PREMIER LEAGUE

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES
GAMES PROGRAMME
Foundation Phase Games Programme
123. The League will organise a games programme for teams in each of the Under 9 to Under 11 age
groups of Clubs operating Category 1 and 2 Academies (and for the avoidance of doubt teams
from both Categories shall participate together in this games programme).
124. The Football League will organise a games programme for teams in each of the Under 9 to
Under 11 age groups of Clubs operating Category 3 Academies.
125. The games programmes referred to in Rules 123 and 124 shall consist of matches which:
125.1. shall be competitive but whose results shall not give any particular competitive significance
between Academies (for example, no league table or the like shall be produced);
125.2. subject to Rule 125.3 shall be organised on a local basis so that as far as reasonably
possible no team has to travel more than one hour to an away match (save that longer
travel times may be necessary in order that each Club can participate meaningfully in
the games programme;
125.3. shall include one or more Festivals for each Club organised on a local, regional or
national basis;
125.4. shall take place during the Games Programme Schedule;
125.5. may include matches against representative county schoolboy sides (being sides selected
by the English Schools’ Football Association);
125.6. shall be played outdoors, except during the second half of December and the whole of both
January and February, when they shall be played indoors;
125.7. may be played in Festivals; and
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125.8. shall consist of matches played in accordance with the following formats (save that some
matches played indoors may be played as Futsal games):
Age
group
Team
size
Under 9 4v4, 5v5
or 7v7
Under 10 4v4, 5v5
or 7v7
Under 11 7v7 or
9v9
Pitch size
(yards)
30x20 to 40x30
(4v4 and 5v5)
50x30 to 60x40
(7v7)
30x20 to 40x30
(4v4 and 5v5)
50x30 to 60x40
(7v7)
50x30 to 60x40
(7v7)
70x40 to 80x50
(9v9)
Goal size
(feet)
Ball size
12x6 3 (or 4 at
the Home
Club’s
option)
12x6 (4v4
and 5v5)
12x6 to 16x7 (7v7)
16x7 (9v9)
The participating Clubs shall endeavour to agree which of the above formats shall be utilised,
but in default of agreement the home Club shall decide.
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