What will small-sided football look like in Scotland in 2026 for my child born 2014-2020 (ages 6-12)? Formats by year of birth, game length, playing time, results, the retreating line, sideline behaviour and PVG.
Scottish FA small-sided formats go by year of birth. These are the maximum formats for 2026:
| Year of birth | Max format | Pitch (max) | Goals (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 4v4 (and multi-games) | 30 x 20m | 8ft x 4ft (2.5 x 1.2m) |
| 2018 | 5v5 | 40 x 30m | 16ft x 6ft (4.9 x 1.8m) |
| 2016-2017 | 7v7 | about 36-45m wide x 55-65m long | 16ft x 6ft |
| 2015 | 7v7 until May, 9v9 from June 2026 | 9v9: about 42-47m x 65-75m, or half a full-size pitch |
| 16ft x 6ft |
| 2014 | 9v9, moving to 11v11 from May 2026 | about 42-47m x 65-75m | 16ft x 6ft |
These are maximums. Children can always play a smaller format but must not play a larger one. For under-9s, the Scottish FA wants most football to be club-based, with mixed ages and formats from 1v1 up to 4v4, alongside local festivals.
These are the Scottish FA's 2026 maximums. Leagues and festivals can play shorter games.
| Year of birth | Format | Max game length | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 4v4 | 10 minutes, with 5 minutes between games and up to 4 games an hour | March to November |
| 2018 | 5v5 | 20 minutes (2 x 10), with up to 3 x 15-minute or 2 x 20-minute games an hour | March to November |
| 2017 | 7v7 (first year) | 2 x 20 minutes, or 3 x 15 | March to November |
| 2016 | 7v7 | 2 x 25 minutes, or 3 x 15 | March to November |
| 2015 | 7v7, then 9v9 | 7v7: 2 x 25 or 3 x 15. 9v9: 2 x 30 | 7v7 March to May, 9v9 June 2026 to May 2027 |
| 2014 | 9v9 | 2 x 30 minutes, or 3 x 20 | March to June, then 11-a-side from May 2026 |
Half-time in 7v7 and 9v9 is 5 minutes. Team leaders can jointly agree to shorten a game for bad weather, a poor pitch or an obvious mismatch.
No. All Scottish FA small-sided football from 4v4 to 9v9 is trophy free:
The Scottish FA's aim is for children to enjoy the game and develop, without a "win at all costs" mentality.
Under the Scottish FA's 2026 rules, all team members should get equal playing time. Substitutions are rolling, so a player who has come off can go back on as often as needed.
These are the maximum match-day squad sizes:
| Format | On the pitch | Max squad |
|---|---|---|
| 4v4 | 4 outfield, no goalkeeper | 6 |
| 5v5 | 5, one may act as goalkeeper | 7 |
| 7v7 | 6 outfield + goalkeeper | 10 |
| 9v9 | 8 outfield + goalkeeper | 14 |
The Scottish FA encourages teams to bring fewer players than the maximum so each child gets more game time. It also asks coaches to rotate players through different positions.
In 4v4, 5v5 and 7v7 there is no referee. Instead a Game Supervisor runs the game:
In 9v9 a referee is optional. The game is run by a Game Supervisor or, if one is available, an official referee.
At the end of every game, coaches should get both teams to shake hands with each other and with the officials.
The retreating line is a development rule in 7v7 (children born 2015 to 2017). It gives the goalkeeper and defenders time to play out from the back instead of kicking long.
In 4v4 and 5v5 there is no retreating line. Instead, the scoring team drops back to halfway after a goal. 9v9 has no retreating line, and the penalty area applies as normal.
The Scottish FA's 2026 small-sided rules change several Laws to keep the ball on the ground and in play:
| Rule | 4v4 and 5v5 | 7v7 | 9v9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offside | No | No | Yes, normal rules |
| Pass-back to goalkeeper | Not penalised | Not penalised | Penalised, normal rules |
| Ball over the touchline | Kick-in or dribble-in | Kick-in with a short pass | Throw-in |
| Free kicks | All indirect, opponents 3m away | All indirect, opponents 6m away | Opponents 6m away |
| Corners | Kick-in or dribble-in | Opponents 6m away, short corners encouraged | Opponents 6m away, short corners encouraged |
| Goalkeepers | None in 4v4. In 5v5 one player may act as goalkeeper | Goalkeepers throw or pass from the ground. No kicking from hands | Kicking from hands allowed, but throwing or passing is encouraged |
After a goal in 4v4 and 5v5, the scoring team drops back to halfway and the other team restarts from their penalty area by dribbling in or passing forward. From 7v7 up, play restarts with a kick-off and opponents 6 metres away.
The Scottish FA's 2026 small-sided rules set out the same kit rules for every format:
Ball sizes by format:
| Year of birth | Format | Ball |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-2020 | 4v4 and 5v5 | Size 3 |
| 2016-2017 | 7v7 | Size 4 for boys, size 3 for girls |
| 2014-2015 | 7v7 and 9v9 | Size 4 |
The Scottish FA's 2026 rules set fixed dates for moving up:
Before playing 11-a-side, the club must meet Rule 22 of the SYFA Supplementary and Playing Rules. Every team playing 11-a-side from August 2026 needs at least one coach with the Scottish FA Level 1.2 Youth/Adult Coaching Certificate. Children's Pathway coaching qualifications don't count at 11-a-side.
Before league fixtures start, teams playing friendly matches need a permit from the Scottish Youth FA.
The Scottish FA's Let Them Play and Let Them Ref campaigns ask every club to have these in place at every game:
The campaign's message to parents: let the coaches coach and the referees referee, encourage rather than instruct, and keep the car journey home supportive. The Scottish FA also has an online Touchline Behaviour module. It isn't compulsory, but the Scottish FA strongly encourages everyone in grassroots football to take it.
PVG is the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland. Anyone doing a regulated role with children is legally required to be a PVG scheme member.
How it works in Scottish youth football:
Under the Scottish Youth FA Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy, nobody who has a concern about a child, or about an adult's conduct towards a child, should keep it to themselves or try to deal with it alone.
This applies whether the concern comes from football or from outside it, for example at home.