When can I start playing women's open-age football?
Rule- England
- England Football
- The FA
- Women's and girls' football
- Youth football
- Mixed football
- Grassroots
- 2026/27
- Players
- Under 7-Open age
Under FA Rule C163 (2026/27 FA Handbook), you must be at least 16 to play in an open-age (adult) competition. That includes women's leagues.
- Exception: a girl aged 15 or over on 31 August of the season may play in a professional game academy competition run by the WSL and WSL2 (Rule C164).
- Mixed adult football (men and women together) is different: you must be 18 or over to register for or play in an FA-authorised mixed adult competition.
- If you're 16 or 17 and playing in an open-age team, safeguarding rules still protect you. For example, coaches and managers of open-age teams with 16 and 17-year-olds need an FA DBS check.
Updated 21 Oct 2026