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U9 & U10 Football: 7-a-Side Football Rules
Football is considered to be one of the most accessible games for young people as it provides a safe space for children to test out their individual abilities and learn new skills. More than just a fun game for children, it can teach them valuable life skills such as team work, communication and mental resilience, while also encouraging a strong work ethic and improving social skills. Youth 7-a-side football in particular is a fun and exciting sport for children under the ages of 9 and 10 to get involved in, as it helps to encourage these positive life skills early on and help children to understand footballing strategies and tactics from a young age.
Whether you’re a football coach, P.E. teacher or parent of a budding young footballer, you will be largely responsible for the early development of youth footballers and should therefore get to grips with the rules and regulations of 7-a-side football for U9 and U10 youths. From supporting their learning at home, to cheering them on from the sidelines, read on to discover everything you need to know about the logistics of 7-a-side football for young children from our team here at Avec Sport.
What is the difference between mini soccer and 7-a-side football?
Mini soccer, or mini football as it is also referred to, is a game of football that is played by children in the U7 and U8 teams and is played as 5-a-side or 4-a-side. This game of mini soccer transitions into 7-a-side football as children get older, as 7-a-side is typically played by U9 and U10 groups. This transition may be daunting at first for young players as there will be changes to positioning on the pitch and more people to navigate, but it is still a fun challenge for children to overcome. If you’re curious to learn more about mini soccer for this age group, head over to our U7 and U8 football rules blog to find out more.
What age group is 7-a-side football?
The FA mini soccer laws state that young footballers must only play with and against players from their own age range, in order to keep games fair. Typically, 7-a-side football is played by children under the ages of 9 and 10. Although there is only a 1 year difference, the disparities in ability and size at this age can be great. Therefore, children should be divided into teams of under 9s (U9) and under 10s (U10) in order to keep all 7v7 matches as fair and safe as possible, without one player in particular dominating the pitch due to age, size or ability.
How many players are in U9 and U10 football?
Generally speaking, the amount of players in U9 or U10 football will depend on the club, however the minimum number of players per side is 4v4 and the maximum for this age group is 7v7.
If a child is moving up into the U9 or U10 teams, they will be likely used to playing with a smaller number of players and are now faced with 7 which can be an intimidating change. Although this may be a challenge to some young players, you should encourage them to see it as a positive in that they now have more teammates to help them against the opposition. Playing with a larger team puts more emphasis on teamwork and group tactics which are beneficial to helping young players develop vital skills and mental resilience.
What is the pitch size for 7-a-side football?
In alignment with the FA recommendations, a 7-a-side football pitch should measure 60 yards long and 40 yards wide. Again, this is a change from the smaller sided predecessor of a 5-a-side game which is played on a pitch that measures 40 yards long and 30 yards wide. This larger pitch now means that young players now have more area to cover than what they are used to, which can help improve their stamina, endurance and offer more space to test out new formations.
How long is an U9 or U10 football game?
In addition to building endurance on a larger pitch area, young players moving up into 7-a-side football are also faced with an increased play time. In an U9 or U10 game, the match is played in two 25 minute halves, with a half-time break of no longer than 5 minutes. This length of match is a 5 minute increase per half compared to what they have played in U7 and U8 football. While this may seem like a small increase in play time to those of us who are used to 11-a-sides 90-minute matches, it is important to note that young players are protected by a rule that states they cannot play more than 60 minutes of football per day. This rule is in place to protect young players from overexertion and to help prevent any injury that may be caused from wearing themselves out.
What size ball do U10s use for football?
Along with the changes in number of players, pitch size and play time, U10 football players will also now get to use a different size ball. While the U9 team will continue to use a size 3 ball that they will be used to from the U7 and U8 teams, the U10 teams will now use a size 4 ball. The size 4 ball is slightly larger and heavier than the size 3, and is a good chance to get them acquainted with what it will be like to eventually play with a size 5 ball as they grow. This essential piece of equipment, no matter the size you use, should be made out of a combination of rubber and synthetic leather to make them suitable for play.
Is there a dedicated goalkeeper in U9 and U10 football?
In U9 and U10 football, now that there are more players per side, there is a higher chance for children to have the opportunity to play as a dedicated goalkeeper. In previous years as U7 and U8 footballers, in games of 4v4, players usually take alternate turns in the role of goalkeeper, and therefore they may not have had many chances to play in the goalkeeper position for long.
Therefore, now that young footballers are now playing 7-a-side games, there are more than enough players for one child to take the permanent role as a goalie. This larger team means that any child that has shown quick reflexes and a great attention span throughout games now has the chance to discover a new talent and learn to become a dedicated goalkeeper if this role fits them.
It is important to note that according to FA rules, any goalkeeper in a football team, no matter age group or size, must wear a different football jersey to their teammates in order to distinguish them. Here at Avec Sport, we offer a wide range of junior football kits in a variety of colours and designs which can all be customised with player names, numbers, team crests and sponsor details. Browse through our full collection of junior teamwear to find the perfect kit to make your goalkeeper stand out and still feel a part of the team with a customised jersey.
What are the similarities between U7 & U8 football and U9 & U10 football?
Despite all of the differences we have noted that mark the change for young footballers from U7 and U8 to U9 and U10, both variations of mini soccer still share some similarities that not only help protect young players, but also allow them to gradually adapt to the changes from both teams. It’s important to note that, for young players, changing too much from the type of football they are playing, whether it be team size or age discrepancies, may have a negative impact on their confidence and should always be avoided.
One of the most important similarities between the different age groups of mini soccer is that, under the FA laws, any football team with children under the age of 10 should not play in football leagues where the results of the game are published or winner trophies are presented. This is due to the fact that this competition can be seen as detrimental to young players instead of encouraging.
However, the FA also states that U10 players are able to take part in a maximum of 3 trophy events per season that last no longer than 4 weeks. Due to the short term nature of these events, this is a controlled way to help children learn about winning and losing in an appropriate environment without it being detrimental to their long term development within their leagues.
Another key similarity between U7 and U8 football with U9 and U10 teams is that, although the size of the pitch increases in the move up to 7v7 games, the size of football goals will always stay the same. A standard football goal for children should measure 12 ft wide and 6 ft high. This goal size staying the same for these age groups allows there to be an equal challenge for young goalkeepers and goal scorers and can help to improve their skill over time.
Finally, when it comes to understanding the rules of mini soccer, the usual FA football rules we see in adult games apply in regards to scoring, fouls, corners, free kicks etc. However, the one difference from mini soccer to the adult game is that the offside rule does not apply. Enforcing the offside rule in mini soccer games can be confusing for younger players as it is a complex rule to get to grips with and may make the game more difficult for players to understand. Therefore, the offside rule will later be taught to those who advance to higher levels of youth football as they get older and are more equipped to understand the logistics of offside.
Get ready for 7-a-side with junior football kits at Avec Sport
Ready to help your young footballer hit the pitch in confidence? Whether you're putting in the training hours with them, or getting ready to attend matches and cheer from the sidelines, we’ve got you covered. Ensure your young footballers have everything they need, from comfortable, breathable training jerseys to customisable teamwear, find a variety of unisex junior football kits and accessories here at Avec Sport.