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  2. Flag Football
  3. Route Running

Getting Off the Line

Get past a defender in front of you at the start of a route with footwork only, no contact.

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

Set up

A defender stands a yard in front of you.

Core: Jog. Beat your own best.

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

The steps

How it works

  1. A defender stands a yard in front of you.
  2. Use a quick jab step one way, then go the other way.
  3. Keep your hands to yourself, no pushing.
  4. Do 12 starts, then swap.

Coaching point

Jab and go, no hands.

Safety: Non-contact: no pushing or blocking by anyone. Run on flat, non-slip ground.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Route cards: a partner calls a route (post, slant, out), you run it and catch the pass, then swap. The pair counts routes completed.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (walk the route), Core (jog), More (add a quick change of speed). Beat your own best.

Story

You are following a treasure map with an X at the end.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own best. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

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