FA update on the future of youth football in England:
Our comprehensive consultation process with the grassroots game has been enhanced by a study into playing formats for youth players across other European nations, which has been complimented with our own research and testing.
As a result, from the start of the 2026/27 season, we are planning to introduce new updates to the game, with some planned adjustments to the ages and stages of formats in youth football. We are taking these steps to help maximise activity levels and the technical skill development of all young people.
We will also be introducing a new entry format for the youngest players in the pathway, where they will have more time with the football, increased time on the pitch, and greater variety in their football experience.
Our ambition for the grassroots game:
• We are committed to being at the forefront of positive change, ensuring we provide a game that every young player can love, and enables them to reach their full potential
• This means continuing to evaluate and refine the football offer for youth players to ensure it remains the activity of choice for current and future generations
• Our ambition is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and active game for every young player, every week, with increased physical activity and more touches of the football to improve their technical ability.
Our research and insight with the grassroots game:
• Our extensive research into best practice includes a study of youth football in over 40 European countries looking at their structures and approaches, helping us compare and learn from our counterparts
• Developing our understanding of the impact of proposed adjustments has included a partnership with Liverpool John Moores University through which we studied more than 400 grassroots games, from U6-U14, allowing us to better understand the technical and physical returns of different playing formats
• We have engaged regularly with grassroots stakeholders through a comprehensive consultation process. This has included face-to-face meetings and online surveys as part of our ‘a conversation about our game’ national consultation
• We have also gathered views from County FAs, clubs, leagues, players, coaches, parents and match officials from across the grassroots community.
Next steps:
• Over the next 18 months, we will continue to work with the grassroots game to help everyone understand the changes and how they will be implemented from the 2026/27 season
• More details will be provided to the grassroots game in early 2025 and we will be delivering briefings across the country in the Spring.
The FA’s Director of Football Development, James Kendall, said: “It has been brilliant to hear from the grassroots football community on the future of youth football and to understand how we can continue to improve the playing experience for young players enjoying the game.
“Our approach is very much about evolution, not revolution, and we believe that by introducing a new entry format for young players and adjusting the formats played by age groups, we will further improve youth football in England so it can continue to provide an enjoyable, developmental and inclusive experience for everyone involved.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the grassroots game to ensure that these changes are communicated clearly, effectively and well ahead of implementation, so that together we can ensure that every child can enjoy football and reach their full potential.”
I’m hoping this means a greater support, at the moment I’ve got county fa not following rules for transfers, forcing us to enter county fa cups and play weaker teams against EJA teams, forcing us to play girls games spread over two years so some of the younger girls can’t play, putting games on half term, fining when we can’t put teams out because of these rules not prepared to move the game, for the above reasons. There is little understanding of grassroots volunteers time or the players
I do hope for positive change.
I stepped down managing a grassroots girls team this week due to the FA.
My experience was anything but this.
“Our ambition is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and active game for every young player, every week”
When trying to work with a county FA at the start of this week I was simply ignored and told no games for the teams despite all players and managers wanting to play.
I know this is not the Ethos of the FA and I hope that the changes within the FA help players, teams and coaches throughout.
More investment in 3G pitches is essential. You can encourage more coaching and playing time as much as you want but if pitches are unplayable every week which has happened 5-6 times this season already and we are only at end of November more coaching and more time on the ball isn’t going to happen. We have just starting to use our new 4G which has been 15 years of planning and fundraising and it’s a game changer. Our club is so big we could do with 2 more and they iwould be used continuously..
So my U12’s will change to 11 a side next season then revert back to 9 a side in 2026 for the other half of the season
I have a similar question/concern for my current U12s. They are currently playing 9v9, and then next season they will play 11v11, and then according to the new changes (which are good for the development), we will then drop back to 9v9 for a season and then bak up to 11v11. Is there any scope to allow the current U12s, when going up to U13s to stay at 9v9 rather than go up, drop down and then go up again in terms of number of players. It would help with retention and understanding.
Why do they have to keep changing the rules, the header rule caused me injuries with children turning there heads to move out way getting a ball to the back of head or side, they have recently changed rules on throw ins for younger ages which all this will do is make it harder later on causing foul throws…. Now I’ll have to cut my team due to bing u12 now 9v9 then go up to 11v 11 and will haven’t drop down too 9v9 for a season then back up to 11v11 this is absolutely ridiculous …. Just leave football alone ….
Surely this makes sense to come into effect for the season after as the only age bracket it effects for the 26/27 season would be the current u12s. Where as if these changes come into effect for 27/28 the current u11s would just continue to play 9v9.