Coach's Guide to Irish FA Youth Football Framework Under 6-Under 18 2026/27

These are the Irish FA Youth Football Framework game structures:

Under 6 to Under 9 football is built around festivals with several short games, so every child gets more time on the ball.

These are the Irish FA Youth Football Framework rules:

For dribble-ins and pass-ins:

• The ball must be stationary where it went out.
• Passes should be along the ground.
• A goal can't be scored direct from a pass-in.

In 3v3:

• If a team puts the ball out behind its own goals, play restarts with a self-start from the halfway mark on the sideline.
• Goals only count if they're scored in the opponents' half.

After a goal, the team that conceded restarts from the centre.

The possession line gives the team taking a goal kick space to play out from the back. All opponents start behind it.

In 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7 the goal kick can be dribbled or passed in.

The Irish FA Powerplay applies in 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7 (Under 6 to Under 11):

• If a team goes four goals behind, it can put on one extra player.
• If the lead drops below four again, that team takes a player off before the game restarts.

There is no Powerplay in 9v9 or 11v11.

Under the Irish FA Youth Football Framework, every player should play at least half of the total game time in every format. Substitutions are rolling, so players can go back on after being taken off.

Position rotation:

• 5v5: players rotate positions each game, and a nominated goalkeeper must play at least one game outfield.
• 7v7: players rotate positions each game, and a nominated goalkeeper must play at least one period outfield.

This depends on the format under the Irish FA Youth Football Framework:

• 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7 (Under 6 to Under 11): there's no referee. Game supervisors call all fouls, and play restarts with a self-start (dribble or pass). Opponents stand at least 3 yards away in 3v3 and 5v5, and 5 yards in 7v7.
• 9v9 and 11v11: an official referee runs the game under the full Laws of the Game, and offside applies. If no referee turns up, the two head coaches toss a coin to decide who referees.

These are the Irish FA's minimum coach education requirements for youth football (not NIFL academies):

NIFL academy teams need higher awards, from the UEFA B Youth Diploma up to the UEFA A Diploma at 18.

AccessNI is Northern Ireland's criminal record checking service. Under Irish FA safeguarding policy, every volunteer doing regulated activity with children must complete an Enhanced Disclosure check before acting in an official role in affiliated football. That includes coaches and managers. The check is made against the barred list if the work is unsupervised.

How it works:

1. The club gives you an AccessNI application form, and you complete the online registration for an Enhanced Disclosure.
2. You return the form to the club's Designated Child Safeguarding Officer (DCSO) or chairperson with three forms of ID. If needed, you also send a self-declaration of any cautions or convictions to the Irish FA Safeguarding Team.
3. The DCSO or chair sends the application to the Irish FA Safeguarding Team at Windsor Park, which processes it with AccessNI.
4. If anything is disclosed, the Irish FA risk-assesses it case by case. The outcome is suitable, unsuitable or suitable subject to additional measures. A conviction doesn't automatically rule you out, but sexual offences and offences against children may.

Vetting checks should be renewed every 3 years.

Under the Irish FA Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, all volunteers and management committee members in affiliated youth football need basic safeguarding training:

• Attend the Irish FA Safeguarding Children and Young People in Football course within 3 months of starting your role.
• Your first session must be tutor-led.
• Do refresher training every 3 years. The Irish FA's online course at irishfacoaching.com counts as a refresher. Give your club your certificate so it can be checked.

The course covers:

• spotting a child protection or poor-practice concern
• how to respond to, record and report concerns under Irish FA guidelines
• your responsibilities as a volunteer
• the Irish FA codes of conduct.

Clubs must keep records of each official's safeguarding training and vetting check, and update both every 3 years.

Under Irish FA safeguarding policy, every club and affiliated body must appoint a Designated Child Safeguarding Officer (DCSO). Before appointing someone, the club must make sure they have:

• a satisfactory AccessNI check before taking up the role
• completed the Irish FA basic safeguarding course
• completed the Irish FA DCSO training within 6 months of starting
• kept up refresher training

The DCSO:

• is the first point of contact on safeguarding for coaches, volunteers, parents and players
• sits on the club management committee
• makes sure every volunteer supervising children has completed vetting and safeguarding training before starting, and renews both on time
• keeps records of each volunteer's coaching qualifications, vetting outcome, training dates and any complaints.

The Irish FA Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy recommends:

• Nobody should work in total isolation. Make sure extra supervision is available in case of an emergency.
• The ratios can be adjusted for the knowledge, skills and experience of the coaching team and the needs of the group, including any players with additional needs.
• Children must be properly supervised at all times.