1. Drills
  2. Flag Football
  3. Evasion

Cutback Run

Run to the outside, then cut back against the defender's chase.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Run wide toward the sideline.

Core: Jogs. Beat your own count of flags kept.

Ages
11 and up
Time
10 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Cones, flag football, partner
Level · skill
Developing · Evasion

The steps

How it works

  1. Run wide toward the sideline.
  2. When your partner chases hard, plant your outside foot.
  3. Cut back inside behind them.
  4. Do 8 runs each side.

Coaching point

Pull them wide, cut back.

Safety: Non-contact: keep your hands and arms away from your flags (no flag guarding), no stiff arms, and never leave your feet to avoid a pull. Wear a mouthguard in any partner or game drill (and soft headgear if your league requires it). Keep your head up, call for the ball, and give way in traffic.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Flag dodge: a partner tries to pull your flag while you step and weave, with no body contact. A pulled flag just means swap.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (two cones to weave). Beat your own count of flags kept.

Story

You are a fox slipping past the farmer.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own count of flags kept. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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