Governance
Rules & Laws of the Game
FA youth football regulations for the 2026/27 season, including the new FutureFit playing formats and the latest Laws of the Game changes. If you're unsure on a matchday, defer to the referee — then flag it to the Fixtures Secretary.
Format change
FutureFit — the new playing pathway from 2026/27
England Football's FutureFit framework is mandatory from the start of this season. Every format is now played a year later in the pathway, 3v3 becomes the entry format at U7, and 11v11 does not begin until U14. No team moves backwards — some age groups simply stay in their current format for an extra season.
Format by age group
| Age | Format | Ball | Half length | Pitch (recommended range) | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U7 (Yr 2)New | 3v3 | Size 3 | 6–10 min games, 30–40 min total | 15 × 10 – 20 × 15 m | 4 × 2.5 ft |
| U8 (Yr 3) | 5v5 | Size 3 | 20 min max | 27 × 18 – 37 × 27 m | 12 × 6 ft |
| U9 (Yr 4)New | 5v5 | Size 3 | 25 min max | 27 × 18 – 37 × 27 m | 12 × 6 ft |
| U10 (Yr 5) | 7v7 | Size 3 | 25 min max | 46 × 27 – 55 × 37 m | 12 × 6 ft |
| U11 (Yr 6)New | 7v7 | Size 3 | 30 min max | 46 × 27 – 55 × 37 m | 12 × 6 ft |
| U12 (Yr 7) | 9v9 | Size 4 | 30 min max | 64 × 37 – 73 × 46 m | 16 × 7 ft |
| U13 (Yr 8)New | 9v9 | Size 4 | 35 min max | 64 × 37 – 73 × 46 m | 16 × 7 ft |
| U14 (Yr 9)New | 11v11 | Size 5 | 35 min max | 82 × 46 – 91 × 55 m | 21 × 7 ft |
| U15 & U16 | 11v11 | Size 5 | 40 min max | 82 × 46 – 100 × 64 m | 24 × 8 ft |
| U17 & U18 | 11v11 | Size 5 | 45 min max | Full size | 24 × 8 ft |
Pitch sizes are the FA's recommended ranges without run-off. Half lengths are the maximum permitted under the Standard Code of Rules — U7–U10 may also be played in quarters.
How 3v3 works at U7
- •No goalkeepers, no penalty areas — any free kick is taken at least 3m from goal.
- •No match officials. Pitch facilitators support the players to self-officiate.
- •No substitutes — every child plays the whole session.
- •Games last 6–10 minutes; players rotate through multiple games for 30–40 minutes of football.
- •All restarts (sidelines, corners, goal line, free kicks) are a dribble-in or pass-in, opponents 3m back.
- •Goal-line restarts: opponents retreat to their own half. After a goal, the scoring team returns to its own goal line.
- •A player must be in the opponents' half for a goal to count.
- •No offside, no heading, no powerplay. Games start and end with a high five.
New this season
IFAB Laws of the Game changes — effective 1 July 2026
These apply to all affiliated football, including our age groups, from the start of the 2026/27 season. Brief your players and parents before the first fixture — the accessories and time-wasting changes are the ones that catch teams out.
Law 4
Jewellery ban replaced by an accessories rule
The blanket ban on jewellery is gone. Accessories are now permitted if they are not dangerous and are safely and securely covered. Anything dangerous must still be removed — it cannot be taped over. Check players before kick-off and substitutes before they come on.
Law 3
Ten seconds to leave the field when substituted
The player coming off must be off the pitch within ten seconds of the board or the referee's signal. If they aren't, the substitute cannot enter until the first stoppage after a minute of play has elapsed. Get players walking to the nearest touchline, not the halfway line.
Law 5
One minute off after on-field treatment
A player treated or assessed on the pitch, or who causes play to be stopped for injury, must stay off for one minute (running clock) after the restart. Exception: if the injury came from a foul punished by a yellow or red card, the player can stay on.
Laws 15 & 16
Five-second visual countdown on throw-ins and goal kicks
Referees now count down five seconds with a visible hand signal when a throw-in or goal kick is being delayed. Overrun a throw-in and it goes to the opposition; overrun a goal kick and the opposition get a corner.
Law 17
Corner kick for goalkeeper time-wasting
The eight-second goalkeeper holding rule now results in a corner kick to the opposing team, as does a team delaying their goal kick. Coach your keepers to release the ball early.
Law 3
Seven-player minimum and forfeits
A match cannot start or continue with fewer than seven players in a team. If a team is responsible for that, it will in principle forfeit the match. The same now applies to abandoned matches.
Law 12
No caution for DOGSO when a goal is scored
If the referee plays advantage on a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity and a goal results, no yellow card is issued. 'Attackers' has also been added to the DOGSO considerations.
Law 8
Dropped ball clarified
The ball is dropped for the team that would have kept or gained possession, including the team that would have taken the restart if the ball was going out. If the ball hits a match official or outside agent, it's dropped where the contact happened.
Advance notice
'Only the captain' becomes compulsory in 2027
From 1 July 2027 the 'only the captain may approach the referee' protocol is compulsory in all competitions. Start embedding it now — at HHYFC only the captain speaks to the official, and only respectfully.
Source: IFAB Law changes 26/27 · England Football — FutureFit · The FA — 2026/27 law changes explained
Rules you'll be asked about
Retreat line (7v7 & 9v9 — U10–U13)
On goalkeeper distribution, the opposing team must retreat behind the marked retreat line until the ball is played. In 3v3 and 5v5 opponents retreat to their own half at goal-line restarts.
No offside in mini-soccer
Offside does not apply in 3v3, 5v5 or 7v7 — so up to U11 under the new pathway. It applies from 9v9 (U12) upwards.
No deliberate heading (U7–U11)
Heading is removed from training and matches at foundation phase. Phased reintroduction from U12, following the FA's graduated heading guidance.
Rolling substitutions
Unlimited return substitutions in youth football with referee's permission at a stoppage. The new ten-second exit rule applies to the player coming off. There are no substitutes at all in 3v3 — everyone plays.
Powerplays (5v5 & 7v7)
If a team leads by 4+ goals, the trailing team may add an outfield player until the gap closes. Powerplays do not apply in 3v3.
Passback to the goalkeeper
A goalkeeper cannot handle the ball with their hands if a teammate deliberately kicks it to them. If they do, the referee awards an indirect free kick where the passback happened (or on the six-yard line if it was inside the box). This applies to all formats from 5v5 upwards.
No published league tables to U11
Results and tables are not published in mini-soccer. Development and enjoyment come before outcomes — please don't post scores on social media.