Goalkeeper rules in youth football in England

At a glance

The formats shown are the largest The FA permits at each age; leagues can use smaller formats with different rules. The back-pass column comes from The FA’s 2026/27 Standard Code, and the retreat line column follows England Football’s format guidance. The retreat line at Under 7 concerns goal-line restarts, even though 3v3 has no goalkeeper. The eight-second rule, 11v11 goal-kick rules and penalty-kick rules below must not be assumed to apply to mini soccer or 9v9.

Under 7: no goalkeepers

England Football’s 3v3 guidance (opens in a new tab) for Under 7 lists “Goalkeepers: No”. All six players are outfield players. Under 8 is the first age group whose largest format, 5v5, has a keeper.

Under 8 to Under 11: 5v5 and 7v7

England Football’s 5v5 (opens in a new tab) and 7v7 (opens in a new tab) guidance both list goalkeepers. The FA’s Mini-Soccer and Youth Futsal Handbook (opens in a new tab) and the Standard Code set these rules for them:

• The back-pass rule applies from Under 8. A keeper may not pick up the ball when a team-mate has deliberately kicked it to them. The free kick is taken on the penalty area line closest to where it happened.
• A goal kick can be taken from anywhere in the penalty area, by any player in the team. The keeper does not have to take it.
• At a goal kick, the team without the ball must retreat to its own half until the ball is in play. This is the retreat line.
• A keeper must wear colours that stand out from all the other players and the match officials. That is Rule 19 of the Standard Code.
• There is no deliberate heading in affiliated grassroots matches at these ages. Our guide to heading in youth football explains where the rule applies.

If you are not sure whether a rule from the 11v11 Laws applies in mini soccer, ask the league. Our mini soccer rules guide covers the rest of the format.

Under 12 and Under 13: 9v9

The back-pass rule applies at 9v9: the Standard Code’s table for 2026/27 marks it for Under 12 and Under 13. England Football’s 9v9 guidance (opens in a new tab) lists goalkeepers, offside, throw-ins and heading in matches, and no retreat line. The goals are 16ft by 7ft.

The detailed laws for 9v9 are in The FA’s Guide to 9v9 Football. For anything else about how keepers are refereed at 9v9, such as how long a keeper can hold the ball, check your league’s rules or ask the referee. Our guide to youth football from Under 12 covers the rest of 9v9.

From Under 14: the Laws of the Game

11v11 follows the Laws of the Game, published in England by The FA. These are the 2026/27 Laws that cover keepers.

Handling and the back-pass rule

Under Law 12 (opens in a new tab), a keeper outside their own penalty area has the same handling restrictions as any other player. Inside it, a keeper may not handle the ball when a team-mate has deliberately kicked it to them, or when it comes to them directly from a team-mate’s throw-in. The other team gets an indirect free kick. A keeper also may not handle the ball again after releasing it until it has touched another player.

Passing to the keeper with the head, chest or knee to get round the back-pass rule, as a deliberate trick, is also an offence. An opponent may not challenge a keeper who has control of the ball in their hands. Law 12 has the full detail, including exceptions.

The eight-second rule

A keeper who controls the ball with their hands or arms inside their own penalty area for more than eight seconds gives away a corner kick. The referee decides when the eight seconds begin and counts down the last five with a raised hand. Holding the ball, bouncing it or throwing it in the air all count as control.

The IFAB (opens in a new tab), which writes the Laws, brought this in for 2025/26. It replaced a six-second limit, which gave an indirect free kick.

Goal kicks

Under Law 16 (opens in a new tab), a goal kick is taken from anywhere in the goal area by any player in the defending team, so the keeper does not have to take it. Opponents must stay outside the penalty area until the ball is kicked and clearly moves. In mini soccer, by contrast, a goal kick can be taken from anywhere in the penalty area.

Penalty kicks

Under Law 14 (opens in a new tab), the keeper must stay on the goal line, facing the kicker and between the posts, until the ball is kicked, without touching the posts, crossbar or net. When the ball is kicked, at least part of one foot must be touching, in line with, or behind the goal line. If the keeper breaks these rules, the kick may be retaken; Law 14 sets out when.

Changing the keeper, and injuries

Under Law 3 (opens in a new tab), any player can change places with the keeper if the referee is told first and the change is made during a stoppage.

From 2026/27, the full Laws require an injured player who causes play to stop or needs on-field treatment to leave the pitch and remain off for one minute after play restarts. An injured goalkeeper is among the exceptions in the IFAB’s list of changes (opens in a new tab). Our guide to the rule changes explains this. A suspected concussion is different: the player must not return to sport that day, whatever the match rules allow. Our guide to concussion in grassroots football explains what to do.

What a keeper must wear

Under Law 4 (opens in a new tab), a keeper must wear colours that stand out from the other players and the match officials. Keepers may wear tracksuit bottoms. Gloves are allowed as protective equipment, not required, and shin pads are compulsory for every player. In affiliated youth competitions, the Standard Code also says no player, including the goalkeeper, may wear a black or very dark shirt. Our guide to kit and equipment covers the rest.

Goal sizes

The Standard Code recommends 12ft by 6ft goals from Under 8 to Under 11, 16ft by 7ft at Under 12 and Under 13, 21ft by 7ft at Under 14 with 24ft by 8ft permitted, 24ft by 8ft at Under 15 with 21ft by 7ft permitted, and 24ft by 8ft from Under 16. Our England age group rules page has pitch and ball sizes too.