Game version
Call-the-play: a partner shows a hand signal or color before the snap and you say what you saw. Swap, and count correct calls together.
What Down Is It?
Learn downs and yards to go with a simple family quiz game.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
A parent says what happened on a play, like "gained 4 yards on first and 10".
Core: Two. Beat your own best out of 10.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 6 min
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Paper, pencil
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Awareness
The steps
How it works
- A parent says what happened on a play, like "gained 4 yards on first and 10".
- You say the new down and distance.
- Add penalties and first downs as you get better.
- Do 15 questions.
Coaching point
Know the down before every play.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (one signal), Core (two), More (a surprise signal). Beat your own best out of 10.
Story
You are the quarterback of a spy team, reading the signals.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free football week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.