Children this age learn through play. Keep explanations to 30 seconds and let the game do the teaching. Priorities: Fun first: if they're smiling and running, they're learning. One ball each for as long as possible, then tiny games (1v1 to 4v4). Short activities, lots of success, no laps, no lines, no lectures. Everyone plays every position, including in goal.

What format do U7s play?

In England (FA Future Fit) U7s play 3v3. In Scotland U7s play 4v4. Check your league's rules for pitch and goal sizes.

How long should a U7 session be?

45 to 60 minutes is plenty. Short activities of 8 to 12 minutes with drinks breaks.

U7 football drills

What to focus on at U7

U7 at a glance

U7 rondos drills

4v1 rondo

3v1 triangle rondo

Piggy in the middle (first rondo)

U7 warm-ups drills

Traffic lights

Through the gates

Rob the nest

Bib tails tag

Keepy-uppy challenge

Clean up your garden

Hospital tag

Colour call reactions

Handball to football

Coach says

Stuck in the mud (with a ball)

Cat and mouse

Animal walks warm-up

Four corners

Crab football

Pac-Man tag

Pass and race

Knee tag

Rock, paper, scissors chase

Body part stops

Tunnel ball relay

U7 passing drills

Passing gates in pairs

Scanning game: colour cones

Triangle passing with rotation

One-two (wall pass) relay

Circle passing with a centre player

Passing relay race

Pairs passing ladder

Cone bowling (passing accuracy)

Wall passing (practise anywhere)

Clock passing race

U7 shooting and finishing drills

World Cup finishing game

Penalty targets

Dribble through a gate and shoot

Pass it into the net (side-foot placement)

Knockout shooting game

U7 dribbling drills

Sharks and minnows

Dribble the gates (with defenders)

Robin Hood's treasure

Ball mastery circuit

Turns square (inside, outside, drag-back, Cruyff)

Dribble relay race

Slalom dribbling

King of the ring

Skill moves at a cone defender

Stop on the line

Shield the ball (1v1 shielding)

Follow the leader dribbling

Speed zones (slow, fast, slow)

Musical cones

Cross the river

Cone collector (touch the cones)

Mirror dribbling across a line

Croqueta and sole-roll gates

Head-up dribbling (count the fingers)

Through the gauntlet

Running with the ball race

Star dribbling (out and back)

Weak-foot dribbling lanes

Escape the chaser

Obstacle course dribble

Ball mastery 10-move challenge

Traffic jam (shrinking area)

Statues dribble

Figure-of-eight dribbling

Cannonballs (dodge the coach's passes)

U7 1v1 drills

1v1 channels (beat your defender)

1v1 to four gates