently
• Make quick decisions
• Execute under pressure

Week 5 - Situational Football & Game Strategy

• Drills
• Red-Zone & Goal-Line Drill
• Run both offense and defense focusing on spacing, quick decisions, short route, finding open areas and protecting the end zone in a compressed area.
• 2-Minute Drill
• Have the offense start at their 20-yard line. They have 2 minutes to get down the field and score. They need to cognizant on the time and the down. You can either run it as offense only and the ball is declared dead where the receiver catches it or with a defense.

Week 5 - Drills Explained

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic stretching
• Players pick their favorite warm-ups
• Skill Review (15 minutes)
• Stations:
• QB Passing
• Receiving and Route Running
• Ball Carrying
• Flag Pulling
• Man and Zone Coverage
• Team Concepts (20 minutes)
• Offensive formations, route combinations, motion, passing progressions, man & zone coverage, defensive communication, situational football
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• 7-on-7 Situational Football
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• Uninterrupted 7v7 game
• Game Focus
• Communication among the team
• Execute assignments
• Make smart decisions
• Play hard every possession
• Finish the season with confidence

Week 6 - Team Concepts & Season Review