Players over 11/12

At this age players are moving quickly towards the traditional form of the game with 11 players per team. However it has been recognised that the gap from playing mini-football to 11 v 11 is considerable and there could be a better way of managing this transition. Now, as players get older, many are playing matches where each team has 9 players. The format is the same as mini-football, but with slightly bigger goals and a bigger pitch. It usually follows that a team will have one season at 9 v 9 and then make the final step up to youth football and playing 11 v 11. To summarise;

• 9 v 9 has bigger goals (16'x 7') and pitches (approx. 80' x 50') than mini-football, but is still scaled down from the adult game.
• While 9 v 9 is increasing in popularity many kids at the age level are still playing mini-football and some will have already moved on to 11 v 11.
• Girls can still be on the same team as boys, although under 11 is the last year where mixed teams can take part in competitive leagues.
• From age 12 onwards teams are generally all 11 v 11. Younger age groups may still play on smaller pitches with intermediate size goals (21'x 7' as opposed to full size goals at 24'x 8'), but many will now find themselves on full size pitches and goals. It's quite a shock and to make things even more complicated they start to play offside as well!!