What are the different Age Groups in Football?

Modified on Fri, 22 May at 9:12 AM

A child who has not attained the age of 6 shall not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match of any kind.

The relevant age for each Player is determined by their age as at midnight on 31 August of the relevant Playing Season i.e. children who are aged 6 as at midnight on 31 August in a Playing Season (together with those who attain the age of 6 during the Playing Season) will be classed as Under 7 Players for that Playing Season. Children who are aged 7 as at midnight on 31 August in a Playing Season will be classed as Under 8 Players for that Playing Season, and so on.

Notwithstanding the above, a child is permitted to play up in the age group above their or her chronological age group, irrespective of any changes of format or competition structure, save that a child who attains the age of 6 after 31 August is permitted to play only in the Under 7 age group, and may not play in the Under 8 age group, for that Playing Season. Girls in all female teams may also be permitted to play an age group down in accordance with Rule 4(F).

The age groups that children are eligible to play in are set out in the table below, subject to Rule 4(F), along with the permitted football formats for each of those age groups. For the purposes of this Rule 18(C), provisions relating to playing in specified age groups shall include participating in training as well as playing in matches. Children shall not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match between sides of more than the stated number of players, according to their age group:

Age on 31 August of the relevant Playing Season	Eligible Age Groups	Maximum Permitted Format	Minimum Pitch Sizes		Maximum Pitch Sizes		Recommended Goal Sizes in feet	Ball Size
Age on 31 August of the relevant Playing Season	Eligible Age Groups	Maximum Permitted Format	Yards	Metres	Yards	Metres	Recommended Goal Sizes in feet	Ball Size
6	Under 7	3v3	-	15 X 10	-	20 X 15	4 x 2.5	3
7	Under 8	5v5	30 x 20	27.45 x 18.3	40 x 30	36.3 x 27.45	12 x 6	3
7	Under 9	5v5	30 x 20	27.45 x 18.3	40 x 30	36.3 x 27.45	12 x 6	3
8	Under 9	5v5	30 x 20	27.45 x 18.3	40 x 30	36.3 x 27.45	12 x 6	3
8	Under 10	7v7	50 x 30	45.75 x 27.45	60 x 40	54.9 x 36.6	12 x 6	3
9	Under 10	7v7	50 x 30	45.75 x 27.45	60 x 40	54.9 x 36.6	12 x 6	3
9	Under 11	7v7	50 x 30	45.75 x 27.45	60 x 40	54.9 x 36.6	12 x 6	3
10	Under 11	7v7	50 x 30	45.75 x 27.45	60 x 40	54.9 x 36.6	12 x 6	3
10	Under 12	9v9	70 x 40	64 x 36.6	80 x 50	73.15 x 45.75	16 x 7	4
11	Under 12	9v9	70 x 40	64 x 36.6	80 x 50	73.15 x 45.75	16 x 7	4
11	Under 13	9v9	70 x 40	64 x 36.6	80 x 50	73.15 x 45.75	16 x 7	4
12	Under 13	9v9	70 x 40	64 x 36.6	80 x 50	73.15 x 45.75	16 x 7	4 4
12	Under 14	11v11	90 x 50	82.3 x 45.75	100 x 60	91.44 x 54.9	21 x 7*	5
13	Under 14	11v11	90 x 50	82.3 x 45.75	100 x 60	91.44 x 54.9	21 x 7*	5
13	Under 15	11v11	90 x 50	82.3 x 45.75	100 x 60	91.44 x 54.9	24 x 8*	5
14	Under 15	11v11	90 x 50	82.3 x 45.75	100 x 60	91.44 x 54.9	24x 8*	5
14	Under 16	11v11	90 x 50	82.3 x 45.75	110 x 70	100.58 x 64	24 x 8	5
15	Under 16	11v11	90 x 50	82.3 x 45.75	110 x 70	100.58 x 64	24 x 8	5
	Under 17		100 x 50	91.44 x 45.75	130 x 100	118.87 x 91.44	24 x 8
	Under 18		100 x 50	91.44 x 45.75	130 x 100	118.87 x 91.44	24 x 8
16	Under 17	11v11	100 x 50	91.44 x 45.75	130 x 100	118.87 x 91.44	24 x 8	5
	Under 18		100 x 50	91.44 x 45.75	130 x 100	118.87 x 91.44	24 x 8
	Open Age		100 x 50	91.44 x 45.75	130 x 100	91.44	24 8

* At Under 14 age group, 21x7 is recommended but 24x8 is also permitted.
* At Under 15 age group, 24x8 is recommended but 21x7 is also permitted.