Tailoring youth football to fit even better, and mean even more for all young players in England.

Child kicking football

We’ve come a long way together, and the youth football experience in England has never been stronger.

The changes in 2012 to the way youth football is played had a profoundly positive impact on the technical development, and personal enjoyment of young players from grassroots all the way through to the England teams.

Now it’s time to seize the initiative. To take the lead in shaping an even greater experience for the next generation. To give youth players more opportunity, more variety, more responsibility, and action to feed their potential, empower their character, and grow a life-long attachment for the game we all love. 

We’ve come a long way together, and the youth football experience in England has never been stronger.

The changes in 2012 to the way youth football is played had a profoundly positive impact on the technical development, and personal enjoyment of young players from grassroots all the way through to the England teams.

Now it’s time to seize the initiative. To take the lead in shaping an even greater experience for the next generation. To give youth players more opportunity, more variety, more responsibility, and action to feed their potential, empower their character, and grow a life-long attachment for the game we all love. 

Together we’ll lead youth football to an even brighter, better-fitting future. Giving every child the opportunity to thrive beyond measure

From the 2026-27 season onwards, we will make changes to maximise children’s experience of the game. The more they play, the more it means.

When it’s made for you, it means more to you.

Our Approach

There are two influencing themes that set the background to the changes that will shape our approach to driving change. These focus on Championing Children’s Rights and Promoting the Spirit of the Game.

Championing children's rights

Together we recognise that all children have rights and it’s our responsibility as adults to continually honour these for all children who play football.

Spirit of the game

Equally, importantly we will uphold the Spirit of the Game; not all football looks the same but there’s a spirit that exists whatever the format of play. That spirit is built around the basics of the game, two teams respectfully competing, trying to stop their opponent from scoring whilst themselves trying to score. The emotions we feel and the lessons we learn are a shared experience.

There are two influencing themes that set the background to the changes that will shape our approach to driving change. These focus on Championing Children’s Rights and Promoting the Spirit of the Game.

Championing children's rights

Together we recognise that all children have rights and it’s our responsibility as adults to continually honour these for all children who play football.

Spirit of the game

Equally, importantly we will uphold the Spirit of the Game; not all football looks the same but there’s a spirit that exists whatever the format of play. That spirit is built around the basics of the game, two teams respectfully competing, trying to stop their opponent from scoring whilst themselves trying to score. The emotions we feel and the lessons we learn are a shared experience.

There are four elements that work together to maximise a child’s experience of football:

There are four elements that work together to maximise a child’s experience of football:

Grid of four: 1. Playing opportunities: Giving all children lots of chances to play the game in a variety of different ways. 2, Coaching: Coaches who approach learning and teaching in a way that grows the person and player through the games they play. 3. Environment: Creating safe, fun and inclusive spaces for all children, both on and off the pitch. 4. Parents & carers: Helping parents, carers and families make football the best place for all children.
Grid of four: 1. Playing opportunities: Giving all children lots of chances to play the game in a variety of different ways. 2, Coaching: Coaches who approach learning and teaching in a way that grows the person and player through the games they play. 3. Environment: Creating safe, fun and inclusive spaces for all children, both on and off the pitch. 4. Parents & carers: Helping parents, carers and families make football the best place for all children.
Grid of four: 1. Playing opportunities: Giving all children lots of chances to play the game in a variety of different ways. 2, Coaching: Coaches who approach learning and teaching in a way that grows the person and player through the games they play. 3. Environment: Creating safe, fun and inclusive spaces for all children, both on and off the pitch. 4. Parents & carers: Helping parents, carers and families make football the best place for all children.
Grid of four: 1. Playing opportunities: Giving all children lots of chances to play the game in a variety of different ways. 2, Coaching: Coaches who approach learning and teaching in a way that grows the person and player through the games they play. 3. Environment: Creating safe, fun and inclusive spaces for all children, both on and off the pitch. 4. Parents & carers: Helping parents, carers and families make football the best place for all children.
Grid of four: 1. Playing opportunities: Giving all children lots of chances to play the game in a variety of different ways. 2, Coaching: Coaches who approach learning and teaching in a way that grows the person and player through the games they play. 3. Environment: Creating safe, fun and inclusive spaces for all children, both on and off the pitch. 4. Parents & carers: Helping parents, carers and families make football the best place for all children.

To maximise a child’s experience of football we will strive to positively impact upon these four elements whilst championing Children’s rights and promoting the Spirit of the Game. This will:

To maximise a child’s experience of football we will strive to positively impact upon these four elements whilst championing Children’s rights and promoting the Spirit of the Game. This will:

Grid of four, with photos of children playing football: Grid item 1: Encourage the joy of being physically active, to support happy, healthy lives. Grid item 2: Develop more skilful players who reach their footballing potential. Grid item 3: Set young people up to thrive inside and outside of football. Grid item 4: Grow a life-long attachment to the game for more people.
Grid of four, with photos of children playing football: Grid item 1: Encourage the joy of being physically active, to support happy, healthy lives. Grid item 2: Develop more skilful players who reach their footballing potential. Grid item 3: Set young people up to thrive inside and outside of football. Grid item 4: Grow a life-long attachment to the game for more people.
Grid of four, with photos of children playing football: Grid item 1: Encourage the joy of being physically active, to support happy, healthy lives. Grid item 2: Develop more skilful players who reach their footballing potential. Grid item 3: Set young people up to thrive inside and outside of football. Grid item 4: Grow a life-long attachment to the game for more people.
Grid of four, with photos of children playing football: Grid item 1: Encourage the joy of being physically active, to support happy, healthy lives. Grid item 2: Develop more skilful players who reach their footballing potential. Grid item 3: Set young people up to thrive inside and outside of football. Grid item 4: Grow a life-long attachment to the game for more people.
Grid of four, with photos of children playing football: Grid item 1: Encourage the joy of being physically active, to support happy, healthy lives. Grid item 2: Develop more skilful players who reach their footballing potential. Grid item 3: Set young people up to thrive inside and outside of football. Grid item 4: Grow a life-long attachment to the game for more people.

Key Changes

Out of this theory, we’ve rigorously tested the changes to keep evolving Youth Football to be fit for our children.

We’ll all be leading the way to shape the game to be the best fit possible for the next generation to thrive as both people and players. 

The following changes to playing opportunities will be made in the 2026/2027 season.

Introduce 3v3: Photo of children playing football
Maintain smaller formats: Photo of young people playing football
Evolve the laws of the game: Photo of young people playing football
Diagram showing current offer from U4 to U18
Diagram showing future vision from U4 to U18: with the inclusion of 3v3 for U7 and the relocation of 11v11 to U14 to U18
Diagram showing future vision from U7 to U18

Introduce 3v3

3v3 will be the entry format for players at U7s so they get to be more involved in the play and have the best introduction to football.

Maintain Smaller Formats

Smaller formats make players move more, in more technical ways. 11v11 will now be introduced at U14s so players get to play smaller formats for longer. 

Evolve the Laws of the Game

We’ll adjust game restarts so there’s more ball in play time, and more complex rules will be added as players go into secondary education. This way, the rules are age appropriate for the right format and support every child’s development.

Introduce 3v3: Photo of children playing football
Maintain smaller formats: Photo of young people playing football
Evolve the laws of the game: Photo of young people playing football
Diagram showing current offer from U4 to U18
Diagram showing future vision from U4 to U18: with the inclusion of 3v3 for U7 and the relocation of 11v11 to U14 to U18
Diagram showing future vision from U4 to U18: with the inclusion of 3v3 for U7 and the relocation of 11v11 to U14 to U18

Introduce 3v3

3v3 will be the entry format for players at U7s so they get to be more involved in the play and have the best introduction to football.

Maintain Smaller Formats

Smaller formats make players move more, in more technical ways. 11v11 will now be introduced at U14s so players get to play smaller formats for longer. 

Evolve the Laws of the Game

We’ll adjust game restarts so there’s more ball in play time, and more complex rules will be added as players go into secondary education. This way, the rules are age appropriate for the right format and support every child’s development.

The Future Ambition

Our ambition for the future is to explore more ways to make children’s experience of the game even greater. 

We will continue working with the game to develop changes to give children more chances to play in different ways. We’re exploring how we structure seasons, deliver competition and use the football formats to keep players playing and enjoying the game for longer. There will be further consultation and information to come about this.

Child football player putting on shoes

Key Milestones:

March 2025
Comms Launch

September 2025
One Year to go

  • We will share a full plan with all audiences, so you know when the relevant support and resources will be made available to you. 

September 2026
Roll Out of Changes

  • Changes to the youth game are ready to go.

Key Milestones:

March 2025
Comms Launch

September 2025
One Year to go

  • We will share a full plan with all audiences, so you know when the relevant support and resources will be made available to you. 

September 2026
Roll Out of Changes

  • Changes to the youth game are ready to go.

Learn more

Over the next 18 months, we will continue to support and educate the game on the new changes to be introduced so everyone is fully prepared for the start of the 2026-27 season. This will include a series of regional roadshows and online webinar events. We will inform you when these events are taking place, but please check here for the latest information.

11 March 2025 | Future Fit: Online Event

To help you understand these changes in more detail, we will be hosting an Online Event with key experts discussing everything you need to know.

SIGN UP FOR A NOTIFICATION

Future Fit: County FA Roadshows

We will be hosting a series of face-2-face County FA Roadshow events in each region running between 13 March and 4 April. These events will provide attendees with further detail on the changes, why they are being implemented and the next steps in the process.

Register for a local County FA Roadshow event here

Learn more

Over the next 18 months, we will continue to support and educate the game on the new changes to be introduced so everyone is fully prepared for the start of the 2026-27 season. This will include a series of regional roadshows and online webinar events. We will inform you when these events are taking place, but please check here for the latest information.

11 March 2025 | Future Fit: Online Event

To help you understand these changes in more detail, we will be hosting an Online Event with key experts discussing everything you need to know.

SIGN UP FOR A NOTIFICATION

Future Fit: County FA Roadshows

We will be hosting a series of face-2-face County FA Roadshow events in each region running between 13 March and 4 April. These events will provide attendees with further detail on the changes, why they are being implemented and the next steps in the process.

Register for a local County FA Roadshow event here

FAQs:

How do I find out more about the changes and why they are being implemented?

Over the coming months further content will be added to this platform so keep coming back for more information.

TELL ME MORE

What help is there going to be with the changes?

Before the changes are implemented in August 2026 there will be support including roadshows, videos and online resources.

TELL ME MORE

How do I start 3v3?

We have lots of time to get prepared. There will be resources and support provided so the game will be ready for the change.

TELL ME MORE

Why are changes being made to youth football?

Building on the changes introduced in 2012, Future Fit aims to give young players greater opportunities, more variety of football, more responsibility and action to feed their potential. 

TELL ME MORE
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