# FAI youth soccer rules: formats, match length and playing time (2026) Canonical URL: https://pitchtime.app/rules/fai The Football Association of Ireland publishes The Football Pathways Plan (2024). Its football pathway chart gives illustrative format ranges to be developed with leagues. The dataset does not establish fixed match lengths, heading restrictions, substitutions or minimum playing time from this source. ## How to read this page These pages use a sourced dataset snapshot. Check document dates for your season; official documents and applicable local competition rules take precedence. “Not specified” means the dataset has no value for that field, so check your local rules. ## What are the rules for each age band? ### 5-7 years old ('Me and My Ball') [1] | Rule | Value | | --- | --- | | Age group | 5-7 years old ('Me and My Ball') | | Format | 2v2 to 5v5 (illustrative) | | Players on field | Not specified | | Match length | Not specified | | Match length basis | unspecified | | Periods | Not specified × Not specified minutes | | Period guidance | Not specified | | Ball size | Not specified | | Goalkeeper | Not specified | | Heading rule | Not specified | | Substitutions | Not specified | | Minimum playing time policy | Not specified | | Build-out or retreat line | Not specified | ### 8-11 years old ('Me and My Skills') [2] | Rule | Value | | --- | --- | | Age group | 8-11 years old ('Me and My Skills') | | Format | 5v5 to 7v7 (illustrative) | | Players on field | Not specified | | Match length | Not specified | | Match length basis | unspecified | | Periods | Not specified × Not specified minutes | | Period guidance | Not specified | | Ball size | Not specified | | Goalkeeper | Not specified | | Heading rule | Not specified | | Substitutions | Not specified | | Minimum playing time policy | Not specified | | Build-out or retreat line | Not specified | ### 12-14 years old ('Me and My Team Mates') [3] | Rule | Value | | --- | --- | | Age group | 12-14 years old ('Me and My Team Mates') | | Format | 9v9 to 11v11 (illustrative) | | Players on field | Not specified | | Match length | Not specified | | Match length basis | unspecified | | Periods | Not specified × Not specified minutes | | Period guidance | Not specified | | Ball size | Not specified | | Goalkeeper | Not specified | | Heading rule | Not specified | | Substitutions | Not specified | | Minimum playing time policy | Not specified | | Build-out or retreat line | Not specified | ## Notes and qualifications [1] 5-7 years old ('Me and My Ball'): The only current fai.ie document found that states formats by age. It gives format ranges per age band (5-7: 2v2 to 5v5; 8-11: 5v5 to 7v7; 12-14: 9v9 to 11v11; 15-16 and 17-19: 11v11) and example pitch/goal sizes (5v5 40m x 25m, 2m x 1.2m goals; 7v7 55m x 35m, 5m x 2m goals), but explicitly says formats are illustrative and will be developed with leagues. No match duration, ball size, heading, substitution or playing-time rule is published on fai.ie. The older FAI 'Player Development Plan' (2015: U8/U9 5v5, U10/U11 7v7, U12 9v9) survives only on club websites, which are not official sources, so it is NOT recorded here. [2] 8-11 years old ('Me and My Skills'): See 5-7 row. Example pitch sizes: 5v5 40m x 25m; 7v7 55m x 35m. All other fields unverified from official FAI sources. [3] 12-14 years old ('Me and My Team Mates'): Chart text for this band is partly garbled in extraction ('9v9 to 11v11' reconstructed from the chart). 15-16 and 17-19 bands are 11v11 in the same chart. All other fields unverified. ## What this means for your lineup These equal-share examples use the recorded on-field count and match length, with 2, 3, 4 or 5 substitutes. For formats with options or a maximum, they use the dataset’s numeric count. Maximum durations remain maxima. Check roster limits in the rules and footnotes; example rosters may exceed them. Alongside the mathematical 50% result, check substitution windows, goalkeeper duties, eligibility conditions and any higher local minimum. Times are rounded to the nearest second. ### 5-7 years old ('Me and My Ball') No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes. ### 8-11 years old ('Me and My Skills') No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes. ### 12-14 years old ('Me and My Team Mates') No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes. [Free lineup builder for 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11](/lineup). ## Sources Quotations below are reproduced verbatim from the [dataset](https://github.com/simonash227/youth-soccer-rules). ### 5-7 years old ('Me and My Ball') [FAI - The Football Pathways Plan (2024), 'Football Pathway' chart (p.48-49) and 'Create Age and Stage Appropriate Formats' (p.54-55)](https://www.fai.ie/download_file/3adea439-07e3-4b8e-bc13-eb30952e4ca6/1814/) > Note - Formats for illustrate purposes only at this point. This will be developed in collaboration with the game. Retrieved: 2026-10-05 Additional source: [FAI - Football Pathways Plan landing page (links the PDF)](https://www.fai.ie/play-and-participate/football-pathways-plan/) ### 8-11 years old ('Me and My Skills') [FAI - The Football Pathways Plan (2024), 'Football Pathway' chart (p.48-49)](https://www.fai.ie/download_file/3adea439-07e3-4b8e-bc13-eb30952e4ca6/1814/) > 8-11 YEARS OLD ... ME AND MY SKILLS ... 5v5 to 7v7 ... GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL / FAI FOOTBALL SCHOOLS Retrieved: 2026-10-05 ### 12-14 years old ('Me and My Team Mates') [FAI - The Football Pathways Plan (2024), 'Football Pathway' chart (p.48-49)](https://www.fai.ie/download_file/3adea439-07e3-4b8e-bc13-eb30952e4ca6/1814/) > 12-14 YEARS OLD ... ME AND MY TEAM MATES ... 9v9 to 11v11 Retrieved: 2026-10-05 Corrections welcome: [report a correction with an official source](https://github.com/simonash227/youth-soccer-rules/issues). ## Plan your next game Pitch Time is a youth soccer coaching app that automatically generates fair playing time lineups. [Get the Pitch Time app](/get-the-app) ## FAQ ### Which youth football formats does FAI list? 5-7 years old ('Me and My Ball'): 2v2 to 5v5 (illustrative). 8-11 years old ('Me and My Skills'): 5v5 to 7v7 (illustrative). 12-14 years old ('Me and My Team Mates'): 9v9 to 11v11 (illustrative). ### What minimum playing time does FAI specify? Not specified. ### How long are the youth football matches in these FAI records? Not specified as a single duration; see period guidance and notes.