As announced by the FA in February, from the 2026/27 season, changes will be introduced to Youth Football focused on maximising the experience of all young players.
We appreciate that change can be challenging, so we want to highlight the support that will be put in place this season to ensure you’re prepared for the upcoming changes.
What is changing about youth football?
A range of changes will be introduced focusing on how football is experienced at different stages of the player pathway including the formats experienced and the rules played to. Changes will include the introduction of a new Youth Development Framework which will provide a clear approach to maximise children’s experience of football. Within this specific changes will be made to playing opportunities from 2026/27 onwards including:
- The introduction of 3v3 as the entry format for players at U7s focused upon maximising their engagement with the game and delivering through a model that provides the best introduction to football.
- Smaller formats are proven to drive increased levels of physical activity and maximise the technical actions experienced by players so we will ensure that players get to experience smaller formats for longer as they transition through the pathway. This will see 11v11 introduced at U14s.
- Changes to game restarts so there’s more ball in play time, and more complex rules will be added as players go into secondary education.
Our ambition for the future is to explore more ways to make children’s experience of the game even greater. We will continue working with the game to develop changes to give children more chances to play in different ways. We’re exploring how we structure seasons, deliver competition and use the football formats to keep players playing and enjoying the game for longer. There will be further consultation and information to come about this.
Support for all key stakeholders will be provided to ensure that all changes are implemented smoothly and successfully.
FAQs
Will we have to affiliate more teams for 3v3?
For 3v3 the idea is not to have smaller squads playing a single 3v3 fixture. Instead, the focus is on having appropriately sized squads competing on matchdays with multiple games taking place at once.
This allows every child in the squad to play for the maximum time possible. There are no substitutes. We recommend a matchday squad of between 6 and 12 players.
Will we need more coaches and volunteers to deliver 3v3?
Currently the average squad size for 5v5 is 9 players with a minimum of two FA DBS checked coaches/adults.
For 3v3 the recommended squad size will be between 6 and 12 players with two FA DBS checked coaches/adults who will act as Pitch Facilitators.
How will children learn the rules for 3v3 without a match official?
There should be a Pitch Facilitator for each of the pitches used on matchdays ensuring a safe playing environment and providing positive encouragement to all players. Alongside this they will support players in their understanding of the 3v3 playing rules.
Initially players will require greater levels of support from an adult but over time they will be able to manage their games more independently.
New goals will be needed for 3v3. What support will there be?
To help you get started, the Football Foundation will be offering a bespoke 3v3 Goal Support Package. More details on how to apply will follow at the League Conference in November.
What was wrong with 5v5 for U7s. Why the need for change?
It is not that there is anything wrong with 5v5 – after all, as a format it will still play a crucial role in the development of young players as they move through U8s and U9s.
The change is more an ambition to deliver the best introduction to football for our youngest players. 3v3 encourages more physical activity and increases technical play. It means more touches on the ball, more playing time on the pitch for young players and more opportunity to develop their skills in a team setting.
Will we need to create lots of new 3v3 pitches?
A large volume of 3v3 pitches will be required to accommodate for the volume of U7s players however there isn’t the need for these to be marked permanently.
3v3 can be set up in different locations week to week, using cones or flat disks. You can use bigger or smaller sized pitches, or unmarked spaces.
Up to four 3v3 pitches (10x15m minimum) can be created within the space a current 5v5 pitch (27x37m) would require.
How will goalkeepers work for 3v3?
3v3 match play does not require goalkeepers. All children will therefore have the opportunity to develop ball manipulation skills with both feet whilst also having a positive experience of both attack and defence.
The more formal role of a goalkeeper can still be practiced in training environments for those that show a particular interest.
What if I don’t have the right number of players available for 3v3 on a matchday?
One of the key principles of 3v3 is that every child can participate for the maximum time possible. There are no substitutes.
In an ideal world each team would have a squad of players divisible by 3. This however won’t always be the case. Sometimes a team of 2 is necessary so every child can take part.
Teams are normally created from the same squad but occasionally it may be necessary to have mixed teams from opposing squads. Not all children will be comfortable playing in a mixed team, so Team Managers will need to work together to select the right combination of players.
How will we report match results for 3v3?
Given that a match day will consist of multiple games taking place there is not an expectation that results will need to be reported.
Will all players get equal time in 3v3?
One of the key principles of 3v3 is that every child can participate for the maximum time possible. There are no substitutes. The recommended game play for every child is between 30 and 40 minutes, with a maximum time of 60 minutes. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, and leagues and Matchday Organisers will have flexibility to choose how they do this with lots of guidance being provided ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Will there be CPD or guidance for coaches to deliver 3v3 well?
Yes, there will be lots of support on offer ahead of the changes being introduced in 2026/27 including online conferences, 3v3 festivals, guidance documents, bespoke 3v3 CPD offers and lots more.
Has this been trialled ahead of the changes being introduced?
Yes, our 3v3 model has been trialled and tested across a number of grassroots settings and furthermore we have over 20 leagues who have already come on board as Early Adopters of 3v3 during the 2025/26 season with whom we are working closely to ensure that all best practice is captured and ready to be shared with the wider grassroots community.
No, as part of implementing the new pathway from the 2026/27 season there will be no requirement on teams to move back to a smaller format. In order to aid the smooth transition some age groups will be required to play three seasons at a given format rather than the current two but this will continue to expose them to the benefits of smaller formats for longer.
Are there any differences between the offer for boys and girls?
Our research didn’t find there was a need for different formats for boys and girls, so our future vision is that the pathways should be the same. It should be noted, though, that the formats in the vision are simply maximums, meaning that smaller games are also available at each age group and there may be circumstances where it’s beneficial for this to happen.
How will the changes to youth football impact coach education?
New coach education content will be developed to support the roll out of the changes and current coaching courses will be updated over time to align to the implemented changes.
When are the changes to youth football coming into effect?
The country-wide implementation of changes will begin from the 2026/27 season. However there will be the opportunity for stakeholders to adopt some changes early where desired. This lead-in time provides a sufficient window in which to prepare for the impending changes and ensure a smooth transition.
Why are changes being made to youth football?
Our ambition is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and active game for every child, every week, with increased physical activity and more touches of the ball for every young player.
In 2023 The FA launched a project to explore the future of youth football in England, aiming to identify new and exciting opportunities to improve grassroots football for young players across the country. This was the first time the game’s governing body had undertaken such an extensive piece of work in over a decade, when The FA’s Youth Development Review led to the introduction of 5v5 and 9v9 formats to the youth player pathway.
Whilst our grassroots game is in a strong place The FA is committed to being at the forefront of change, ensuring we provide a game that every child can love, and enables them to reach their full potential.
This means continuing to evaluate and refine the football offer for youth players to ensure it remains the activity of choice for current and future generations.
How do I find out more about the changes and why they are being implemented?
Our Future Fit: Digital Content Hub is the place to go to find out the latest information and over the coming months further content will be added to the platform to support the games understanding of the changes, the impact they have and how they will be rolled out.
You can also check out our Future Fit: Online Event here giving more information on why changes are being made and what they will look like.
There are more details about 3v3 specifically here and for more on the wider support
available please visit our One Year to Go page.
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