Youth football age group rules and formats
Which format your child's age group plays, which ball they use and when heading is allowed are all set by the governing body for the nation you play in — not by FindMeFootball, and not by the tournament organiser. The four UK nations do not share one set of rules, so start with the page for where you play.
Rules by nation
England — England Football's FutureFit pathway, covering the 2026/27 formats from Under 7 to Under 16, ball sizes, the new Under-7 3v3 game and the heading rules for matches and training.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not have a page here yet. Scotland follows the Scottish FA's own Player Journey, Wales the Football Association of Wales, and Northern Ireland the Irish FA's Youth Football Framework. Each differs from England, so please do not read the England page as covering them. We would rather say that plainly than send you to a page that quietly gets your nation wrong.
What these pages do not do
They describe the published rules; they do not check any particular event against them. FindMeFootball is a listing platform, not a verification service, and the format shown on a tournament listing is organiser-declared. Always check the individual listing, and the organiser's own rules, before entering.
Governing bodies change their guidance. Where a page cites a rule, it links to the body's own published guidance so you can check the current version.
Looking for a tournament rather than the rules?
Search by postcode, age group and format at the tournament search near you, or browse everything at tournament search. Our guide to choosing the right level covers whether an event suits your squad, and the team manager checklist covers what to confirm before you enter.