At U7, your job is simple: make them love football.
Everything else, technique, tactical awareness, competitive edge, all of it comes later. Right now, these players need positive experiences, lots of ball touches, and the confidence that comes from fun sessions where they feel successful.
These 30 drills are designed around how 6 and 7 year olds actually learn: through play, repetition, variety, and encouragement. Use them to create sessions that players beg to attend.
Understanding U7 Players
Before diving into drills, understand what you are working with:
Physical Development:
- Still developing basic coordination
- Tire quickly but recover fast
- Cannot sustain concentration for long
- Often still developing dominant foot
Psychological Needs:
- Constant encouragement
- Immediate feedback
- Sense of achievement
- Fun above everything
What U7s Can Learn:
- Ball familiarity (lots of touches)
- Basic running with the ball
- Simple stopping and starting
- Kicking in a general direction
What They Cannot Learn Yet:
- Complex passing patterns
- Positional play
- Tactical concepts
- Weak foot development (too early)
Design every session around what they CAN do, not what you wish they could do.
Section 1: Warm-Up Games (Drills 1-6)
Every session needs an active start. These games get players moving while developing coordination.
Drill 1: Traffic Lights
Setup: All players with a ball in a 20x20 yard area.
Activity: Players dribble around. Coach calls colours:
- Green = go (dribble)
- Red = stop (foot on ball)
- Amber = slow (tiptoes on ball)
Why it works: Simple instructions, immediate action, builds ball control instincts.
Drill 2: Stuck in the Mud
Setup: All players dribbling in a defined area. 1-2 taggers without balls.
Activity: Taggers try to touch dribblers. Tagged players freeze with legs apart. Free players dribble through their legs to release them.
Why it works: Combines dribbling with awareness of others. Natural game element maintains engagement.
Drill 3: Pirate Ships
Setup: 20x20 yard area. Balls scattered around (treasure). Players start without balls.
Activity: Players are pirates sailing around. On “Find treasure!” they grab a ball and dribble it to their ship (one corner). First team to collect three balls wins.
Why it works: Competition without elimination. Every player stays active throughout.
Drill 4: Body Part Stops
Setup: All players dribbling in a 20x20 yard area.
Activity: Coach calls a body part. Players stop the ball with that body part. “Knee!” means stop ball with knee. “Bum!” always gets laughs.
Why it works: Develops quick reactions while maintaining fun. Silly commands keep engagement high.
Drill 5: Musical Statues
Setup: All players dribbling. Music playing (or coach humming).
Activity: When music stops, players must freeze with foot on ball. Last to freeze does a fun forfeit (5 jumping jacks).
Why it works: U7s love music and games they know from school. Familiarity helps them engage.
Drill 6: Animal Movements
Setup: 20x20 yard area. Players with balls.
Activity: Players dribble while moving like animals:
- Lions (prowling slowly)
- Rabbits (quick small touches)
- Crabs (sideways)
- Kangaroos (ball between feet, hopping)
Why it works: Develops different movement patterns while keeping imagination engaged.
Section 2: Ball Mastery (Drills 7-12)
Lots of touches builds the foundation for everything that comes later.
Drill 7: Ball Hugs
Setup: Each player with a ball, scattered around area.
Activity: Pick ball up, hug it tight, throw it up, catch it. Progress to throw, let bounce, catch. Then throw, control with foot.
Why it works: Builds hand-eye coordination first, progressing to foot coordination naturally.
Drill 8: Toe Taps
Setup: Players with balls, stationary.
Activity: Alternate feet tapping top of ball. Count to 20 together. Who can go fastest? Who can do it with eyes closed?
Why it works: Fundamental coordination exercise made fun through challenges.
Drill 9: The Volcano
Setup: Players in pairs, one ball per pair.
Activity: Ball is a volcano. Players take turns passing it back and forth. If they miss control, it erupts (ball rolls away). Count successful passes before eruption.
Why it works: Turns simple passing into an engaging game with natural consequence.
Drill 10: Dance with the Ball
Setup: Each player with a ball.
Activity: Move ball with different parts of foot while standing still: sole, inside, outside, laces. Coach demonstrates, players copy. Add music for rhythm.
Why it works: Teaches foot surfaces in a playful way without overwhelming instruction.
Drill 11: Drag Backs
Setup: Players with balls, standing behind a line.
Activity: Players dribble forward 5 yards, stop ball with sole, drag it back, turn and dribble to start. Race against themselves.
Why it works: Introduces a fundamental turning technique through simple repetition.
Drill 12: Around the World
Setup: Each player with a ball, stationary.
Activity: Move ball around body using feet only: right foot pushes left, left foot pushes right, in a circle. Count complete circles in 30 seconds.
Why it works: Develops foot coordination and close control in a contained activity.
Section 3: Dribbling Games (Drills 13-18)
Getting players confident running with the ball.
Drill 13: Follow the Leader
Setup: Groups of 4. One leader with ball, others follow with balls.
Activity: Leader dribbles anywhere in the area. Others must follow the exact path. Change leader every 60 seconds.
Why it works: Develops ball control while following, teaches awareness of others.
Drill 14: Shark Attack
Setup: 20x20 yard area. All players dribbling. Coach is the shark.
Activity: Coach (shark) tries to kick balls out of area. Players protect their ball and stay inside. If ball goes out, player does 3 jumping jacks and returns.
Why it works: Develops shielding instincts naturally. No elimination keeps everyone playing.
Drill 15: Cone Forest
Setup: Random cones scattered in 20x20 yard area. Players with balls.
Activity: Players dribble through the forest without hitting trees (cones). Add challenge: collect points by touching specific coloured cones with hand while dribbling.
Why it works: Develops close control and head-up dribbling. Obstacles create natural challenges.
Drill 16: The Bridge
Setup: Gates made of cones (2 yards wide) scattered around area.
Activity: Players dribble and score points by going through gates. Count how many bridges you can cross in 2 minutes.
Why it works: Creates purpose for dribbling. Natural direction changes as they seek gates.
Drill 17: Shadow Dribbling
Setup: Pairs of players, one ball per pair.
Activity: One player dribbles, partner shadows 2 yards behind (no ball). On whistle, shadow tries to touch the ball. If successful, roles swap.
Why it works: Introduces basic change of direction to beat an opponent in a safe context.
Drill 18: Speed Lanes
Setup: Three parallel lanes (5 yards wide each). Slow, medium, fast zones.
Activity: Players dribble through all three lanes. Slow lane = slow dribbling. Medium = jogging pace. Fast = sprinting. Touch ball every step in fast lane.
Why it works: Teaches speed control with the ball. Players learn that faster requires more touches.
Section 4: Shooting and Finishing (Drills 19-24)
U7s love scoring. Let them score often.
Drill 19: Knock Down the Cones
Setup: Line of cones 10 yards from shooting line. One ball per player.
Activity: Players shoot to knock down cones. Replace and repeat. Who can knock down three cones fastest?
Why it works: Gives a target bigger than a goal. Builds confidence through success.
Drill 20: Beat the Keeper
Setup: Small goal (pop-up or cones). Coach in goal. Balls on shooting line 8 yards away.
Activity: Players shoot one at a time. Coach deliberately saves some, misses others. Celebrate every goal massively.
Why it works: The coach controls difficulty. Every player scores while still experiencing a keeper.
Drill 21: Closest to the Pin
Setup: Target cone in centre of area. Balls at various points around the edge.
Activity: Players kick balls trying to get closest to the target cone. No power needed, just accuracy.
Why it works: Teaches accuracy over power. U7s learn that smashing the ball is not always best.
Drill 22: The Moving Target
Setup: Coach rolls ball across the area. Players shoot to hit the rolling ball.
Activity: Hit the moving target. Coach varies speed and angle. Celebrate every hit.
Why it works: Develops timing. Harder than it looks but incredibly satisfying when successful.
Drill 23: Two Goal Shooting
Setup: Two small goals 10 yards apart. Players with balls in the middle.
Activity: Players can score in either goal. Coaches count total goals for the team in 2 minutes. Beat the record each time.
Why it works: More scoring opportunities. Choice of target adds decision element.
Drill 24: The Gate Finish
Setup: Gates (2 cones) leading into a goal. Ball must go through gate before entering goal.
Activity: Players dribble, go through gate, then shoot. Gate adds accuracy requirement.
Why it works: Combines dribbling with shooting. The gate ensures they do not just blast from distance.
Section 5: Fun Games (Drills 25-30)
Sessions should end with games. These keep fun as the focus while developing real skills.
Drill 25: 1v1 to Mini Goals
Setup: 10x10 yard area with mini goals on opposite ends. Pairs of players.
Activity: 1v1 games. First to two goals wins. Winners stay, losers rotate. Keep games to 90 seconds maximum.
Why it works: Real football in its simplest form. Skills tested in match context.
Drill 26: 2v2 Football
Setup: 15x20 yard pitch with small goals. Teams of 2.
Activity: Normal football, 2v2. Short games (3 minutes). Rotate opponents.
Why it works: Maximum touches, minimum complexity. The foundation of game understanding.
Drill 27: 3v3 Plus Goalkeepers
Setup: 20x30 yard pitch with proper goals. Rotating goalkeepers.
Activity: The full game experience at appropriate scale. 5-minute halves.
Why it works: This is what they came for. Everything else prepares them for this moment.
Drill 28: Numbers Game
Setup: Two teams behind opposite goals. Players numbered 1-4.
Activity: Coach plays ball into middle, calls a number. Those players compete 1v1 to score.
Why it works: Individual competition within team structure. High intensity, natural rest periods.
Drill 29: The Continuous Game
Setup: 25x15 yard pitch. Two teams. Balls behind each goal.
Activity: When ball goes out, coach immediately plays new ball in. Game never stops. Keep track of goals.
Why it works: Maximum action, no standing around. U7s stay engaged throughout.
Drill 30: Choice Time
Setup: Multiple stations set up: shooting, dribbling, 1v1, free play.
Activity: Last 10 minutes of session. Players choose where they want to play. Free choice.
Why it works: Autonomy matters even at U7. Seeing their choices tells you what they enjoy.
Building Your U7 Session
A typical U7 session (50 minutes):
0-8 mins: Warm-up game (pick one from Drills 1-6)
8-18 mins: Ball mastery activity (pick one from Drills 7-12)
18-28 mins: Dribbling game (pick one from Drills 13-18)
28-35 mins: Shooting activity (pick one from Drills 19-24)
35-50 mins: Fun game to finish (pick one from Drills 25-30)
Change activities before boredom sets in. If they are engaged, extend slightly. If attention wanders, move on immediately.
The U7 Coaching Mindset
At this age, how you coach matters more than what you coach.
Praise constantly. Find something good in every player, every session.
Keep instructions short. Five words maximum when explaining.
Demonstrate, do not describe. Show them once, let them try.
Use their names. “Great job, Emma!” beats “Great job!” every time.
Celebrate effort, not just results. The child who tries and fails needs more encouragement than the one who succeeds easily.
Have fun yourself. If you are enjoying it, they will too.
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