Football Australia youth soccer rules: formats, match length and playing time (2026)
Football Australia publishes Coles MiniRoos Club Football: National Playing Formats and Rules for junior soccer. The cited PDF was published in October 2025 and states that it is effective from January 2015. It covers U6–U11 formats and prioritises equal playing time without specifying a percentage minimum.
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?
Under 6 & 7 [1]
| Age group | Under 6 & 7 |
|---|---|
| Format | 4v4 |
| Players on field | 4 |
| Match length | 40 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 2 × 20 minutes |
| Period guidance | 20 min halves; minimum 5 min half-time break |
| Ball size | 3 |
| Goalkeeper | No |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | Maximum of three substitutes. Players may be rotated on and off at any time, including while the ball is in play (player off before substitute on). |
| Minimum playing time policy | Equal playing time should be a priority ensuring all players regardless of age, gender and/or ability get to take the field (stated as a priority, not a quantified minimum). |
| Build-out or retreat line | No offside. On goal-line restarts opponents must retreat to the halfway line; no throw-ins or corners. |
Under 8 & 9 [2]
| Age group | Under 8 & 9 |
|---|---|
| Format | 7v7 |
| Players on field | 7 |
| Match length | 40 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 2 × 20 minutes |
| Period guidance | 20 min halves; minimum 5 min half-time break |
| Ball size | 3 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | Maximum of four substitutes. Players may be rotated on and off at any time during the game. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Equal playing time should be a priority (all age groups U6-U11). |
| Build-out or retreat line | No offside. Goalkeeper may not kick or drop-kick from hands; on goal kicks and goalkeeper distribution opponents must be at least 10 m outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. |
Under 10 & 11 [3]
| Age group | Under 10 & 11 |
|---|---|
| Format | 9v9 |
| Players on field | 9 |
| Match length | 50 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 2 × 25 minutes |
| Period guidance | 25 min halves; minimum 5 min half time break |
| Ball size | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | Maximum of five substitutes. Players may be rotated on and off at any time during the game. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Equal playing time should be a priority (all age groups U6-U11). |
| Build-out or retreat line | Offside not mentioned for U10 & 11 (no-offside statements appear only for U6-7 and U8-9). Goalkeeper may not kick or drop-kick from hands; opponents 10 m outside penalty area on goalkeeper restarts. Penalty kicks from an 8 m mark. |
Notes and qualifications
- Under 6 & 7: Field 30m x 20m; goals 2m x 1m. No heading rule appears anywhere in the document (set to null). No match results published; no points tables. A separate Football Australia 'Game Time Policy Template' (Club Changer programme) suggests EQUAL GAME TIME for MiniRoos U6-U11 and MINIMUM HALF GAME TIME for U12-U18, but it is a club-adjustable template, not a national rule. Back to age band
- Under 8 & 9: Field min 40x30 m, best practice 45x35 m, max 50x40 m; goals 3m x 2m; penalty area 5m x 12m. Throw-ins and corners used from U8. Back to age band
- Under 10 & 11: Field max 70x50 m, best practice 65x45 m, min 60x40 m; goal max 5m x 2m; penalty area 10m x 20m. AMBIGUOUS: the U10-11 page does not state whether offside applies. Back to age band
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.
Under 6 & 7
Using 4 on the field for 40 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 4v4.
| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
|---|---|---|
| 6 players (+2) | 26:40 (66.7%) | Yes |
| 7 players (+3) | 22:51 (57.1%) | Yes |
| 8 players (+4) | 20:00 (50%) | Yes |
| 9 players (+5) | 17:47 (44.4%) | No |
Under 8 & 9
Using 7 on the field for 40 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 7v7.
| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
|---|---|---|
| 9 players (+2) | 31:07 (77.8%) | Yes |
| 10 players (+3) | 28:00 (70%) | Yes |
| 11 players (+4) | 25:27 (63.6%) | Yes |
| 12 players (+5) | 23:20 (58.3%) | Yes |
Under 10 & 11
Using 9 on the field for 50 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 9v9.
| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
|---|---|---|
| 11 players (+2) | 40:55 (81.8%) | Yes |
| 12 players (+3) | 37:30 (75%) | Yes |
| 13 players (+4) | 34:37 (69.2%) | Yes |
| 14 players (+5) | 32:09 (64.3%) | Yes |
Build a rotation with the free lineup builder for 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11.
Sources
Quotations below are reproduced verbatim from the dataset.
Under 6 & 7
The number of players: 4-a-side with no goalkeeper, Maximum of three substitutes ... Ball size: Size 3 ... Duration of the game: 20 min halves, Minimum 5 min half-time break
Retrieved:
Additional source: Football Australia Club Changer - Game Time Policy Template (template, not a binding rule)
Additional source: Play Football - MiniRoos FAQs ('small sided football games (4v4, 7v7 & 9v9)')
Under 8 & 9
Football Australia - Coles MiniRoos Club Football: National Playing Formats and Rules
The number of players: 7-a-side including a goalkeeper, Maximum of four substitutes ... Ball size: Size 3 ... Duration of the game: 20 min halves
Retrieved:
Under 10 & 11
Football Australia - Coles MiniRoos Club Football: National Playing Formats and Rules
The number of players: 9-a-side including a goalkeeper, Maximum of five substitutes ... Ball size: Size 4 ... Duration of the game: 25 min halves
Retrieved:
Corrections welcome: report a correction with an official source.
Plan your next game
Pitch Time is a youth soccer coaching app that automatically generates fair playing time lineups.
Get the Pitch Time appFAQ
Which youth soccer formats does Football Australia list?
Under 6 & 7: 4v4. Under 8 & 9: 7v7. Under 10 & 11: 9v9.
What minimum playing time does Football Australia specify?
Under 6 & 7: Equal playing time should be a priority ensuring all players regardless of age, gender and/or ability get to take the field (stated as a priority, not a quantified minimum). Under 8 & 9, Under 10 & 11: Equal playing time should be a priority (all age groups U6-U11).
How long are the youth soccer matches in these Football Australia records?
Under 6 & 7, Under 8 & 9: 40 minutes (fixed). Under 10 & 11: 50 minutes (fixed).