PSAPlaybook
← Flag Football Foundations, grades 3-5

Lesson 7 · Week 4 · Grades 3-5 · 40 min

Small-Sided Game

3 v 3 rules and calling your own game fairly

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.

HuddlePlan the play together before every down.
PlayEveryone runs their job until the whistle.
RespectCall flags honestly and shake hands after.

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: dynamic warm-up with routes and flag pulls with Coach Cam.

On screen: video
Watch2 min

Coach Cam explains the 3 v 3 rules: four downs to score, no running plays inside 5 steps, call your own flag pulls.

On screen: video
Try10 min

Teams huddle and walk through two plays, then run them against air (10 min).

On screen: cue words and timer
Play15 min

3 v 3 Mini Games: four downs to score. Switch offense and defense after each score or turnover. Rotate opponents every 5 minutes.

On screen: game diagram and timer
Huddle5 min

Question 1: 'What made your team's best play work?' Question 2: 'How did you show respect today?' Shout-out a fair call. Cool-down.

On screen: huddle questions
Setup

Short fields about 20 by 10 steps with end zones. Teams of 3. Two games run side by side.

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
  • Pinnies for teams
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
  • 2 v 2
  • Everyone on offense must touch the ball before a score
  • Bigger field
Make it harder
  • 4 v 4
  • Add a rusher who counts to 5
  • Smaller field

South Carolina standards

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

  • Standard 2: Demonstrates knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.
  • Standard 4: Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.

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