Future Fit 2026/27 — Your Questions Answered

Future Fit is England Football's youth development framework, now in effect from the 2026/27 season. The goal is straightforward: keep younger players in smaller-sided formats for longer, so every child gets more time on the ball, more involvement in the game, and a better introduction to football at each stage of their development.

Three core changes: U7s moved from 5v5 to 3v3; every format step shifted one year later along the pathway, with 11v11 not beginning until U14; and game restarts were updated across age groups to keep the ball in play for longer.

U7 plays 3v3 (down from 5v5). U8 and U9 play 5v5. U10 and U11 play 7v7. U12 and U13 play 9v9. U14 and above play 11v11. Ball sizes follow the format: size 3 for 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7; size 4 for 9v9; size 5 for 11v11.

Yes. This is a confirmed mandatory change across England from the start of the 2026/27 season. It is not a trial or a pilot. The 2025/26 season has been a transition period specifically to give clubs, coaches and leagues time to prepare.

From the start of the 2026/27 season, which is now underway. Over 20 leagues were already running 3v3 as early adopters during 2025/26, and the feedback from coaches and players has been consistently positive.

The FA spent two years consulting coaches, clubs, players and parents before announcing Future Fit. Their research, conducted in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University across more than 400 grassroots matches, found that smaller formats significantly increase physical activity, the number of technical actions per player, and overall engagement. The aim is more touches, more decisions, more involvement and more enjoyment for every child, every week.

Yes. Countries including France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Italy already use 3v3 or similarly small formats for their youngest players. England is aligning with a well-established European direction of travel.

No. No team will be required to move back to a smaller format. Some age groups may play their current format for three seasons rather than two during the transition period, but the direction of travel is always forward.

If you run U14s and above, your format doesn't change. It's still worth understanding the pathway your younger players are moving through, updating any club documentation, and making sure parents are clear on what the U7 experience looks like if you have a club-wide cohort coming through.

3v3 gives the youngest players the best possible introduction to football. With only three players per side, every child is involved in almost every moment — more touches, more decisions, more time to try skills and make mistakes without pressure. The research shows 3v3 produces significantly higher levels of physical activity and technical action per player compared to 5v5 at that age. 5v5 remains an important part of the pathway at U8 and U9 — the change is about getting the entry point right, not removing 5v5.

It's a different experience from a traditional matchday. Instead of one game on one pitch, multiple short games run simultaneously in a carousel format. Each game lasts between 6 and 10 minutes. Each child gets between 30 and 40 minutes of total playing time across the session. There are no substitutes — every player is on the pitch for every game they're part of. The focus is on involvement and enjoyment, not results.

No. There's no requirement to report results. With multiple simultaneous games and a carousel format, the emphasis is on participation and player development rather than league standings.

No. Each pitch has a Pitch Facilitator — a DBS-checked adult who helps players understand the rules and keeps the environment positive. There is no formal match official. Players are encouraged to manage their own games, and most do exactly that given a little time.

No. All six players are active outfield players throughout. Every child has equal opportunity to experience both attacking and defending. Goalkeeping can still be introduced in training for children who show an interest, but it plays no formal role in 3v3 matchdays.

No. Goalkeeping is a skill set that develops best through outfield experience first. Building confidence with the ball at their feet, reading the game, and learning to defend in tight spaces all feed directly into goalkeeper development later. Specialist goalkeeper training can begin in a training context whenever a child and coach feel it's appropriate.

England Football recommends a matchday squad of between 6 and 12 players. Because there are no substitutes, every player in the squad plays. Ideally squads are in multiples of three, but if the numbers don't work out exactly, coaches can use 2v2, 2v3, or occasionally mixed teams from opposing squads — with the players' agreement.

No. You don't need to create new teams or affiliate more squads. 3v3 is about getting more out of the squad you already have — multiple games running simultaneously, all players on, all the time.

They can, but they don't have to. The FA's research found no development-based reason to separate boys and girls at U7 level. 3v3 works equally well for both. The decision is down to what works best for your club and the players involved.

Every indication from early adopter clubs is that they do. Coaches who've seen it in action report that players are more engaged, more active and more enthusiastic — with fewer arguments about the score. Players themselves tell a similar story: the most common feedback is that they love having more chances to touch the ball.

Often more so than in larger formats. With fewer players on the pitch, there's nowhere to hide — but there's also nowhere to feel lost. Every child is involved constantly, which tends to build confidence faster than larger formats where quieter players can drift to the margins. 3v3 is widely seen as the most inclusive introduction to football.

Between 15x10m (minimum) and 20x15m (maximum). Critically, four 3v3 pitches fit in the same space as a single 5v5 pitch. They don't need to be permanently marked — six cones and a pair of goals is all it takes to set one up.

The recommended goal size is 4x2.5ft. Cones can also be used as goal markers if portable goals aren't immediately available. The Football Foundation has been offering a bespoke 3v3 Goal Support Package to help clubs with the cost — check with your County FA for the latest details.

No. Your 12x6ft goals remain correct for 5v5 and 7v7. Your 16x7ft goals remain correct for 9v9. Your 21x7ft goals remain correct for U14. Only the 4x2.5ft goals for 3v3 are an addition. Nothing needs replacing.

No. 3v3 areas can be marked with cones and flat discs week to week in different locations. Given that four 3v3 areas fit within a single 5v5 space, most clubs with existing junior facilities can accommodate the format without major site changes.

Yes, for some age groups. Size 3 now applies all the way through to U11, reflecting the extension of 7v7 into that year group. Size 4 applies at U12-U13. Size 5 begins at U14. The most notable changes for clubs are at U11 — which moves to a standardised Size 3 — and U14, which moves to a confirmed Size 5 from Size 4.

Not necessarily. Two FA DBS checked, safeguarding-trained adults acting as Pitch Facilitators are required per matchday session, regardless of how many simultaneous 3v3 games are running. The Pitch Facilitator role is different from traditional touchline coaching — it's about enabling and encouraging, not directing.

A Pitch Facilitator keeps each playing area safe, supports players in understanding the rules, and provides positive encouragement. They step back as much as possible and let the game flow. It's facilitated play, not coaching in the traditional sense — and most coaches find it more enjoyable than they expect.

Yes. England Football has run online conferences, face-to-face workshops, 3v3 festivals, and produced guidance documents to prepare coaches. Your County FA is the best point of contact for local training opportunities. Coaching courses are also being updated to reflect the Future Fit changes across the pathway.

The format itself is designed to reduce complexity at U7 level — no results to report, no match official to coordinate. The main admin shift is in initial setup: updating pitch layout plans, communicating the changes to parents and reviewing equipment. Once the season starts, 3v3 matchdays are operationally simpler than traditional fixtures. Tools like tactico can help bring squad management, communications and planning into one place — reducing the overhead of the transition.

Keep it simple and positive. Their child will play more, have more touches on the ball, and enjoy football more from day one. This isn't the game being watered down — it's the game being optimised for the age. The tactico Future Fit Club Briefing includes a ready-to-use paragraph clubs can adapt directly for a newsletter or parent email.

No. The research shows the opposite. Children who develop their skills in smaller formats are better prepared when they transition to larger formats — more technically confident, more physically capable, and more emotionally ready for the demands of bigger pitches. Rushing children into 9v9 or 11v11 before they're developmentally ready doesn't accelerate progress; it often undermines it.

U7 plays 3v3, the new entry format under Future Fit. U8 plays 5v5. The 3v3 format only applies at U7 — U8 and U9 both play 5v5 from 2026/27 onwards. Use the pathway summary to check the right format for any age group.

Yes. The format changes, not the opportunity to play and compete. Leagues and competitions continue. The difference at U7 is that results aren't formally recorded and the emphasis shifts toward participation over outcome — which is widely considered the right approach at that age, and what most parents say they want when asked directly.

Only at U7 in matches, and only temporarily in the sense that goalkeeping becomes more formally available as players move through the pathway. The U7 years are widely recognised as the best time to develop all-round football skills before any specialisation. Goalkeepers who spend their early years as active outfield players typically develop better footwork, game understanding and spatial awareness than those who specialise too early.

Less so than in larger formats, actually. With fewer players per side and smaller pitches, the game naturally self-regulates — dominant players have less space to run at opponents repeatedly, and every player is required to defend and attack continuously. Many coaches report that ability gaps feel less visible in 3v3 than in 5v5.

Yes. The Football Foundation offers grants to eligible clubs covering up to 75% of the cost of new goalposts, storage and pitch improvements. A specific 3v3 Goal Support Package has been made available. Contact your County FA for current details on eligibility and how to apply.

Several places. England Football's Future Fit Digital Content Hub at futurefit.englandfootball.com is the official resource. Your County FA runs local workshops and events. tactico has produced a free Club Briefing, updated Age Group Templates and this FAQ specifically to help clubs prepare clearly and practically.

Your County FA is the right escalation point for competition-specific queries. For development, safeguarding and implementation questions, England Football's Future Fit hub and the FA's safeguarding guidance are the authoritative sources.

Browse the Football Age Group Templates section for a full breakdown by age. Always check match duration against your relevant competition or County FA guidance before communicating to members, as local implementation details may vary.