Youth Football by Age Group
From U7 mini-soccer to U18 full-format football, each age group has its own FA rules on pitch size, ball size, match length, offside, and heading. Find your child's age group below.
Under 7s
5–6 years old
FUNdamentals — first touch, dribbling, fun-led participation
Under 8s
6–7 years old
FUNdamentals — ball mastery, coordination, dribbling joy
Under 9s
7–8 years old
Skill Acquisition phase — 1v1s, scanning, decision-making under light pressure
Under 10s
8–9 years old
Skill Acquisition — combination play, receiving on the half-turn, defensive shape
Under 11s
9–10 years old
Skill Acquisition into Game Understanding — formation play, positional rotation
Under 12s
10–11 years old
Game Understanding — pressing triggers, positional discipline, transitions
Under 13s
11–12 years old
Game Understanding — full pitch awareness, role specialisation, set-piece routines
Under 14s
12–13 years old
Game Understanding into Performance — strength on the ball, defensive 1v1 mastery
Under 15s
13–14 years old
Performance phase — tactical complexity, physical preparation, role mastery
Under 16s
14–15 years old
Performance phase — adult-game intensity, contract decisions, academic balance
Under 17s
15–16 years old
Performance — full adult format, adult laws, pathway to senior football
Under 18s
16–17 years old
Senior pathway — transition to open-age football, FA Level 1 coaching eligibility
How age groups work in UK grassroots
The FA's youth football pathway runs from U7 (5–6 years old) through U18 (16–17 years old). Each age group plays a specific format and ball size designed to match physical and cognitive development.
The mini-soccer years (U7–U10) emphasise individual skill, dribbling and fun-led participation. From U11 to U12 the format steps up to 9v9 with full offside. U13 onwards is 11v11 on increasingly larger pitches, building toward the full adult game by U17.
Heading guidance limits the amount of in-training heading younger players are exposed to, in line with FA research-informed protocols. Heading is prohibited entirely up to and including U11 match play.