Football Age Group Templates
Complete FA-based football guidelines for UK clubs — from U6 to Senior level, updated for the 2026/27 season under England Football's Future Fit pathway. Each guide covers format, pitch sizes, match lengths, ball sizes, rules and downloadable templates. Less admin, more coaching.
Future Fit: the new youth pathway for 2026/27
England Football's Future Fit programme reshapes the youth pathway from the 2026/27 season. Children stay in smaller-sided formats for longer, every age group gets more touches, more involvement and a better introduction to football at each stage.
Format pathway
| 3v3 | U7 | New entry format |
| 5v5 | U8 & U9 | U9 was 7v7 |
| 7v7 | U10 & U11 | U11 was 9v9 |
| 9v9 | U12 & U13 | U13 was 11v11 |
| 11v11 | U14+ | Was U13 |
Ball sizes
| Size 3 | 3v3, 5v5, 7v7 | U7–U11 |
| Size 4 | 9v9 | U12–U13 |
| Size 5 | 11v11 | U14+ |
Quick Reference
U6 — Festival / pre-pathway
Pre-pathway development with festival-style sessions feeding into 3v3 at U7.
U7 — 3v3 (new entry format)
Carousel-format 3v3 football with simplified rules, no goalkeepers, no formal results — the new entry point to organised football.
U8 & U9 — 5v5
Small-sided 5v5 football focused on fun, ball mastery and team play. No offside rule.
U10 & U11 — 7v7
Mini-soccer 7v7 with a Size 3 ball through to U11. Players have an extra year in 7v7 before stepping up to 9v9 at U12.
U12 & U13 — 9v9
Transitional format with offside rules and a Size 4 ball. Two full seasons of 9v9 before 11v11 begins at U14.
U14 to U18 — 11v11
Full-size football with IFAB Laws of the Game and a Size 5 ball from U14.
Under 14 Football Guide
Under 15 Football Guide
Under 16 Football Guide
Under 17 Football Guide
Under 18 Football Guide
Senior Football
Adult football with full competitive rules.
More Future Fit resources
Future Fit 2026/27 — Club Briefing
Full breakdown of the new pathway, pitch and goal sizes, U7 3v3 specifics, equipment and pre-season actions for clubs. Downloadable PDF.
FAQsFuture Fit 2026/27 — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers for clubs, coaches and parents on the new pathway, 3v3 at U7, equipment, coaches and volunteers, and more.
See an Example
Want to see what a completed template looks like? Download this example U15 template from a real club. The example reflects the previous season — U15 specs are unchanged under Future Fit, so the format remains a useful guide.
Download Example PDFRelated Coaching Guides
The best grassroots football clubs start next season now
End-of-season planning tied directly to the FA's Future Fit launch. What clubs and coaches should do this summer to be ready for 2026/27.
Future FitFuture Fit: How Youth Football Will Change From 2026
Our original explainer on the Future Fit reforms and what they mean for grassroots clubs, coaches, players and parents.
CoachingAdmin Is Killing Your Coaching Time: Here's What the Data Says
These templates are one way to reduce admin overhead. Discover how grassroots coaches lose 15+ hours per week to admin tasks.
Disclaimer
The information provided in these templates is based on The FA's published guidelines for youth and adult football in England. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, rules and regulations may vary by county FA, league, or competition. Coaches and clubs should always check with their league or governing body for the most up-to-date and applicable rules.
These resources are provided by tactico for guidance and educational purposes only.
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