Grassroots football in Hampshire
Hampshire has a large and geographically spread-out grassroots football scene, with youth competitions organised around areas such as North Hampshire, Portsmouth, the New Forest and the Solent, while Hampshire FA also governs football across the Isle of Wight.
This page covers how it fits together, and links to the clubs we list.
League structures and club provision change between seasons. Check details with the club or league before relying on them.
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Find a club in Hampshire
Browse the Hampshire 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.
Hampshire FA and the Isle of Wight
Hampshire FA is the governing body for football in Hampshire and across the Isle of Wight (opens in a new tab). That means clubs on the island sit within the Hampshire FA structure, even though Hampshire FA lists the Isle of Wight's youth competition separately from its mainland regions.
Its current youth-league directory lists the Isle of Wight Sunday Youth League for Under 7 to Under 16 football.
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 Hampshire
There is no single youth league covering Hampshire. Hampshire FA lists its youth competitions by area, which gives parents a useful starting point when checking which leagues operate around their club.
Hampshire FA's current youth league directory (opens in a new tab) includes the Portsmouth Youth Football League, Mid Solent Youth Football League, New Forest & District Youth Football League, North East Hampshire Youth League, Isle of Wight Sunday Youth League and Bournemouth Youth Football League.
Two things are worth noticing in that list. The age ranges differ between competitions, so some run from Under 7 through to Under 18 while others cover a narrower band. And the North East Hampshire Youth League is listed with a Development section from Under 7 to Under 12 and a Competitive section from Under 12 to Under 18, which is a distinction worth asking about if your child is around that age.
The Hampshire FA youth league directory is the best place to check the current competition list, because leagues and affiliations can change.
Age groups, formats and rules
Hampshire 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 Hampshire
Hampshire clubs may offer girls-only teams, mixed teams or both, and Hampshire FA lists dedicated girls' competitions in its own league directory. 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 Hampshire clubs list girls' teams.
Tournaments and camps in Hampshire
Tournaments, festivals and camps in Hampshire 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.
Common questions
How do I find a club near me in Hampshire?
Browse the clubs listed here and filter by age group. Contact more than one club, because availability at a particular age group can change during the season.
We are on the Isle of Wight. Is that Hampshire FA?
Yes. Hampshire FA says it is the governing body for football in Hampshire and across the Isle of Wight. Its youth-league directory lists the Isle of Wight Sunday Youth League separately for island football.
What is the difference between a development league and a competitive one?
Hampshire FA currently lists the North East Hampshire Youth League with a Development section from Under 7 to Under 12 and a Competitive section from Under 12 to Under 18. Ask your club which section its team plays in and what that means for matches at your child's age.
Are the rules different in Hampshire?
The core age-group and playing-format rules are England-wide. Leagues and cups can then have their own competition rules, so check those as well.
