Under 12s Football

U12 continues 9v9. FA heading guidelines limit training-ground heading to a maximum of 1 session per month, with a maximum of 5 headers per player per session. Full offside applies and the retreat line is gone.

The FA's development phase for Under 12s is Game Understanding — pressing triggers, positional discipline, transitions. 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 U12 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 U12, start with our first match guide covering kit, arrival times, and matchday etiquette. For boots that suit U12 pitch types, see our football boots buying guide.

Common questions at U12: 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.