Guide to Mini Soccer: U7 & U8 Football Rules

Played in schools, local youth clubs or even just at the park on weekends, football is designed to be enjoyed by participants of all ages. Offering a wide range of health and fitness benefits as well as a whole host of transferable skills including teamwork, planning and more, getting children involved in football from a young age is a great way to help them stay physically and mentally fit and healthy. So, if you’re looking to strike a balance between both fun and wellbeing, mini soccer is a great place to start.

Whether your young footballer is just starting to get involved in the sport, or they’ve been playing for some time, you can help them to understand this team game and get the most out of their practice by reading our guide to mini soccer. Join us as we discuss everything there is to know about mini soccer, including the U7 and U8 football rules. 

Why should kids play mini soccer?

The ultimate goal of every form of youth football is to give young children the best possible opportunity to easily access and enjoy the sport. While, as any coach will confirm, setting twenty or so 6-year-olds loose on an adult-sized pitch is not the best way to achieve this. Instead, a modified version of the game was designed to give young players a more manageable, but still challenging, introduction to the game. The smaller team sizes of U7 and U8 mini soccer helps to free up time for the coach to pay closer attention to each player and their individual strengths, ultimately providing them with a better chance to improve and excel at the sport.

As mentioned above, mini soccer has been designed to suit the specific abilities of young players, helping them get to grips with the sport without being too overwhelmed. Most importantly, this modified game maintains the soul of football, giving children under 7 years old the chance to enjoy the game while still reaping all the benefits of getting involved with a team sport. The smaller teams, simplified rules and more appropriately-sized pitches and goals are made to provide a much smoother starting point. Overall, mini soccer allows children to begin their football journey from a manageable and accessible starting point.

What are the mini soccer rules on competitive football?

Unlike older youth football groups, under 7s and under 8s football teams are not permitted to participate in any leagues that count or publish results from matches, or that present trophies to winners. This law has been outlined by the FA and is included in both U7 and U8 football rules as competition at this age is considered to be detrimental, rather than encouraging. 

The slight exception to this rule is that these age groups can play up to three trophy-giving events per season, providing these events last no longer than two weeks each. This rule was added from season 2013-2014 to allow children the opportunity to learn about winning and losing in a safe environment, with the time constraints and limitations of each event helping to ensure that stress and pressure is kept to an absolute minimum.

Under 7s football rules

What age is U7 football?

As the name suggests, U7 football is played by children under the age of 7, just as U8 football (discussed later in the blog) is played by children under the age of 8. Following the same schedule as the school year, as stated by the FA age rules for junior football, to qualify for U7 mini soccer, players must have turned 6 as of midnight on 31st August in the playing season and can play the game until they turn 7.

What size are U7 goals?

In accordance with the FA guide to pitch and goal post dimensions, U7 goals are kept the same in U8 football matches to accommodate the players’ smaller size. As a result, the goals used in both under 7s and under 8s mini soccer measure 12ft by 6ft. 

What size football for a 7 year old?

Similar adjustments are made for the ball size in mini soccer, which is a size 3 ball, and the pitch size, where the recommended measurements are 40 by 30 yards. Regulations also state that the ball should be made from leather or another appropriate material. 

Is there an offside in U7 football? 

There is no offside in mini soccer. The offside rule is subject to much debate, as it can be confusing to understand and easily influenced by human error. Even in the premier league, the offside rule often requires consolidation from VAR. Many coaches will understand that the rules of football can be a lot for children to take on board, so allowing younger players to explore their strengths through a smaller and less complex game can help them to find more enjoyment in the sport without feeling the added pressure to perform.

Under 8s football rules

What age is U8 football?

The rules for U8 football state ‘the player must be under the age of 8 as of midnight on 31st August in the playing season’, meaning that children aged 6-8 can play this game. As a result, U8 football has a slightly wider age range compared to U7. 

How long is an U8 football match?

For mini soccer, there is no set match duration applied to under 8 football games, which is the same case for under 7s. Instead, the length of an U7 or U8 football match is decided by the league or competition. The only FA regulation in place for this states that it must be within the maximum length of 40 minutes per match and shouldn't exceed this. These games are played in two halves, and each half is also held to a maximum duration of 20 minutes. With a standard football match being 90 minutes and split into two 45-minute halves, the shorter game length for U7 and U8 mini soccer can help to ease younger players into their football journey, only experiencing longer durations as they grow and progress into higher levels.

How many players are in under 8s football?

According to the mini soccer under 7/8 football rules, matches are played with five players on each side, including the goalkeeper. This is the maximum number of players that are allowed per team. However, in the instance where a competition or league may have less players available within the age range, 4v4 matches can also be arranged, though four players per team is the minimum number allowed for mini soccer. While, it’s also important that in 4v4 games, there is no dedicated goalkeeper for either team.

Find junior kits for U7 & U8 mini soccer at Avec Sport

Looking for junior football kits for your young football player? Get them ready for their first under 7 or under 8s football game and shop the range of high-quality and unisex junior kits at Avec Sport. Ideal for young children who are joining their first mini soccer team, to find the best football jersey, shorts and socks for your child, browse through the junior team kits collection online and find the perfect junior kit