Football session plans by age
Football session plans by age for 2026/27. U8, U9 and U10 practices drawn for 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 players, plus the FA format, ball size and heading rule for U5 to U16.
Last updated: 18 October 2026
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U8 football session plans
Three practices for under 8s, set up for the 2026/27 5v5 format. Pick 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 players and each one redraws so every child is playing.
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U9 football session plans
Three practices for under 9s, set up for the 2026/27 5v5 format. Pick 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 players and each one redraws so every child is playing.
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U10 football session plans
Three practices for under 10s, set up for the 2026/27 7v7 format. Pick 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 players and each one redraws so every child is playing.
The rules for every age
Under FA FutureFit for 2026/27, U7 plays 3v3, U8 and U9 play 5v5, U10 and U11 play 7v7, and U12 and U13 play 9v9. Formats are the most a match should be. In training, smaller games are fine and often better.
| Age | Heading in training | Match format | Ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| U5-U6 | None | Games, not matches | 3 |
| U7 | None | 3v3 | 3 |
| U8-U9 | None | 5v5 | 3 |
| U10-U11 | None | 7v7 | 3 |
| U12-U13 | One session a week, up to 5 headers, unopposed | 9v9 | 4 |
| U14-U16 | One session a week, up to 10 headers, light ball | 11v11 | 5 |
Sources: FA FutureFit formats, FA heading guidance.
Planning a session from scratch? How to plan a youth football training session