Football is one of the most popular games for sports lovers. However, this sport comes in different variations. Tackle football is slightly risky for kids because there is a chance of getting injured. So, the safer alternative for sports enthusiasts is flag football. Like other sports, flag football players need practice to improve their performance. But, how will you create a plan for regular practice of this sport? Find a brief guide to making your practice plan to play the flag football game.
Consider a warm-up session:
It is a highly important step for preventing physical injuries while playing flag football. Players need to jump, twist, cut, and choose a different direction quickly. Younger kids who want to practice the sport should engage in both warm-up and stretching sessions. If you are an intermediate-level flag football player, you can start with activities like passing and catching.
Develop skills – catching and throwing:
While making your practice plan, you should consider flag football drills (Flag Football with Coach D is a brilliant resource!). Drills are the basic skills for refining defensive and offensive strategies. They teach you fundamental skills, such as footwork, passing, and receiving. Flag football drills are of different types.
During your practice sessions, you should understand the rules for throwing the ball. Regular practice will allow you to throw the ball consistently and accurately. Hand grips, power level, and ball release points are significant while throwing your ball.
Catching a ball involves proper hand positioning and body alignment. It helps you tuck the flag football by protecting it from defenders. So, you should use your elbow and forearm to press your ball firmly.
Another drill for flag football players is snapping. But, if you have planned to participate in the NFL FLAG league, you should check the latest rules. Your head should be behind your ball during the football center drills. If you are in a single-hand staggered stance, your feet should be placed slightly wider.
Consider scrimmages:
Set up a scrimmage when flag football players compete with each other. Sometimes, you may not have enough players to manage a full game. While running scrimmage with only a couple of players, it allows everyone to have an impact. Players in the practice sessions will also remain engaged.
Traditional coaches allow players to scrimmage even after the set duration of the practice. However, today, they try to implement a new training style where players scrimmage during the initial period. At this time, players are highly focused and feel more energetic. They will also be able to identify the most effective practice methods.
Other tips for your practice plan:
- Time management is highly important for keeping your activities and drills concise.
- The duration of every segment needs to be adjusted depending on your skill level and age.
- Combine drills of different types to make your practice sessions interesting.
- Competitive drills will give you motivation.
- Make your practice plan flexible and adaptable to your team’s needs.
- Identify the areas that need improvement.
These are some tips for creating a proper plan for practicing flag football.