Future Fit:
what's changing.

The new age, format, and ball mapping

From the start of the 2026-27 season, this is what every age group plays. Save it. Print it. Tape it to the back of your clipboard.

Note: the formats above are maximums. Smaller-sided games are still permitted within each age group at coach or league discretion. Training-session formats remain flexible.

3v3 for U7s — the biggest change

The headline change. From 2026-27, U7s no longer play 5v5 — they play 3v3 on smaller goals. The FA's research (in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, studying over 400 grassroots games) found that smaller formats give players significantly more touches, more shots, more 1v1 situations, and crucially more fun.

The 3v3 format gives the youngest players more time on the ball, more time on the pitch, and a better introduction to football. — FA Future Fit framework summary

What it means for coaches

• You'll need 3v3-specific drills — most existing drill libraries are 5v5+ and don't translate cleanly
• Squad sizes change. With 3v3 + a sub or two, U7 squads of 4–5 players become typical
• Pitch dimensions and goal sizes are smaller. Check with your county FA for the exact specifications in your league
• The pace of play is faster — coaches will need to recover the ball more often during sessions

Browse 3v3 drills →

11v11 moves from U13 to U14

Currently U13s step up to the full 11-a-side game. Under Future Fit, that move is delayed a year — players stay at 9v9 for U13, and 11v11 begins at U14. The FA's reasoning: an extra year on a smaller pitch produces better technical development before the cognitive and physical demands of the full game.

What it means for coaches

• If you've been preparing your U12 squad for 11v11 next season, that timeline changes
• 9v9 tactical work (back four vs back three, midfield rotations) becomes a U13 topic, not just U12
• The transition jump at U14 is bigger — more pitch, more players, more space to cover

Heading rules: phased out by U11

Following the IFAB trial and concussion research, the FA is removing deliberate heading from all matches at primary-school ages. The phase-out has been rolling for two seasons:

What it means for coaches

• If your team is U7–U11 in 2026-27, deliberate heading is out of matches entirely
• Existing FA guidance restricts heading training for younger ages even more strictly — minimal repetition, age-appropriate balls only
• SimpleDrills won't list heading-specific drills targeting U7–U11 ages — the validator rejects them automatically

Ball-size mapping: simplified by format

Previously, ball-size guidance was a confusing mix that varied by league and competition. Future Fit simplifies it: ball size follows match format, so as long as you know the format you know the ball.

• Size 3 — used at U7 to U11 (3v3, 5v5, 7v7 formats)
• Size 4 — used at U12 to U13 (9v9 format)
• Size 5 — used at U14 and up (11v11)

For schools running 7v7 up to Year 6, the size 3 ball now applies to that whole bracket — making it easier to standardise primary-school equipment.

What this means for your sessions

Future Fit isn't just a competition-rules change — it should reshape how you train. Five practical implications for grassroots coaches:

1. Squad sizes shrink at U7

   Plan for squads of 4–5 instead of 7–8. You'll need more volunteer coaches per team, but each kid gets dramatically more time on the ball.

2. 3v3 conditioning becomes the warm-up reality

   If you coach U7s, your default warm-up game probably shifts to 3v3 with rotation. SSGs at 4v4 or 5v5 become the "main session" piece, not the entry point.

3. Audit your drill library against age tags

   Any drill that mentions heading and is tagged U7–U11 needs flagging. Same for any 5v5 drill earmarked for U7s — the format has changed underneath you.

4. Pitch sharing becomes more flexible

   Three 3v3 pitches fit in the space one 5v5 pitch used to occupy. If your club shares a venue, you can fit more teams in fewer slots.

5. The 9v9 → 11v11 transition gets a year of breathing room

   Use the extra U13 year at 9v9 to bed in tactical principles — defensive shape, midfield rotations, attacking patterns — before the bigger pitch demands them under pressure.

Future Fit FAQs