Gauntlet.

What it teaches.

In flag football, the first defender will miss. Often. The Gauntlet drill teaches what happens after that — recovery, second-defender pursuit, and the runner's job of breaking contain. It also conditions kids to keep running through traffic instead of stopping when they see a defender.

Step by step.

1. Five pullers stand in a 10-yard line, alternating sides (1 left, 2 right, 3 left, 4 right, 5 left), spaced 2 yards apart.
2. The runner starts at one end of the line with a football.
3. On go, the runner sprints through the gauntlet trying not to get flagged. Pullers stay in their spots — they cannot chase, only pull as the runner passes.
4. Track how many pullers each runner makes it past.
5. Rotate the runner to the back of the line and the next puller becomes a runner.

What to watch for.

• Pullers: take the angle even though you're stationary. Reach with both hands as the runner passes.
• Runners: don't stop, don't dance. Pick your line and commit.
• Don't bunch up the pullers — they need to be 2 yards apart so the runner has lanes.
• Make it a competition — kids respond to the leaderboard.

Progress the drill.

Where it goes wrong.

• Pullers leaning instead of stepping — they need to step into the pull.
• Runners trying to juke too much — wasting time in a tight space.
• Pullers swiping with one hand because the runner is moving fast.
• Setting the pullers too close together — eliminates the running lanes.