When I help coach [tag]youth football[/tag], I use these simple [tag]youth football drills[/tag]. I’ve found that they work well with offensive line.
This drill works well with your 5 & 6 year olds. Have two players at a time line up in 3-point stance in front of a [tag]football coach[/tag] holding a dummy parallel to ground (in front of both linemen). Identify beforehand which direction the linemen are to block the dummy. On the signal (whistle, ball, “hut”, etc.), both players fire out of the stance, hit the (same) dummy, and drive the dummy in the proper direction until the whistle blows.
It helps teach these young [tag]football[/tag] players to fire off simultaneously and to finish the block (keep driving until the whistle).
This next [tag]football drill[/tag] is good with your 7-8 year olds. For this linebacker drill put a dummy on the ground (lying the lengthwise on the field) and have another coach holding a hand dummy at offensive end. Simulate the play to be a sweep outside. Have the linebacker line up in his position, side-step over the dummy on the ground, hit the offensive end dummy coming out to seal the inside, then attack the ball carrier at a good pursuit angle, preventing any cutbacks.
This teaches good footwork, as well as keeping the blocker off of his body, meanwhile following the ball carrier.
Coach notes