1 Alabama High School Athletic Association Coaches Manual 2 Girls High School Flag Football Coaches’ Manual Table of Contents Differences Between Flag Football (NIRSA Rules) & Tackle Football (NFHS Rules)……….3-6 Coaching Technique & Strategies….………………………………..………………..................7-8 Practice Planning....……………………………………………………….….……...……….........9-15 3 FLAG FOOTBALL RULES & OFFICIATING THE GAME The Game • Two teams of 7 v 7. Four players to start, can continue with less if there’s a chance to win. • Lines to gain are the 20, 40, 20 • Series of 4 downs • Play starts on the 14-yard line • No defer on coin toss Officials • 3-4 officials Field • Played on a traditional football field but with 80-yard field of play and 10-yard endzones. 40 yards wide with inbound marks 15 yards from the sidelines. Team boxes are 20 to 20. 4 Uniform • Still contrasting jersey colors with numbers on front and back • All players of the same team will still wear the same-colored jerseys with different numbers • Still needs to be long enough to tuck into shorts/pants • Still shoes without metal spikes*; projections still must not exceed ½” • The pants/shorts must be of contrasting color to flags and cannot have belt loops or pockets • Flag belts may be of two types, quick release with 3 permanently attached flags (also known as triple threat) or a secured flag belt with two pop flag holsters and two detachable pop flags (also known as sonic pop). • Flags belts must be tightened at the waist, and flags positioned on each hip (2 & 3 flag types) and on the tail bone (3 flag type) Optional Player Equipment • Gloves • Headwear • Pads • Mouth guard* • Playbook • Sunglasses • Face Shield Illegal Player Equipment • Hard helmets • Jewelry • Metal Cleats • Untucked shirts • Shorts/pants with belt loops or pockets • Any item around the waist besides the flag • Hard casts or braces* Ready for Play • Ball spotters are used • Down and line to gain announced • Play clock is sounded, 25 seconds to snap 5 Playing Time • 48-minute game; Four (4) 12-minute quarters • First 22 minutes of each half is running, clock stoppage during the last two minutes • Clock stops and starts on snap after team time outs (3 per half) Two Minute Clock Stoppage • This is NOT an NFL “two-minute warning”. • Same notification of time as in NFHS rules. • Play clock starts immediately after notification and game clock starts at the snap. Scoring • Touchdown = 6 points • Extra Pt. attempts are for 1, 2 & 3 pts from the 3, 10, and 20-yard lines respectively • No field goals • Safety = 2 points (ball placed on the 30-yard line) Kicking • Punts only • No quick kicks: Punt must be announced • No team should move before the kick • Receiving team can block • Muffed punt can be caught by kicking team • Kick is returnable whether caught or grounded • If touched and then grounded, ball is dead Ball in Play • Officials place spotter where next play is to begin and establish offensive and defensive line of scrimmage (LOS) • Offense retrieves their own ball • Down box identifies line to gain Formations • No player LOS requirements besides the snapper • Play is shut down upon offsides or neutral zone infraction (just like NFHS) • 2, 3, & 4-pint stances are allowable 6 Blocking • NON-CONTACT SPORT • Screen blocking allowed on offense, one step allowance • Defense cannot use hands or body to push a blocker Flag Belt Removal and Dead Ball Spot • Ball is spotted where the ball was when the flag is removed • No fumbles: ball is dead once it touches the ground, ball is placed at spot • One hand touch between shoulders and knees*; tripping the runner is a foul • Offense can jump (without contact) spin and dip • Defense can dive to remove, offense cannot dive to advance, no hurdling • No early flag pulls allowed Flag Guarding • Cannot stiff arm, use ball, hands, or arms to prevent flag pull • Defense is not allowed to strip the ball but will not be called for stripping if QB or runner uses ball to cover flag and defender is making a bona fide attempt to pull the flag. Penalty Enforcement • All-but-one principle generally used • Penalties are 5 yards or 10 yards • Spot foul, previous spot, succeeding spot, end of run 7 COACHING TECHNIQUES & STRATEGIES Team Prep • Warm-Up & Conditioning (LINK) o Dynamic Stretching o Plyometrics o Activation Offensive Strategies • Catching (LINK) o Diamond (High Pass) o Pinky’s (Low Pass) o Catching the ball to the side o Over the shoulder • Snapping (LINK) o Staggered Stance o Square Stance o 1 or 2 hands o Shotgun Only o Spotting the rush • Handoffs (LINK) o Breadbasket o 5 points on the ball o Ball handling drills • Pitches/Laterals o Fake Pitch • Movements o Spin o Dip (running) o Juke / Jump Cut • Formations o Tight o Spread /Empty o Trips o Quads • Screen Blocking o Blocking 1 or 2 o Movements 8 Defensive Strategies • Flag Pulling 101 o Mechanics o Coaching Points • Flag Pulling Drills (LINK) o 1 on 1 o Sideline Drill o 4 Corner Drill • Rushing the passer o When to? o How to? • Defensive Schemes • Punt Returns 9 PRACTICE PLAN #1 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Stretching Routine - Conditioning Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills Agility Drills Link 5:15 Water Break 5:20 Station 1- Wide Receivers How to catch a football Link Station 2- Running Backs Running Back Drill Link Station 3- Centers Station 4- Quarterbacks How to snap a football Link *10 minutes each station, then rotate How to throw a football Link 6:00 Water Break 6:05 (All) Route Running Link Route Running 6:25 Water Break 6:30 (All) Flag Pulling Drills Flag Pulling Drills 6:55 Closing Remarks 10 PRACTICE PLAN #2 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Conditioning Drills Link Stretching Routine - Agility Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills 5:15 Water Break 5:20 Flag Pulling Drills- -Flag A Tag 3 Stations -1 on 1 (13 minutes each) -Sideline Drill 6:00 Water Break 6:05 (All) -Demo Screen Blocking -Movements -Drills 6:25 Water Break 6:30 (All) - Zones Defensive Coverages -Man to Man -Explanations -Shifts 6:55 Closing Remarks 11 PRACTICE PLAN #3 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Conditioning Drills Link Stretching Routine - Agility Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills 5:15 Water Break 5:20 3 Stations- -Individual Groups (Position Specific) Center/QB -Have designed drills for each group to practice WR/DB during this time Rusher/Blocking (Stay in those groups) 6:00 Water Break 6:05 (All) One group all together, explaining Punt Formation Special Teams and Punt Return 6:25 Water Break 6:30 Offense / Defense Split - Formations, lining up, different coverage packages, and shifts 6:55 Closing Remarks 12 PRACTICE PLAN #4 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Conditioning Drills Link Stretching Routine - Agility Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills 5:15 Water Break 5:20 1 on 1 's Two Groups - O and D Offense-Center/QB/WR Live 1 on 1's (Really 3 vs 2) Defense-Rusher/DB Center to QB, QB to WR Live Rush and Coverage 6:00 Water Break 6:05 All -Drill for both the Defense and Offense Flag Pulling /Ball Carrier -Ball Carriers must make a move (Spin, Juke, Dip) Movements -Defense must try to get flag. 1v1 Drill all together -Could do two stations of the same thing 6:25 Water Break 6:30 (All) -Break up into O and D and spend 10 minutes Live Scrimmage amongst group, planning. -The remaining time live scrimmage 6:55 Closing Remarks 13 PRACTICE PLAN #5 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Conditioning Drills Link Stretching Routine - Agility Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills 5:15 Water Break 5:20 Offense / Defense -Break up into two groups Playbooks -Use this time to introduce the play book, scheme, and formations 6:00 Water Break 6:05 (All) Use the playbooks and time you just spent to see Semi-Live Scrimmage what it produces on the field in semi live format 6:25 Water Break 6:30 (All) Flag-A-Tag or others Flag Pulling Competitions 6:55 Closing Remarks 14 PRACTICE PLAN #6 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Conditioning Drills Link Stretching Routine - Agility Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills 5:15 Water Break 5:20 Individual Groups -Routes, Snaps, Punts, Punt Returns, Rushing, Center/Punter/Returners Coverage QB/Center/WR -Stay in groups for duration DB/Rushers 6:00 Water Break 6:05 All -Designed for QB's to practice but all to attend Live Pocket/Roll out Drill -Go through taking Live snaps, With live rushers and live blockers -Get QB Stepping up or rolling out, Get Lineman to practice releasing down field 6:25 Water Break 6:30 (All) Spend this time to go live. Play the exact game Live Scrimmage format of the 1st half 6:55 Closing Remarks 15 PRACTICE PLAN #7 Time Drills Links 5:00 Warm Up: Dynamic Conditioning Drills Link Stretching Routine - Agility Drills Link Conditioning Drills and Agility Drills 5:15 Water Break 5:20 Flag Pulling Select your 2-3 Stations and rotate between each 2-3 Stations station 6:00 Water Break 6:05 (All) Spend 20 minutes putting the offense or defense into different scenarios and then run a live play. Spend a Situational Live moment coaching up the team on that specific play Scrimmage 6:25 Water Break 6:30 (All) Spend this time to go live using your playbook Live Scrimmage 6:55 Closing Remarks .