Flag Football – Defensive Fundamentals for All Ages
Flag football is an amazing game for players of different ages. However, every position in flag football serves a purpose. So, you have to choose from 2 positions – offense and defense. The primary responsibility of your defensive team is to prevent the offense from scoring or advancing.
The best defensive strategy involves a team that knows the major defensive basics of stressing the quarterback or catching the balls. Let your team learn the fundamentals and ensure a strong defense against the opponents.
Apply a zone defense that is highly disciplined
In a youth flag football game, zone defense is the base defense, and every defender needs to choose an area referred to as a zone. Defenders in the zone defense lineup and protect the area. If the defender is slower or shorter than the offender, it is challenging to cut through traffic. A zone defense lets you play defense when the players swarm to the football quickly. If it is a 5 v 5 football game, the base zone 1-3-1 will be very effective.
Learn about some fantastic drills for defense
Understanding the defensive drills is important for playing flag football. So, learn about the drills for the defensive team.
Cover the receiver drill
Have a quarterback and a receiver of around 10 yards. The defender needs to line up almost 5 yards near the receiver. The receiver has to run 5 yards in advance. The QB will strive to throw it to them. Breaking with the receiver is the main role of the defender. The defensive team needs to read the quarterback and step in front of the flag football.
After making a pass, the first player turns back while the second player acts as the defender. The subsequent player in the line will be the receiver. After running through each player multiple times, the receiver will alter the route.
Interception drill
This type of drill makes defenders familiar with getting up the field. They should not sit back and let the receiver grab it. Many children love this defense and have fun. Try to choose 3 defenders and receivers for the lineup covering about 15 yards. You may throw the ball in the spot close to the receiver. Both the defender and receiver must try to grab the position for interception.
Flag pulling
You have to try out flag-pulling as one of the defensive drills. It encourages you to focus only on pulling the flag.
Consider a rectangular shape and set up 4 cones at every corner. The longer and shorter sides should maintain a distance. Players need to be separated into 2 lines. In one line, some players will be on the offense with footballs in their hands. At another corner, the kids are defenders. The offensive players will move through the cones, while the defenders will want to drag the flag of the offensive player.
So, these are some interesting defensive strategies in flag football games. Learn more about them and play the game efficiently.
