Under 7s Football

U7 is the entry point to organised grassroots football in England. FA rules use mini-soccer 5v5 with no offside and a retreat line that gives the team in possession space to play out from goal kicks. Heading is explicitly prohibited in training and matches at this age.

The FA's development phase for Under 7s is FUNdamentals — first touch, dribbling, fun-led participation. 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 U7 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.

Retreat line: at U7 the opposition must retreat to the halfway line on goal kicks, giving the team in possession space to build out. Use this rule to teach playing-out-from-the-back without the pressure of a full press.

If this is your child's first season at U7, start with our first match guide covering kit, arrival times, and matchday etiquette. For boots that suit U7 pitch types, see our football boots buying guide.

Common questions at U7: 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.