When my son was at the academy he was technically very good with the ball but wasn’t very strong and at the parents evenings was told he needs to be more aggressive. The lads in his team they loved was the ones who were like headless chickens with the ball but could put a heavy tackle in and get a ‘get in son’ from the coaches when they they went full blooded into one. My son lasted u9’s till u12’s.
im surprised they start at u7's, that's shocking. my lad was at NUFC 8 years ago and they started academy football at u9's which i thinks still way too young. Personally i don't think kids should be at academies till at least u15's.