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One on One Tag Channel

Beat one defender in a narrow channel using a step, a swerve or a change of pace.

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

Set up

Mark a channel 5 yards wide and 15 yards long.

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

Ages
11 and up
Time
12 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Tag belts, cones, rugby ball, partner
Level · skill
Developing · Evasion

The steps

How it works

  1. Mark a channel 5 yards wide and 15 yards long.
  2. The defender starts 10 yards away and tries to pull your tag.
  3. Pick one move and commit to it.
  4. Play 10 rounds and count your clean escapes.

Coaching point

Pick one move and commit.

Safety: Tag only: touch with two hands or pull a tag belt. No grabbing, pushing or tackling.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Tag-belt dodge: a partner tries to pull your tag while you step and weave, with no body contact. A pulled tag just means swap roles.

Challenge

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

Story

You are a fox slipping past the farmer.

My best

Beat your own count

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

Practice makes progress

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