THEIR GAME

Youth Football Development

 Youth Football Development

THE FA LAWS FOR

9V9 FOOTBALL
This guide provides the Laws for Under 11 and Under 12
versions of the game, with children playing a maximum of
9v9. These Laws are also appropriate for other age groups
playing 9v9 football.

Please remember: These are short-term

From season 2015/16 Under experiences helping children
11s are not permitted to learn about winning and
play in leagues where results losing in an appropriate
are collected or published environment. The winners of
or winner trophies are these events can be published
presented. This is deemed and trophies can
to be detrimental to the be presented.
development of the player
and the game and will not Except where other provision
be sanctioned. in these Laws are made, the
Laws of Association Football
Under 11s can play in a apply. Each Law is numbered
maximum of three trophy to correspond with the
events during the season, appropriate Law of the Game.
lasting a maximum of six These Laws are mandatory
weeks each. unless special permission is
granted by The FA.

THESE ARE SHORT-TERM

EXPERIENCES HELPING
CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT
WINNING AND LOSING IN AN
APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT

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 U11 / U12 THEIR GAME

LAW 1
PLAYING AREA

Halfway Line Goal Size

The field of play is divided into two The distance between the posts is
halves by a halfway line. The centre either 16ft or 21ft and the distance
mark is indicated at the mid-point of between the lower edge of the cross
the halfway line. bar and the ground is 7ft.

2 YARDS

80 YARDS 3 YARDS

1 YARDS
50 YARDS

8 YARDS
0.2 YARDS 32 YARDS
0.2 YARDS
14 YARDS

7 YARDS 7 YARDS
4 YARDS

13 YARDS

3 YARDS

2 YARDS TECHNICAL AREA TECHNICAL AREA

10 YARDS 3 YARDS 10 YARDS

LAW 2
THE BALL

The ball should be size 4 for U11 – U12. It should be safe and made of
leather or other suitable material.

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 Youth Football Development

LAW 3 LAW 4
NUMBER OF PLAYERS PLAYING EQUIPMENT

Maximum number per team, including goalkeeper Players must wear shin guards and
Under 11 and Under 12 9v9 goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing
playing top. Shin guards must be covered
entirely by the socks.
The above table indicates the maximum
number of players per team at that age group. Players must wear the appropriate clothing
If the competition would like to have smaller dependant on the weather.
numbers, e.g. 7v7 at U11 or U12, this is
allowed within this framework. Correct footwear must be worn for the surface
of the pitch e.g. no metal studs on artificial
A match may not START if either team grass pitches.
consists of fewer than six players. The
minimum number of players in a team
required for a match to CONTINUE is also six.
Should a team fall below this, normal rules LAW 5
apply, as per Laws of Association Football. REFEREES
Players must play with and against players
only from their own age range, as per Football The Authority of the Referee
Association and Competition rules. Each match is controlled by a referee who
has full authority to enforce the Laws for 9v9
Each team must not have a squad greater Football in connection with the match to
than double the size of the team per age. which they have been appointed.

Any number of substitutes may be used at The powers and duties of the referee are as
any time with the permission of the referee. A normal Laws apply, as per Laws of
player who has been replaced may return to Association Football.
the playing area as a substitute for
another player.

All team members should receive equal

playing time where possible, with a best
practice recommendation of at least 50% per
player for each game.

For all other substitution rules, normal rules

apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

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 U11 / U12 THEIR GAME

LAW 6 LAW 7
ASSISTANT REFEREE DURATION OF THE GAME

Two assistant referees may be appointed In any one day, no player shall play more
whose duties, subject to the decision of the than 100 minutes. It is the responsibility of
referee, are to indicate: the parent/carer or organisation to ensure
the child does not exceed this. Each league/
When the whole of the ball leaves the field competition will determine its own playing
of play time within the maximum time permitted
Which team is entitled to a corner kick, goal however the maximum duration will be two
kick or throw-in halves of 30 minutes.
When a player may be penalised for being
in an offside position It is permitted during development matches
that the periods of play can be split
When a substitution is requested into equal quarters.
When misconduct or any other incident
occurs out of the view of the referee The half time interval must not exceed
15 minutes.
When offences have been committed
whenever the assistant referees have a
Please refer to the Standard Code of Rules for
better view than the referee (this includes,
Youth Competitions.
in certain circumstances, offences
committed in the penalty area)
Whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper
moves off the goal line before the ball is
kicked and if the ball crosses the line.

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 Youth Football Development

LAW 8 LAW 10
START AND RESTART OF PLAY METHOD OF SCORING

Procedure Normal rules apply, as per Laws of

A kick-off is taken at the centre of the playing Association Football.
area to start the game and after a goal has
been scored.

Opponents must be seven yards away from

LAW 11
the ball and in their own half of the field. The OFFSIDE
ball must be played forward.
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.
Association Football.

LAW 12
LAW 9 FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.
Association Football.

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 U11 / U12 THEIR GAME

LAW 13 LAW 15
FREE KICKS THROW IN

For all free kicks opponents must be ten yards Normal rules apply, as per Laws of
from the ball. Association Football.

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of

Association Football.
LAW 16
GOAL KICK
LAW 14 Normal rules apply, as per Laws of
PENALTY KICKS Association Football.

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of

Association Football.
LAW 17
Position of the Ball and the Players CORNER KICKS
All players except the defending goalkeeper
and kicker must be outside the penalty area
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of
and at least seven yards from the
Association Football.
penalty mark.

“WHY DO I HAVE TO DEFEND THE SAME

SIZE GOAL IS PETR CZECH?”
U11, Yorkshire

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The FA Youth Development Review
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