What's confirmed for 2026-27

The FA's Future Fit framework continues to evolve. The following changes are confirmed or being phased in across grassroots football in England for the 2026-27 season:

Heading restrictions — younger age groups

Heading restrictions continue to be phased down the age groups. For 2026-27, deliberate heading in training is restricted for players under 12 (U12 and below). This applies to training sessions, not matches — but coaches should be updating their drill content accordingly. The SimpleDrills library already reflects this across all U7–U11 drill content.

Ball sizes — no changes for 2026-27

Ball sizes remain unchanged under Future Fit:

  • U7–U8: Size 3
  • U9–U11: Size 3 (7v7 format)
  • U12–U13: Size 4 (9v9 format)
  • U14 and above: Size 5 (11v11)

See our full FA Future Fit guide for complete ball size and pitch size tables by age group.

Pitch sizes — check your county FA

Pitch dimensions are set by individual county FAs within FA guidelines. No national changes to pitch sizes are confirmed for 2026-27, but some counties have updated their local requirements. Check with your county FA before the season starts.

Player registration and dual registration

The FA continues to tighten player registration rules. Key points for 2026-27:

  • Players must be registered with their club before they can play competitive matches.
  • Dual registration (playing for two clubs) rules remain in place but with stricter consent requirements from both clubs.
  • Age group eligibility: players can play up one age group with parental consent but cannot play down.

Return to Play protocols — updated guidance

The FA has updated Return to Play guidance for injuries, including concussion protocols. All coaches are expected to follow the Headcase concussion protocols. Players who show signs of concussion must not return to play the same day.

What hasn't changed

  • Format sizes (3v3, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 by age group) — no changes
  • Game duration by age group — no changes
  • The volunteer coach DBS requirement — still required for all coaches with regular unsupervised access to children
  • Emergency First Aid in Football (EFiF) — still the minimum FA coaching requirement

Preparing for the new season

With these changes in mind, here's what to do before your first session of 2026-27:

  1. Check your ball sizes — if you've had the same balls for a few seasons, they may be the wrong size for your age group now players have moved up.
  2. Update your session plans — remove any heading-focused drills from your U11 and below sessions. Our U10-U11 drill library and U8-U9 drill library are already updated.
  3. Renew your DBS and First Aid — DBS certificates are valid for 3 years with the FA's Update Service. First Aid in Football (EFiF) certificates last 3 years too.
  4. Register your players early — player registration issues are the most common cause of match suspensions at grassroots level.

Where to find official FA guidance

This article reflects current FA guidance as of July 2026. For the most up-to-date rules, always check: