Coach's Guide to FAW Small-Sided Football Under 6-Under 13 2026/27

FAW age groups follow the school academic year (1 September to 31 August). Academic Year 1 is the year in which a child turns 6. So a player's age group is their age on 31 August of the season plus one. For example, a child aged 8 on 31 August plays Under 9 (Year 4).

• Small-sided football is for Academic Years 1 to 8 (Under 6 to Under 13). It is the only form of football the FAW recognises for under-13s in Wales.
• An age group must cover one or at most two academic years.
• A small-sided player may play one age group up, even if that means a bigger format.
• Playing down one year needs permission each year under FAW Rule 88, approved by the area association.
• Clubs running single-age teams can't normally move a whole team up. That needs a written request to the league secretary and area association secretary.
• Mixed football (boys and girls together) is allowed from Year 1 to Year 12.
• Girls, and junior girls' teams from Under 12 to Under 17, can ask to play up to two years down in a boys or mixed team or league. This is approved case by case.
• From Under 8 to Under 11, a player can play for both a grassroots club and an FAW licensed academy. The grassroots club holds the registration on COMET.

FAW 2026/27 maximums:

• At Under 10 and 11, take a half-time break of no more than 5 minutes in any game longer than 15 minutes.
• At 9v9, half-time can't be longer than 15 minutes.
• A player must not go over their age group's maximum in any 24-hour period, which is why they can only play for one team per match day.
• Leagues and coaches should build suitable breaks between festival games.

Under the FAW 2026/27 Small-Sided Football Regulations:

• Every coach must hold a valid FAW-approved Enhanced DBS check for Regulated Activity.
• Each age-group squad must have at least one qualified coach with the FAW Football Leaders Award or higher.
• At every match and training session, the club must have an adult there who holds an FAW DBS, the FAW Football Leaders Award and an FAW First Aid Award.
• Team helpers can supervise players to keep the adult-to-player ratio right, but only once they have completed an FAW DBS check. Helpers don't need a coaching award, but a qualified coach must be present.

These are the FAW Club Accreditation ratios, which the 2026/27 Small-Sided Regulations require clubs to follow:

The FAW recommends at least 2 supervisors at all times, even when the group is small.

DBS-checked team helpers can help make up the adult ratio. Where a club has several small-sided teams of the same age at one venue, one qualified coach with an FAW Leaders Award and a first aider must be there, and DBS-checked team helpers can help organise the teams.

FAW 2026/27 rules for small-sided football:

• Rolling substitutes: any number, at any time, and players can go back on. At 9v9, substitutions are made at suitable breaks in play with the referee's permission.
• At least 50% playing time for every player in the match-day squad. For example, at an Under 8 festival with 50 minutes of play, each player gets at least 25 minutes.
• Maximum wait on the bench: 5 minutes at Under 6 to Under 9, and 10 minutes at Under 10 and Under 11.
• Squad size: no more than double the format. That's 8 for 4v4, 10 for 5v5, 14 for 7v7 and 18 for 9v9. At Under 12 and 13, all 18 are eligible to play and teams can register up to 20 players.
• One team per match day: a player can't play for two teams on the same day, for example Under 9 and Under 10.
• From Under 8 to Under 11, every squad member should get to play every position, including goalkeeper.
• If a team is short at Under 6 to Under 11, the other team should lend players or take players off so numbers are even.
• A 9v9 match can't start or continue if either team has fewer than 6 players.

These are the FAW 2026/27 small-sided rules:

At Under 11 and below, a game leader supervises from the touchline: a coach, team helper or qualified referee. Nobody officiates on the pitch, and rules are explained as the game goes on. A referee with full authority under the Laws of the Game is introduced at Under 12 (9v9).

Under 8 to Under 11 (5v5 and 7v7 have goalkeepers. Under 6 and 7 play 4v4 without):

• The goalkeeper may handle the ball only in the goal area. They can leave it, but can't handle the ball outside it. There's no limit on steps.
• With the ball in hand, they may throw it or put it down and kick it, but can then be challenged. Drop kicks and kicking from hands are not allowed.
• Retreat line (all small-sided festival age groups): opponents must be at least 10 yards from where the goalkeeper has the ball, and from where a goal kick is taken.
• Goal kicks are taken from the ground. At Under 6 and 7 they can be taken anywhere on the goal line. From Under 8 to Under 11 they're taken from anywhere in the goal area, and opponents stay outside the penalty area until the ball is kicked and clearly moves.
• Pass-back: at Under 8 and 9 the goalkeeper may pick up a pass from a teammate. At Under 10 and 11 they may not.

Under 12 and Under 13 (9v9):

• The goalkeeper handles only in the penalty area and may throw, kick from hands or kick from the ground.
• The pass-back rule applies.
• Goal kicks are taken about 4 yards from the goal line, with opponents outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Power-Play is an optional FAW rule for Under 6 to Under 11 festivals (4v4, 5v5 and 7v7). The losing coach can use it to keep a one-sided game challenging.

• When a team is 4 goals behind, its coach may add one extra player, so 5v5 becomes 5v6.
• If the gap drops below 4, that team goes back to equal numbers. The player who comes off doesn't have to be the one who came on.
• When the gap reaches 6, the losing team may add a second extra player. That is the maximum. When the gap drops back to 5, one extra player comes off.

From Under 12 to Under 17, the mandatory Mercy rule applies instead: a match ends when one team is 8 goals ahead.

Under 6 to Under 11: no. The FAW won't sanction any league or cup competition at these ages, including summer festivals.

• Matches are played as festivals or round robins: at least 4 teams at a central venue, or at least 3 teams at a club venue.
• Results should not be published.
• Clubs with more than one team in an age group should mix abilities across them. No "A" and "B" teams split by ability.
• Festivals can run all year round.

Under 12 and Under 13 (9v9): home and away fixtures, with leagues allowed.

• Under 12: the season starts with a non-competitive block, followed by at most 24 weeks of competition.
• Under 13: fully competitive in single-age leagues. Two-year age bands follow the Under 12 model.
• Mercy rule: when a team leads by 8 goals, the match is declared over and the score is recorded. The home team stops the match timer on the Comet app, and any remaining time is played as a friendly.
• Goal difference can't be used to decide league standings.
• Competitive seasons can start in August and should finish by 31 May.

Admin on COMET: every team submits one team sheet per match day on COMET. At festivals it's one per squad, not one per game. Under 12s and above also need a team roster on Comet for each Area Association competition they enter, including cups. A player who plays but isn't on the roster is ineligible.

Under 6 to Under 11: heading practice must not be part of training.

Under 12 and Under 13: heading is a low priority. When you introduce the technique, the FAW advises:

• No more than 10 minutes of heading in any training session, whatever its length.
• No more than 4 headers in one bout.
• Self-serve over short distances, with 8-10 steps between players.
• Sessions should always be unopposed.
• Use light balls for heading practice.

In matches, the FAW's rule changes keep the ball on the ground:

• Pass-ins replace throw-ins at Under 9 and below.
• Goalkeepers at Under 11 and below can't kick from their hands.
• Coaches should encourage short corners and short free kicks that stay below head height.

Always use the right size, weight and pressure of ball for the age group.

Under the FAW Small-Sided Football Regulations and Heading Guidelines:

• A player with a head injury or suspected head injury, whether from a collision or a heading drill, must not return to the pitch that day.
• The coach must advise the parent or guardian to get medical advice.
• Symptoms vary and can include dizziness, headache or unsteadiness.
• The player may only return to football activities if they have been symptom-free at rest for 14 days, and not before day 21.

The FAW follows the UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport for identifying and managing concussion.

The FAW's Positive Match Day Culture rules for 2026/27 say clubs and leagues must introduce these:

• No smoking, vaping or alcohol on the sideline. This includes 0.0% or zero-alcohol drinks that look like alcohol.
• Supportive sidelines. Spectators applaud and praise both teams, but don't shout, call out negatively or coach.
• Coaches can support players by asking questions that make them think for themselves, but must not continually shout instructions.
• "Behind the Line, Behind the Team":
  • Mark a buffer zone along both touchlines, ideally 2 metres wide (narrower if there isn't room), using barriers, cones or a painted line.
  • Only players, designated coaches and the first aider may be inside it.
  • All other spectators watch from behind the buffer zone.
  • No spectators on the goal line or behind the goals.