Football practice plan
90-Minute Youth Football Practice Plan
A complete youth football practice that teaches safe tackling and blocking technique, then puts it to work in team offense and defense periods.
90 minutes10U to 12UFocus: Tackling form, blocking and offense installBalanced mix
Warm-upSkillWater breakDrillCool-down
Equipment
Footballs · Cones · Tackling dummies or rings · Pinnies · Full pads or helmets as allowedThe plan, block by block
1. Warm-up
Dynamic warm-up
10 min0:00 - 10:00
- Lines of 4: high knees, carioca, backpedal
- Two short sprints
Coaching points
- Stay in lines, stay focused
2. Skill
Tackling circuit
15 min10:00 - 25:00
Three stations with dummies or rings.
- Fit position: hips low, head up and to the side
- Shimmy and shoot into the dummy
- Roll tackles on rings
Coaching points
- Eyes up, head across the body
- Wrap and drive the legs
3. Skill
Blocking fundamentals
12 min25:00 - 37:00
Linemen and skill players split.
- Linemen: stance, first step, hands inside
- Skill players: stalk blocking on air, then a partner
Coaching points
- Short first step
- Hands inside, thumbs up
4. Water break
Water break
3 min37:00 - 40:00
5. Drill
Individual position work
15 min40:00 - 55:00
- QBs and receivers: routes on air
- RBs: ball security and handoffs
- Linemen: pulls and combo blocks
Coaching points
- Ball high and tight
- Run routes at full speed
6. Drill
Team offense install
20 min55:00 - 75:00
11 on air, then against scout defense.
- Walk through 3 base plays
- Run each at full speed
- Add the scout defense
Coaching points
- Line up fast, everyone knows their job
7. Water break
Water break
3 min75:00 - 78:00
8. Drill
Team defense
7 min78:00 - 85:00
- Line up in the base front
- Pursuit drill to the sideline
Coaching points
- Everyone runs to the ball
9. Cool-down
Conditioning and huddle
5 min85:00 - 90:00
- Short sprints
- Recap and team break
Coach's notes
Follow your league's contact rules. Teach tackling at walk speed first and build up.How to adapt this plan
- Non-contact day? Replace tackling with angle pursuit and flag tackling.
- Have parent volunteers run the water breaks so you stay on schedule.