Five-Cone Evasion Course
Agility & Change of Direction
Legend
- player
- cones
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Improve ball-carrier agility by navigating a cone obstacle course at game speed while protecting flags.
What you need
- cones
- football
- flags
Your focus
Carrying a ball through a tight cone course simulates real evasion decisions a ball carrier makes downfield. Wearing a flag belt while running teaches players to protect their flags instinctively rather than as an afterthought. Repeated multi-directional cutting builds the fast-twitch muscle patterns used in open-field play.
Set up 5 cones in a staggered zigzag pattern, each 2 yards apart.
Player puts on flag belt, takes a handoff or receives a short pass, and immediately attacks the course.
Player weaves through all 5 cones using juke steps and direction changes to simulate open-field evasion.
Time each run; aim to beat your previous rep.
Goal
Success is completing the evasion course without any defender tagging your flags, clean from start to finish.
Helpful cues
- Make your move early, don't wait until the last second
- Low hips = faster cuts
- Protect the ball as you change direction
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Remove two cones and let players run at 75% speed.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a live defender who tries to pull the flag at the exit cone.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.