Grassroots football in Dorset

Find a club in Dorset

Browse the Dorset clubs we list, filtered by age group and by whether teams are boys, girls or mixed. Where information is available you can check it before contacting the club, and anything not shown is worth asking about directly.

Dorset FA and the leagues it sanctions

Dorset FA says that across Dorset, county football leagues offer opportunities for teams to play the beautiful game in a range of formats (opens in a new tab). Teams playing in an affiliated league can also enter the county cup competitions.

If you want to know which County FA handles your child's team, ask the club. A club's playing ground normally establishes its County FA headquarters, and the league a team enters can affect which affiliation it needs.

It is worth knowing because the County FA handles your club's affiliation and county competitions, and it is also part of the safeguarding escalation route in England.

How youth football is organised in Dorset

Dorset FA's current league list (opens in a new tab) names the Dorset Mini Soccer League for the youngest age groups, the Dorset Youth League and the Dorset Under 18 League for older players, and the Dorset Girls League.

Dorset FA describes mini-soccer (opens in a new tab) as being for teams from Under 7 to Under 10, with fixtures played weekly on Sundays and games played 3v3, 5v5 or 7v7. Ask the club which league its team plays in and which ages that league runs.

Leagues do not have to stop at a county boundary. A club near the Hampshire or Wiltshire line may play in a competition based there, and that is normal. If your club's league is not on Dorset FA's list, ask the club which league it enters and which County FA it is affiliated to.

The Dorset FA league list is the best place to check the current sanctioned competitions, because leagues and affiliations can change.

Age groups, formats and rules

Dorset clubs play under England Football rules, so the formats, ball sizes and heading rules are the England ones rather than anything county-specific.

If you are working out which age group your child is in, England groups players by school year. The England age group rules page sets out the format for each age group for the current season, including the Under 7 3v3 game and the heading rules for Under 7 to Under 11.

That guide explains the national framework. Your child's league can also have competition-specific rules, so check the current league information for anything affecting fixtures or match arrangements.

Girls' football in Dorset

Dorset clubs may offer girls-only teams, mixed teams or both. Dorset FA lists the Dorset Girls League among its county leagues, and mixed football is permitted in England from Under 7 to Under 18, so a girl who wants to keep playing in a mixed team can.

If you want a girls-only environment, ask how many girls' age groups a club runs rather than only whether it has a team at your daughter's age. A club with a section is offering more continuity than a club with one team. You can also see which Dorset clubs list girls' teams.

Tournaments and camps in Dorset

Tournaments, festivals and camps in Dorset are listed alongside clubs — see what is coming up. Check the organiser-declared details before entering or booking.

New to this?

If you are just starting out, three guides cover most of what people ask.

• When can my child start playing football, if you are working out whether they are old enough.
• How to choose a grassroots football club, if you are deciding between clubs.
• Joining a club, if you have found one and want to know what the season involves.