Ages 4–6 · First Downs
Play first. Learn always.
Little athletes learn through games. Practices are short, active and full of praise, so kids fall in love with moving, sharing and being part of a team.
What they learn
Skills through play
Move
Run & Stop
Red light, green light, tag games and simple agility ladders.
Hands
Catch & Carry
Big soft balls, two hands, eyes on the ball.
Defense
Flag Pulling
Chase-and-pull games that feel like tag — no tackling, ever.
Listen
Huddle Up
Simple one-step instructions and fun team cheers.
Share
Take Turns
Everyone gets a turn with the ball, every drill.
Friends
High Fives
End every drill with a high five for a teammate.
Words
Kind Mouths
No bad words here. We say 'wow', 'ouch' and 'nice try' instead.
Grace
Share The Win
After a score we say who helped — the pass, the block, the cheer.
Coach tips
A great practice for this age
- Keep it to 45 minutes with lots of water breaks
- Change activities every 5–8 minutes
- Use names and praise effort out loud
- Show, don't explain — demo every drill
- Skip the scoreboard; count smiles and tries
- Give every kid a 'Spirit star' before they leave
- No profanity from anyone — little kids copy the nearest adult
- Some 4 year olds need two seasons to find their feet. Keep the joy, not the results