PSAPlaybook
← Flag Football Foundations, grades 3-5

Lesson 2 · Week 1 · Grades 3-5 · 40 min

Ball Carrier

Carrying, handoffs and finding open space

First draft. Every part of this lesson is written as a starting point and will be reviewed with a certified PE teacher before the pilot.
Prep: about 10 min, including a 3-min prep clip

Cue words

Three words the class hears all lesson. They appear huge on the gym screen.

TightBall high and tight against the body, elbow covering it.
PocketReceiver makes a pocket with arms; carrier places the ball in it.
SpaceRun to the open space, away from defenders.

Lesson flow

Warm-up5 min
Watch2 min
Try10 min
Play15 min
Huddle5 min

Gold parts play video. 37 minutes of teaching plus time for transitions.

Warm-up5 min

Play-along: high knees, carioca, and quick cuts while 'carrying' an imaginary ball.

On screen: video
Watch2 min

Coach Cam shows a high-and-tight carry, the pocket handoff, and running to open space.

On screen: video
Try10 min

Partner handoffs at walking speed, then jogging speed (6 min). Then carry through cones while switching hands (4 min).

On screen: cue words and timer
Play15 min

End Zone Relay: hand off and carry through a lane of flag pullers to the end zone. Score a point for each runner who keeps both flags.

On screen: game diagram and timer
Huddle5 min

Question 1: 'How do you protect the ball?' Question 2: 'Where should the ball carrier run?' Shout-out a clean handoff. Cool-down.

On screen: huddle questions
Setup

Mark lanes about 20 steps long with cones. Teams of 4 line up at one end. Put 2 flag pullers in each lane.

Equipment
  • 2 flags per student: flag belts, or scarves, pinnies or bandanas tucked into the waistband
  • 1 soft ball per 2 students (foam football, playground ball or any soft ball)
  • 4 cones or tape marks for the boundary
Safety
  • Hands touch flags only. No grabbing shirts, arms or other players.
  • No diving and no sliding.
  • Everyone freezes on the whistle.
Every student included
  • Students using wheelchairs wear flags on the armrests or shoulders. Others approach from the side, never from behind the chair.
  • Pair a student who needs support with a peer buddy who moves alongside.
  • Use a raised hand as well as the whistle for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Offer a quieter corner zone with 3 or 4 players for students who find crowds overwhelming.
Make it easier
  • Walking pullers
  • Wider lanes
  • One puller per lane
Make it harder
  • More pullers
  • Narrower lanes
  • Carrier must cut at a cone

South Carolina standards

Indicator codes are added once checked against the 2021 South Carolina standards document.

  • Standard 1: Demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
  • Standard 2: Demonstrates knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.

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