What will my Under 7 or Under 8 child's football look like in 2026/27? The new 3v3 and 5v5 formats, playing time, scores, heading, kit, concussion and the Respect code for parents.
The FA's FutureFit changes to youth football took effect from the start of the 2026/27 season. The maximum format for each age group is set in The FA's Standard Code of Rules:
| Age group | School year | Maximum format |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7 | Year 2 | 3v3 |
| Under 8 | Year 3 | 5v5 |
| Under 9 | Year 4 | 5v5 |
| Under 10-Under 11 | Years 5-6 | 7v7 |
These are maximums: children must not play in a match with more players a side than their age group allows, but smaller games (for example 4v4) are allowed and encouraged.
All mini-soccer (Under 7 to Under 11) uses a size 3 ball, no offside, and pass-ins or dribble-ins instead of throw-ins.
From 2026/27, 3v3 is the format for all Under 7 football in England.
| Under 7 (3v3) | |
|---|---|
| Players | 3 a side, no goalkeepers, no substitutes |
| Match length | 6-10 minutes per game (10 maximum) |
| Pitch | 15 x 10 m recommended (up to 20 x 15 m) |
| Goals | 4ft x 2.5ft (120 x 75 cm) |
| Ball | Size 3 |
| Officials | No referee: one adult facilitator per pitch helps the children decide |
How it plays
Under 7 football is non-competitive: no points or league tables.
Under 8s play up to 5v5, including a goalkeeper, with a referee.
| Under 8 (5v5) | |
|---|---|
| Match length | Up to 40 minutes (2 x 20, or quarters); half-time no more than 5 minutes |
| Pitch | Up to 37 x 27 m (minimum 27 x 18 m) |
| Goals | 12ft x 6ft |
| Ball | Size 3 |
| Minimum players to start | 4 |
Key rules
Leagues can set shorter match times, up to the maximum. Smaller games such as 4v4 are also allowed.
Age groups go by your child's age at midnight on 31 August at the start of the season, which lines up with school years.
| Age on 31 August 2026 | Age group | School year |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (or turns 6 during the season) | Under 7 | Year 2 |
| 7 | Under 8 | Year 3 |
Under 7 (3v3): everyone plays. There are no substitutes, so children rotate between several short games of 6-10 minutes. England Football recommends about 30-40 minutes of play per child per session.
Under 8 (5v5): a matchday squad is 10 players or fewer. Substitutions are rolling: players can come off and go back on at any time during a stoppage, with the referee's permission. The FA's best-practice recommendation is equal playing time, with at least 50% of each game for every player.
Daily limit (both ages): a child must not play more than 60 minutes in one day. The club and/or the parent or carer is responsible for making sure this isn't exceeded, for example at festivals or when a child plays for two teams.
No leagues and no published scores. Under The FA's Standard Code of Rules for Mini Soccer and Youth Football (2026/27):
The aim is for children to learn about winning and losing in a fun setting without season-long pressure.
No. There is no deliberate heading in matches for Under 7s up to and including Under 11s (FA Rule O, the heading trial permitted by IFAB).
In training, The FA's heading guidance says heading should not be introduced at all for Under 5s to Under 11s.
If a player wears clothing as a requirement of their faith, The FA expects the referee to allow it. Wearing shorts over tracksuit bottoms isn't required and shouldn't stop anyone playing.
The FA's Respect Code of Conduct for spectators (in The FA Handbook) asks every parent and spectator to:
Under The FA's Standard Code of Rules for youth leagues, clubs must comply with FA initiatives their league adopts, including Respect, or face a fine.
Under The FA's Respect Code of Conduct for spectators, any or all of these can be done by the club, County FA or The FA. A parent or spectator may be:
The club can be punished too. FA Rule E21 makes every club responsible for making sure its spectators and supporters (home or away) don't behave in an improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, insulting or provocative way, throw objects or come onto the pitch. The FA or County FA can fine and/or suspend the club.
Any physical assault on a referee or assistant referee will result in a lengthy or permanent exclusion from football and possibly a criminal prosecution.
Silent Support weekends are run by England Football so that young players can find their voice on the pitch, make their own decisions and enjoy their game without distracting noise from spectators on the sidelines.
There are two national Silent Support weekends in 2026/27:
Leagues can run their own extra Silent Support weekends on top of these.
The FA's concussion guidelines say: If in doubt, sit them out.
Getting back to football
Recovery follows a six-stage graduated return to play: 48 hours of relative rest, then light exercise, football-specific exercise, non-contact training, full contact training and finally matches. Stages 1-4 take at least 14 days, full contact training only starts once the child has been symptom-free for 14 days, and the earliest return to a match is day 21. If symptoms come back at any stage, drop back a stage.