How to make 7u team more aggressive

Guys, I know this is ridiculous because I’m talking about seven-year-olds but I actually have a really good team. They just don’t know how to be aggressive and go attack the ball instead of sitting back. Is there any drills that I could do to get them to be more aggressive on defense and offense?

Top replies, most upvoted first

• (+8) 1v1s helps me the most with this. I can’t say I’ve “solved” the problem, but it seems to get most kids to go for the ball and push toward the goal.
• (+4) Yep, line kids up in both sides of the goal. Toss a ball out and they both try to score on the same goal.
• (+4) 1v1s. Lots and lots of 1v1s. You want these kids thinking of the ball as something they can seize. So, just show them how to do that. I'd start with 50/50 balls halfway between 2 cones. Maybe 20' between them. Kids in lines behind each cone. Set up enough of these so that there is 2-3 kids in each line. On your whistle, the first kid in each line sprints out to win the ball. First one to gain possession becomes the attacker, and has to dribble to a line, or shoot on a mini goal. Other kid becomes the defender, and attempts to steal the ball, deflect shots. Next, work on attacking bad touches....
• (+4) None of that is what OP described, or what you responded to.
• (+2) Confidence, competition, modelling. Games and drills in which they need to win out over someone else or some objective - and then hyping it up to make it exciting. Building confidence through repetition and making sure they have enough mastery of their own bodies and skills helps too. Tough to want to go in for the ball if you know or think you don't have the tools to win out. Also, to an extent people have their own innate levels of drive so who knows how much you can coach it up. It can also look different in different people.
• (+2) Really simple: make most drills and games a competition and reward the team that wins
• (+2) You can't and you shouldn't. They are just acting their age. Focus on fun and ball control, once they have confidence they will be more aggressive if and when they have it in them.
• (+2) My experience is vastly different from what you are describing.
• (+2) Yeah. What is this knucklehead thinking. Wanting kids to be involved in the game. Psh! /s
• (+1) They are just acting their age. Are 6yo boys different where you live? Mine, and his buddies want to compete. At everything. Allways.
• (+1) Maybe I am not expressing myself well then. Point is kids that age are neither aggressive nor very interested in winning, if they even understand what that is. It's a waste of time to focus on it, OP should focus on age appropriate development. Teach them to dribble and to love the game, that is what they can learn and will give them great benefit when they learn to compete.
• (+1) You appear to be confused. What OP is describing has little to nothing to do with winning, or aggression. It is rooted in confidence. That is an easy thing to correct at this age.