Flag Football

Introduction & Assessment

Flag football is football without the collision — but it takes just as much skill. Start by watching a flag football game live or on YouTube. **Liberty Park** in Salt Lake City hosts recreational flag football leagues throughout the year — check Salt Lake City Recreation at **slc.gov/recreation** for current schedules and show up as a spectator first. Notice how routes are run, how the center snap works, and how defenders position themselves. Download the free **USA Football Coaching Hub** app and browse the flag football fundamentals section. You're ready for the next step when you can identify the offense, defense, center, and flag-puller in a live or video game.

Foundation Building

Before you run a single route, build the two skills everything else depends on: **throwing** and **catching**. Find a partner and a football. Practice the grip: fingers across the laces, thumb underneath, spiral release. Start at 10 yards — throw 20 times focusing on release point, not power. For catching, extend your hands toward the ball (thumbs together for high throws, pinkies together for low) and catch away from your body. USA Football's free "Throw Like a Pro" instructional videos on YouTube break down mechanics in under 3 minutes each. You're ready for the next step when you can complete 15 of 20 throws with a tight spiral and your partner can catch 15 of 20 at 10 yards.

Skill Development

Now you'll add routes and defense. Learn the four essential routes: **slant** (3 steps forward, cut 45° inside), **out** (5 steps forward, cut 90° outside), **post** (5 steps forward, cut 45° toward the goalpost), and **go** (run straight, full speed). Practice each with your throwing partner — receiver runs the route, QB throws to the break point, not where the receiver starts. On defense, practice mirroring: stand 2 yards off the receiver and move your feet to stay in front without crossing them. USA Football's free flag football drills PDF is available at **usafootball.com**. You're ready for the next step when you can run all four routes and the QB can hit the break point on at least 3 of 4 attempts.

Practice & Refinement

Time to put it all together in a small-sided game. Organize a 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 game at Liberty Park or any open field — mark end zones with cones 30 yards apart. Run real plays: huddle, call a route combination, snap and execute. On defense, practice reading the QB's eyes to anticipate throws rather than just following the receiver. After each score, rotate positions so everyone throws, catches, and defends. Review USA Football's flag football rule summary (free at **usafootball.com/flag**) so everyone plays by the same rules. You're ready for the next step when your team successfully executes a called play — the right receiver runs the right route and catches the ball — three times in a row.

Challenge Mode

Challenge mode: join or organize a full 5-on-5 game with people you don't normally play with. Before the game, prepare two plays for each situation — one for short yardage, one for a longer gain. During the game, call your plays in the huddle and track whether they worked. On defense, try a zone — assign each defender a section of the field rather than following one receiver. After the game, write down the two plays that worked best and explain why. Salt Lake City Recreation sometimes posts open-play flag football sessions at Liberty Park — check **slc.gov/recreation** for pickup dates. You're ready for the next step when you can run two designed plays successfully in a real game and explain the defensive difference between man and zone coverage.

Mastery Demonstration

Mastery in flag football means coaching, not just playing. Organize a beginner session for 6–10 people who have never played — explain the rules, teach the basic routes, run a few drills, then play a short game. Design one simple offensive play and one defensive alignment to teach the group. Post a recap or photo in the SLCTrips community. Consider registering for a Liberty Park flag football league through SLC Recreation to keep playing competitively. You're ready for the next step when your group of beginners successfully runs your designed play in a live game and every player understands their role.