Under 11s Football

U11 introduces 9v9 with a bigger pitch and full offside law. The retreat line is removed. Heading is still prohibited in training but allowed in matches only when unavoidable. This is the first season many clubs introduce a recognisable formation (typically 3-3-2 or 3-2-3).

The FA's development phase for Under 11s is Skill Acquisition into Game Understanding — formation play, positional rotation. That means training sessions should weight ball mastery, decision-making, and enjoyment over tactical complexity, with progressively more game-realistic small-sided practices as players move through the season.

Heading note: the FA prohibits heading at U11 level in both training and matches. This follows research linking repeated youth heading to long-term neurological risk. See our safeguarding hub for the full FA heading guidelines by age.

If this is your child's first season at U11, start with our first match guide covering kit, arrival times, and matchday etiquette. For boots that suit U11 pitch types, see our football boots buying guide.

Common questions at U11: how much should my child train each week? When should I let them play in goal? What if they aren't enjoying it? See our advice hub and FAQ for age-appropriate guidance.