Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pitch Layouts

4v4

U6/U7 Set Up

• 4v4
• Max No of player per team - 8
• No GK
• Pitch Size - 28 x 20 yards
• No Goal Area
• Ball Size 3
• Goals - 3ft x 4ft or 4ft x 6ft
• Maximum Game Duration - 10 minutes
• Overall Maximum Game Time - 40 minutes

• 3.1.4 Clubs that enter multiple teams at small-sided festivals are expected to a mix of player abilities across all teams. For example, there should not be an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team made up of perceived strong and weaker players. This is to help ensure a positive playing experience for all participants within small-sided football where the focus should be on fun and skill development
• 4.3 All players in the squad should participate in a minimum of 50% of the total playing time during a match day. For example, at U8 where there is a total maximum playing duration of 50 minutes, all players must participate in at least 25 minutes (50%) of the total game time available
• 4.4 Under 6, 7, 8 and 9 - No substitute must not be waiting longer than 5 minutes before they are involved in the match
• 5.1.6 All squad members to benefit from the experience of playing in all positions, including goalkeeper for the under 8 to under 11 age groups
• 5.1.7 If teams are low on players and cannot field the correct number, then the other team should provide the additional player(s) or withdraw players to make the numbers even for the under 6 to under 11 age groups.
• 7.1 Heading is rarely observed in games involving players aged 11 and under. Coaches should continue to emphasise dribbling, passing, retaining the ball and building from the back. To reduce further the instances of heading within games coaches should encourage short corners and short free kicks that remain below head height. New rules changes have been introduced in this document to further decrease the amount of time the ball is in the air (such as a throw in replaced with a pass in for the under 9 age group and below, and goal keepers in the under 11 age group and below are no longer able to kick the ball out of their hands)

7v7

U10/U11 Set Up

• 7v7
• Max No of player per team - 14
• GK's
• Pitch Size - 44 x 40 yards
• Goal Area - 15 x 10 yards
• Ball Size 4
• Goals - 6ft x 4ft
• Maximum Game Duration - 20 minutes
• Overall Maximum Game Time - 60 minutes

Key Rules

• 3.1.4 Clubs that enter multiple teams at small-sided festivals are expected to a mix of player abilities across all teams. For example, there should not be an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team made up of perceived strong and weaker players. This is to help ensure a positive playing experience for all participants within small-sided football where the focus should be on fun and skill development
• 4.3 All players in the squad should participate in a minimum of 50% of the total playing time during a match day. For example, at U8 where there is a total maximum playing duration of 50 minutes, all players must participate in at least 25 minutes (50%) of the total game time available
• 4.5 Under 10 and 11 – No substitute must not be waiting longer than 10 minutesbefore they are involved in the match.
• 5.1.6 All squad members to benefit from the experience of playing in all positions, including goalkeeper for the under 8 to under 11 age groups
• 5.1.7 If teams are low on players and cannot field the correct number, then the other team should provide the additional player(s) or withdraw players to make the numbers even for the under 6 to under 11 age groups.
• 7.1 Heading is rarely observed in games involving players aged 11 and under. Coaches should continue to emphasise dribbling, passing, retaining the ball and building from the back. To reduce further the instances of heading within games coaches should encourage short corners and short free kicks that remain below head height. New rules changes have been introduced in this document to further decrease the amount of time the ball is in the air (such as a throw in replaced with a pass in for the under 9 age group and below, and goal keepers in the under 11 age group and below are no longer able to kick the ball out of their hands)
• 10.1 Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct) applies to free kicks although they are all indirect and the opposition must be at least 3 yards away.
  
• 11.3 When handling the ball in the goal area, goalkeepers can throw the ball out of their hands or kick the ball on the ground but can then be challenged by opponents. Drop kicks are not permitted.
  
• 11.4 In all age groups a retreat line is introduced, and the opposition players must be a minimum of 10 yards away from the point where the goalkeeper has the ball to encourage build up play. (U6-U11)
• 14.2 Under 10 and 11 - A goalkeeper cannot pick up the ball (in the goal area) if It has been passed to him/her by a teammate.

11v11

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Challenges, Conditions or Targets: