Football obligations mount as the season approaches. Take time, while you have it, to brainstorm about drills you’d like to use during the season and equipment you’ll need. Most leagues will provide their coaches with flag belts and a football or two. If you’ll want additional equipment (and you will), gather it before practice starts. You may have materials lying around the house that could be useful but you’ll likely need to make a few purchases. Football gear can get expensive so be sure to do some bargain hunting. Lower quality equipment designed for physical education in schools can be a cost effective alternative to a sporting goods retailer. I’ve purchased rubber footballs from a PE website for a fraction of the price you would pay for leather or composite balls. Cones, water bottles, and a first aid kit are other common purchases.
Some leagues will assign practice locations while others leave it up to the coach to find his own field. Make sure you take a trip over to any prospective field to assess its condition and identify any safety concerns. Look for a flat patch of grass with no potholes, rocks, or other obstructions. You don’t need that large of an area. My practice field for flag has generally been about 25 yards x 25 yards. If there is a hill nearby that kids wouldn’t want to run up, that’s always been a nice bonus to me.