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  3. Evasion

Pitch Option Run

Run at a defender with a teammate behind; keep it or toss it back depending on what they do.

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

Set up

Run at the defender with your teammate 3 yards behind and wide.

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

Ages
11 and up
Time
12 min
Players
You and 2 partners
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Flag football, flag belts, cones, 2 partners
Level · skill
Developing · Evasion

The steps

How it works

  1. Run at the defender with your teammate 3 yards behind and wide.
  2. If the defender comes to you, toss the ball back to your teammate.
  3. If they go to your teammate, keep it and run.
  4. Play 10 rounds and swap.

Coaching point

Make them choose.

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

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

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