O-line for 8-9 yr olds.

Question
I'm head coach for my sons team. We have a small 0-line with 2 bigger ends.Our league rules state that we must have a balanced line. The defense is a 6 man front. Do you have any tips or drills that we could use to keep our players firing out low and staying with there blocks?  they are constantly standing up with their first step. My belief is that they will constantly get blown off the ball.

Answer
    Ken, my varsity football team started practice 3 days ago.  We are working on the exact same thing with our kids as well.  I will give you 3 drills to help keep your line low.  The first drill is called 6 inch step drill.  Have the kids line up in a single file line.  The first kid should get into a 3 point stance.  Have his right foot slightly farther back than his left.  Put down a flat cone on the ground right in front of his right foot.  Then put down another flat cone about one foot in front of the the other cone.  Have the kids step forward only 6 inches.  If a kid steps to far forward the body will stand up.  Only stepping a short distance will keep your body low.  Also it works best to hold a blocking bag right over their heads so if they stand up they will hit the bag and be forced back down.  After they go through with their 6 inch step with their right foot back.  Have them do it with their left foot back.  Do this drill for about 10 minutes every day.  
    The next drill is called the duck walk.  The kids will line up in a 3 point stances.  Then have them walk with their a little past shoulder width apart, only taking 6 inch, short choppy steps. Make sure that their feet stay wide, and their heads stay over their knees.  Make sure that their buts are low, and that their hands are out in front of their bodies.  Have them walk about 15 yards.  Their feet need to move quickly, but the steps are short.
    The last drill is to place about 8 to 10 cones shoulder width apart.  Hold two blocking bags above their heads, have the kids take wide short choppy steps over the cones.  Have the kids get through the drill as fast as they can with out standing up.
   Over time these drills will help them stay low.  GOOD LUCK COACH NOEL!