Youth Quick-Game QB Decisions Practice Plan (60 Minutes)

Start on a 20x20 yard box. Everyone has a partner and one ball per pair if you can; if not, make trios.

• 30 seconds each: jog, high knees, butt kicks, side shuffle, backpedal (short and controlled).
• Partner quick-catch: 10 chest-level catches, 10 low catches, 10 high catches. Switch thrower/catcher.

Watch for: eyes on the ball and two hands finishing the catch.

Cues: “Hands early.” “Thumbs together high, pinkies together low.” “Catch it, tuck it.”

Common issue: kids clap at the ball and it pops out. Fix: pause and have them squeeze the ball for 2 seconds after each catch before the next throw.

Make a small “pocket box” with 4 flat discs (about 3 yards wide). QBs line up behind it; one coach/teammate gives a simple snap (underhand or quick hike).

On your clap: snap → QB takes 3 quick steps (right-left-right for righties) → plant → throw to a stationary target (receiver standing at 7–10 yards) or to a coach with hands up.

• Cues: “Quick feet, quiet head.” “Plant and point your front toe.” “Throw on step 3.”
• Watch for: the ball is leaving as the QB’s plant foot hits—no extra bounce step.

Common issue: QB drifts backward out of the box. Fix: if they step out the back, blow it dead and restart from the box; praise any rep where they step up or stay level.

Adjustment: if throws are wild, shorten to 5–7 yards; if they’re clean, add a moving target (receiver shuffles left/right).

Set up one mini-field: QB + 2 receivers (slot and outside) vs 2 defenders. Put cones at 5 yards (short) and 10 yards (intermediate) so kids see depth.

Walk it at half speed first. Show two looks:

• Man picture: defenders line up across from receivers and follow them on the jog.
• Zone picture: defenders start inside and “guard grass,” passing receivers off.

Before each rep, QB must point and say “man” or “zone,” then pick a side (left or right). After the snap, the QB still throws on 3-step—this is about speed.

Cues: “Point it, say it.” “Pick a side.” “Ball out.”

Common issue: defenders accidentally play something in-between. Fix: tell defenders exactly what to do for that rep (“follow the slant no matter what” or “stay on your cone”).

Quick water, then bring them in standing (not sitting) so you can restart fast.

Re-state today’s three rules in 20 seconds: “Pre-snap guess, 3-step throw, checkdown or scramble rule.” Demo the scramble rule: if QB leaves the pocket box, count “1-2-3” out loud and the play is over.

Set up a 12–15 yard wide lane. One QB, two receivers (slant + flat), one defender (hook/flat area). Start the ball at about midfield distance for your field; keep throws 5–12 yards.

Run it like this: QB calls cadence → snap → 3-step → read the single defender.

• If defender’s hips turn and they chase the slant, QB throws the flat now.
• If defender sits wide or jumps the flat, QB throws the slant on the body.

Watch for: the QB’s eyes move from defender to target and the ball comes out on time.

Cues: “Read one defender.” “If he runs, replace him.” “Flat is your safety.”

Common issue: the flat route drifts upfield and becomes a bad angle. Fix: put a cone at 3 yards and tell the flat receiver, “Catch at the cone, then turn up.”

Adjustment: if the QB is freezing, tell the defender which route to take away for 2 reps so the QB learns the answer.

Use half-field. Offense has QB + 3 receivers: outside runs a quick out (or hitch), inside runs stick (5 yards and turn), and a back/center runs to the flat as the checkdown. Defense has 2 defenders: one inside, one outside.

QB pre-snap points to the defender they’re reading first (usually the inside defender). Snap → 3-step → throw stick if open; if the inside defender sits on stick, throw to flat; if both are covered, throw the quick out/hitch.

• Cues: “Stick: five and turn.” “Show numbers to the QB.” “Check it down fast.”
• Watch for: stick receiver stops at 5 and turns shoulders to the QB (not drifting).

Common issue: stick receiver keeps running and the throw is late. Fix: make them “toe-tap” at the cone before turning—if no toe-tap, it doesn’t count.

Adjustment: if defenders can’t cover yet, spot them on cones (zone) so the QB learns windows; if it’s too easy, let defenders press and play man for a few reps.

Set up a 20x25 yard box. Offense runs spacing: three receivers spread (left, middle, right) sitting in open grass at 5–7 yards, plus a QB. Defense has 4 (or 3 if you’re short).

Start with 2 reps on air so everyone hits landmarks, then go live 4v4. QB must throw within 4 seconds. Score it to force rhythm:

• 2 points: completion thrown on 3-step timing.
• 1 point: completion after scramble.
• 0 points: QB run past the line or holding the ball too long (dead play).

Cues: “Find grass and sit.” “Hands up early.” “Catch, turn, score.”

Common issue: all three receivers drift toward the QB. Fix: freeze the play, physically walk them back to their cone landmarks, then replay the down immediately.

This period ties the earlier small-sided reads into a real-ish picture without needing a full team.

Walk the group back in, light jog to a stop, then quick stretch (hamstrings, calves, shoulders) while you talk.

Ask three kids to answer:

• “What does man look like?”
• “What step do we throw on today?”
• “On slant/flat, what do you read?”

End with one clear challenge for next practice: “We’re keeping 3-step timing, and we’re adding one motion read before the snap.”