Youth football age groups and formats in Wales
Welsh football follows the FAW's own Small-Sided and Junior Football Regulations, not England's FutureFit pathway or Scotland's Player Journey. Two documents cover the youth game: the Small-Sided Football Regulations for Under 6 to Under 13, and the Junior Football Regulations for Under 14 to Under 17.
Age groups in Wales are set by school academic year and by age on 31 August, not by year of birth. Academic year one is the year in which a player reaches their sixth birthday, so a player in academic year one who is five on 31 August is Under 6.
This page covers Wales only. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own governing body and their own rules — see the age-group rules hub.
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Format by age group in Wales
At a glance: the maximum format rises with the age group, Wales, 2026/27
Age group, academic year, format and squad, Wales, 2026/27
| Age group | Academic year | Age on 31 Aug | Max format | Max squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | 1 | 5 | 4v4 | 8 |
| Under 7 | 2 | 6 | 4v4 | 8 |
| Under 8 | 3 | 7 | 5v5 | 10 |
| Under 9 | 4 | 8 | 5v5 | 10 |
| Under 10 | 5 | 9 | 7v7 | 14 |
| Under 11 | 6 | 10 | 7v7 | 14 |
| Under 12 | 7 | 11 | 9v9 | 18 |
| Under 13 | 8 | 12 | 9v9 | 18 |
| Under 14 | 9 | 13 | 11v11 | 16 to 18 |
| Under 15 | 10 | 14 | 11v11 | 16 to 18 |
| Under 16 | 11 | 15 | 11v11 | 16 to 18 |
| Under 17 | 12 | 16 | 11v11 | 16 to 18 |
Ball size and match duration by age group, Wales, 2026/27
| Age group | Ball | Match duration |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 and Under 7 | 3 | Games of up to 10 minutes, 40 minutes in total |
| Under 8 and Under 9 | 3 | Games of up to 15 minutes, 50 minutes in total |
| Under 10 and Under 11 | 4 | Games of up to 20 minutes, 60 minutes in total |
| Under 12 to Under 14 | 4 to Under 13, 5 from Under 14 | 70 minutes, two halves of 35 |
| Under 15 to Under 17 | 5 | 80 minutes, two halves of 40 |
The squad column is the maximum match-day squad, not the number of players on the pitch. At Under 14 to Under 17 the limit is between 16 and 18, and each Area Association sets and publishes its own figure.
These are maximum formats. A league can offer smaller-sided games as well, so an Under 12 league could run 4v4, 5v5 or 7v7 alongside 9v9. It cannot run a larger format than the maximum for that age group.
Small-Sided Football covers Under 6 to Under 13 and is the only form of football the FAW recognises in Wales for children under 13. Junior Football covers Under 14 to Under 17.
What happens at Under 18 and above
From Under 18 upwards, matches run to 90 minutes in two halves of 45. Leagues also have discretion over whether to run an Under 17 programme at all, since it is not mandatory, though it can help keep players in the game who are not ready for senior football.
On their sixteenth birthday a player can play open age football for the same registered club, which means they can play junior, youth and senior matches.
Pitch and goal sizes
Pitch, goal and goal-area sizes by age group, Wales, 2026/27
| Age group | Pitch, length x width | Goal, height x width | Goal area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 and Under 7 | 28 x 20 yards | Height 3ft to 4ft, width 4ft to 6ft. Pop-up goals may be used | None |
| Under 8 and Under 9 | 35 x 25 yards | 4 x 8 ft | 7 x 12 yards |
| Under 10 and Under 11 | 44 x 40 yards | 6 x 12 ft | 10 x 15 yards |
| Under 12 | 64 x 44 yards | 7 x 16 ft | Penalty area 12 x 28 yards, penalty spot 9 yards |
| Under 13 | 76 yards long, 44 to 54 wide | 7 x 16 ft | Penalty area 12 x 28 yards, penalty spot 9 yards |
Pitches should not differ from these sizes by more than five yards in length or width. Domed cones must not be used to mark out a pitch, because they are a trip hazard.
How the game changes as players get older
The number of players is only part of it. Several rules switch on at different ages.
Goalkeeper, restart and other rule changes by age group, Wales
| Age group | Goalkeeper | Restarts | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 and Under 7 | No goalkeeper | Pass-in replaces the throw-in. Goal kicks taken anywhere on the goal line | No offside. All free kicks indirect. Opponents three yards back |
| Under 8 and Under 9 | Goalkeeper | Pass-in replaces the throw-in. Goal kicks from within the goal area | No offside. The goalkeeper can pick up a pass from a teammate |
| Under 10 and Under 11 | Goalkeeper | Throw-ins introduced, with flexibility from the game leader | No offside. The goalkeeper can no longer pick up a pass from a teammate |
| Under 12 and above | Goalkeeper | Standard restarts and Laws apply, subject to the FAW's age-specific format rules | Offside applies. A referee is introduced at Under 12 |
At Under 6 to Under 11, a 10-yard retreat line applies at goal kicks and when a goalkeeper has the ball, where a goalkeeper is used. In Under 12 and Under 13 9v9 football, opponents must instead remain outside the penalty area until a goal kick is in play.
At Under 8 to Under 11, goalkeepers can throw the ball from their hands or play it from the ground, but drop kicks are not permitted. Under 6 and Under 7 football has no goalkeeper.
Below Under 12 there is no referee on the pitch. A game leader supervises from the touchline and explains the rules as the game goes on. That can be a coach, a team helper or a qualified referee.
Playing time and substitutes
Every player in the match-day squad should get at least half of the available playing time. The FAW works this through: at an Under 10 festival with 60 minutes of football, every player in the squad should get at least 30 minutes.
Substitutions are rolling at every age, and a player who has come off can go back on. At Under 6 to Under 9 no substitute should wait more than five minutes to get on. At Under 10 and Under 11 the limit is 10 minutes.
A player can only play for one team on any given match day, so a child cannot turn out for the Under 9s and then the Under 10s. Squad members should also get experience in every position, including goalkeeper, between Under 8 and Under 11.
How this differs from England and Scotland
Wales uses several of the same formats as England and Scotland, but the age boundaries and competition rules are set independently by the FAW. Always check the Welsh regulations rather than assuming another nation's rules apply.
Power-Play and the Mercy Rule
Power-Play, for Under 6 to Under 11 festivals
- Optional, at the coach's discretion, used to keep festival matches appropriately challenging when one team is well ahead.
- At a four-goal deficit, the losing team's coach can add an extra player. For example, a 5v5 match becomes 5v6.
- If the margin drops below four goals again, the extra player is removed, not necessarily the same player.
- At a six-goal deficit, a second extra player can be added.
- If the margin drops to five goals, one of the two extra players is removed.
Mercy Rule, for Under 12 to Under 17 competition football
- When one team leads by eight goals, the match is declared over and the score is recorded as it stands.
- Any remaining time is played as a friendly. Nothing else from that remaining time is recorded, except disciplinary offences, which are still logged in the normal way.
- Welsh junior leagues must not use goal difference as a factor in determining league position, though goals and results are still recorded.
- The FAW also works with leagues on ability-banding, to reduce the number of unbalanced matches in the first place.
Competition and results rules organisers need to know
No league or cup competition may be organised or sanctioned for Under 6 to Under 11 age groups in Wales. This applies to summer festivals too. No competitive element is sanctioned at these ages, and the maximum format for each age group still applies. Area Associations are responsible for sanctioning festivals and events.
Results from Under 6 to Under 11 festival and round-robin matches should not be published, reflecting the non-competitive nature of Small-Sided Football at these ages. That is a rule about what you publish after the day, not about whether you can list the event — a festival at these ages is listed like any other event.
Competition structure for younger age groups
Under 12 football has a phased introduction to competitive league play: leagues can organise a maximum of 24 weeks of formal competition across the season, starting with an initial non-competitive block to assess team ability. For the rest of the season, matches must be non-competitive.
Under 13 depends on how a league is structured. A single-age-band Under 13 league can offer a fully competitive season. A two-year-band Under 13 league without a separate Under 12 competition follows the same phased approach as Under 12: an initial non-competitive block followed by a maximum of 24 weeks of competition. Single-age-band Under 13 leagues can also offer non-competitive 11v11 fixtures from 1 March, to help the transition into Junior Football.
In Under 12 and Under 13 9v9 football specifically, a match cannot start or continue if either team has fewer than six players.
Age eligibility and playing up
A junior player in Wales is permitted to play in the age group directly above their own. Leagues can decide whether to run an Under 17 programme. It is not mandatory, although it can help retain players who are not ready to move into senior football.
Girls' football in Wales
The FAW builds in extra flexibility so that girls can find appropriate football.
A junior girls' team aged Under 12 to Under 17 can request to play up to two years down in a mixed or boys' junior league. A team that gets permission plays the format of the league it joins, so an Under 14 girls' team playing in an Under 12 mixed league plays 9v9 rather than 11v11.
Individual girls can request the same, playing down up to two years in a boys' or mixed team or league between Under 12 and Under 17. Each request is handled case by case and needs a written rationale.
Mixed football, boys and girls playing together, is permitted from academic year one through to academic year twelve. Our guide to girls' grassroots football compares that with the other three nations.
Coaches, team helpers and safeguarding
Where a club has multiple teams at the same age group and venue, at least one qualified coach holding an FAW Football Leaders Award must be present alongside a first aider. Clubs can also appoint FAW DBS-checked team helpers to support supervision and help maintain the correct player-to-adult ratio.
Heading guidance in Wales
Heading is rarely seen in matches involving Under 11 players and younger. The FAW has also built rule changes into the small-sided game to reduce heading opportunities further: pass-ins replace throw-ins at Under 9 and younger, and goalkeepers at Under 11 and younger can no longer kick the ball out of their hands.
Heading practice must not form part of training at Under 11 and younger. At Under 12 and Under 13, heading becomes more likely in matches, but training remains a low priority. Where it is introduced, the FAW advises a maximum of 10 minutes in any training session and a maximum of four headers in one bout, self-served over short distances, using an age-appropriate ball.
What this means when choosing a tournament
Check the format shown on the individual tournament listing rather than assuming it matches this table exactly. Smaller formats can still be used at any age, and a tournament may run its own version of ability banding or mismatch rules on top of what's shown here.
Tournament details on FindMeFootball are organiser-declared. Check the format, competition rules and age eligibility with the organiser before entering or travelling. Our guide to choosing the right level covers the other half of the decision: whether an event suits your squad.
Official guidance and updates
This guide is based on the Football Association of Wales's Small-Sided Football Regulations and Junior Football Regulations for the 2026/27 season, read directly from the FAW's own published documents. Last checked: 6 August 2026. Regulations are reviewed each season, so clubs, coaches and tournament organisers should also check the latest information on the FAW's small-sided and junior football page (opens in a new tab) and any instructions from their Area Association.
Find a tournament in Wales
Search tournaments in Wales by area, age group, format and level, then check the individual listing before entering. To search from a postcode instead, start at the tournament search near you.
Organising a tournament?
Check the correct age-group format above, then create a free tournament listing on FindMeFootball. Our guide to listing a tournament walks through it step by step.
Common questions
Does England's FutureFit pathway apply in Wales?
No. Wales follows the FAW's own Small-Sided and Junior Football Regulations. The format sizes are similar to England's and Scotland's, but the specific rules, age boundaries and named mechanisms like the Power-Play and Mercy rules are Wales-specific.
Are Under 6 to Under 11 festivals in Wales competitive?
No. No league or cup competition may be organised or sanctioned for these age groups, and results from festival and round-robin matches should not be published.
How does the Power-Play Rule work?
It is optional at Under 6 to Under 11 festivals. A team four goals behind can add an extra player; that player is removed if the margin drops below four. A team six goals behind can add a second extra player, which is removed once the margin falls to five.
What happens when a team goes eight goals ahead in competition football?
The Mercy Rule applies at Under 12 to Under 17. The match is declared over, the score is recorded, and any remaining time is played as a friendly. Only disciplinary offences from the remaining time are still recorded.
Can a player in Wales play up an age group?
Yes. A junior player is permitted to play in the age group directly above their own.
Can a Welsh tournament use a smaller format than the table above?
Yes. Smaller formats can still be used at any age. Always check the individual tournament listing rather than assuming the table applies exactly.
Where can I check a specific tournament's format?
Each FindMeFootball tournament listing states the event format. Search tournaments in Wales and check the individual listing before entering.