When it comes to winning a game of flag football, defense is just as important as offense. Being knowledgeable about defense will help a player stop the ball-carrier in their tracks. One way to help your team to practice defense is to run drills.

In this blog, I will share some of the best drills to help your players learn to play defensively. Remember, create multiple stations of the same drill so you don’t have players standing around. Then provide rapid reps to build up confidence and skills.

Tunnel Drill

This flag pulling drill requires no equipment. To set up, you’ll need to line up three players in a vertical line and then a second set of 3 players in another vertical line 5 feet away. All players need to face the same direction. This will form a ‘tunnel’ where players have one hand on the inside of the tunnel.

All six of these players will be on the defensive and will remain stationary throughout the drill. A single offensive player should stand facing the tunnel, far enough away to get a running start.

The drill is simple to play. The single offensive player should run through the tunnel as fast as they can without having their flags removed. The defensive players in the tunnel must remain stationary and can only use their ‘inside’ hands to try and remove the offensive player’s flags.

This drill encourages the defensive players to keep their eyes on the flag rather than the offensive player. It also helps them practice grabbing the flag at the base firmly and swiping downwards to stop the offensive player.

Zigzag Drill

To set up this drill, start by putting several defensive players in two staggered lines about five yards apart. They should be told not to move and should look forward with their hands on their hips. The offensive player should face the defensive players and start far enough away to get a running start.

The drill asks the offensive player to dash towards the first player in the line. They will then need to breakdown, square up and use both of their hands to collect both of the defensive player’s flags.

After this is complete, they run zigzag to the next player in the opposite line and repeat the process. The drill will be over after they’ve visited and taken the flags of all the defensive players.

Cone Drill

This drill creates a competitive one on one dynamic. First off, place 4 cones in a square with 10 yard sides.

The offensive player should stand in the lower left-hand corner of the square. The defensive player stands diagonally opposite them. With the offensive player acting as ball-carrier, both players will sprint around the cone in front of them.

When the players meet, they will have a showdown. The defensive player will try to remove the offensive players flags before they can get out of the square. To beat the defender, the offensive player should practice sliding or spinning.

Want More Drills for Your Team?

I’m Coach D, a professional flag football coach. My website and Youtube channel have a range of plays, practice schedules, drill packs and templates to help you train and support your flag football team.