# New Zealand Football youth soccer rules: formats, match length and playing time (2026)

Canonical URL: https://pitchtime.app/rules/new-zealand-football

New Zealand Football publishes Whole of Football 2.0 game-format sheets for junior and youth soccer. These records cite the sheets linked from its resources site, hosted on Sporty. The notes describe a 2026–2027 phase-in; several durations are ranges, and the cited sheets do not specify minimum playing time.

## 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?

### First Kicks (4-7 years) [1]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | First Kicks (4-7 years) |
| Format | 3v3 |
| Players on field | 3 |
| Match length | Not specified |
| Match length basis | range |
| Periods | Not specified × Not specified minutes |
| Period guidance | 2-3 x 8-12 minute games |
| Ball size | 3 |
| Goalkeeper | No |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | 0-1 rolling sub. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Not specified |
| Build-out or retreat line | Retreating line: halfway. No offsides, no penalties, no free kicks, no corners; goal kick to defending team; scoring zone 'must be over half way'. |

### Fun Football (U8-U9 years) [2]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | Fun Football (U8-U9 years) |
| Format | 5v5 |
| Players on field | 5 |
| Match length | 45 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 3 × 15 minutes |
| Period guidance | 3 x 15 minute games |
| Ball size | 3 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | 2-3 rolling subs. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Not specified |
| Build-out or retreat line | Retreating line: halfway. No offsides, no penalties; indirect free kicks; pass-in from sideline; goal kicks pass or roll with retreating line in action. |

### Mini Football (U10-U11 years) [3]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | Mini Football (U10-U11 years) |
| Format | 7v7 |
| Players on field | 7 |
| Match length | Not specified |
| Match length basis | range |
| Periods | 2 × Not specified minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 x 20-25 minute halves or games |
| Ball size | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | 2-3 rolling subs. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Not specified |
| Build-out or retreat line | Retreating line: yes, 30% of the field from the goal line. Offsides: yes, judged from the retreating line. No penalties; indirect free kicks; throw-ins; corners yes. |

### Mini Football (12-13 years) [4]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | Mini Football (12-13 years) |
| Format | 9v9 |
| Players on field | 9 |
| Match length | Not specified |
| Match length basis | range |
| Periods | 2 × Not specified minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 x 25-30 minute halves or games |
| Ball size | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | 2-3 rolling subs. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Not specified |
| Build-out or retreat line | Retreating line: yes, 30% of the field from the goal line. Offsides: yes (halfway). Penalties yes (8m). Direct or indirect free kicks; corners yes. |

### Youth Football (14-15 years) [5]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | Youth Football (14-15 years) |
| Format | 11v11 or 9v9 |
| Players on field | 11 |
| Match length | Not specified |
| Match length basis | range |
| Periods | 2 × Not specified minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 x 30-40 minute halves |
| Ball size | 5 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | 3-5 rolling subs. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Not specified |
| Build-out or retreat line | No retreating line. Offsides: yes. Penalties: yes (9m). Yellow and red cards used. |

### Youth & Senior Football (16+ years) [6]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | Youth & Senior Football (16+ years) |
| Format | 11v11 |
| Players on field | 11 |
| Match length | Not specified |
| Match length basis | range |
| Periods | 2 × Not specified minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 x 35-45 minute halves |
| Ball size | 5 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Not specified |
| Substitutions | As per competition rules. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Not specified |
| Build-out or retreat line | No retreating line. Offsides yes; penalties yes (11m). |

## Notes and qualifications

[1] First Kicks (4-7 years): One-page format sheet hosted on NZF's Sporty platform, linked from https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources. WOF 2.0 is being phased in during 2026-2027 (NZF news, 31 July 2025). No heading or playing-time rule on the sheet (null). Pitch 20m x 15m; goal 1.5m x 0.9m to 2m x 1m; no recorded results. The news article labels this 'U6/U7: Station Rotation + 3 vs 3'.

[2] Fun Football (U8-U9 years): Pitch optimal 35m x 25m (range 30x20 to 40x30); goal 3-4m x 2m; results recorded for grading only, no table. The sheet's 'BALL SIZE' graphic reads 3 for U8 and U9.

[3] Mini Football (U10-U11 years): Pitch optimal 50m x 30m (range 45x30 to 55x35); goal 4m x 2m; penalty area 20m x 8m.

[4] Mini Football (12-13 years): Pitch optimal 70m x 50m (range 60x45 to 75x50); goal 5m x 2m to 6.4m x 2.2m; penalty area 26m x 10m.

[5] Youth Football (14-15 years): players_on_field = 11 for the 11v11 option (9 if 9v9 'depending on competition needs'). 11v11 pitch optimal 85m x 55m; 9v9 pitch 70m x 50m.

[6] Youth & Senior Football (16+ years): Pitch 100m x 60m; goal 7.3m x 2.4m.

## 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.

### First Kicks (4-7 years)

No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes.

### Fun Football (U8-U9 years)

Using 5 on the field for 45 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 5v5.

| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [7 players (+2)](/playing-time-calculator?format=5&length=45&roster=7) | 32:09 (71.4%) | Yes |
| [8 players (+3)](/playing-time-calculator?format=5&length=45&roster=8) | 28:08 (62.5%) | Yes |
| [9 players (+4)](/playing-time-calculator?format=5&length=45&roster=9) | 25:00 (55.6%) | Yes |
| [10 players (+5)](/playing-time-calculator?format=5&length=45&roster=10) | 22:30 (50%) | Yes |

### Mini Football (U10-U11 years)

No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes.

### Mini Football (12-13 years)

No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes.

### Youth Football (14-15 years)

No equal-minutes example: a single on-field count or match length is not specified. See period guidance and notes.

### Youth & Senior Football (16+ years)

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).

### First Kicks (4-7 years)

[New Zealand Football - WOF 2.0 Football Game Formats & Rules: First Kicks (U7) 3v3 overview (linked from nzfootball.co.nz WOF 2.0 Resources)](https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=4ac7afbf-9cf6-43ba-bc2f-873eaf40eec6)

> FIRST KICKS 3v3 (4-7 YEARS) NO GOALKEEPER ... GAME TIME 2 - 3 x 8 - 12 minute games ... SUBSTITUTIONS 0-1 rolling sub ... RETREATING LINE Halfway

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [New Zealand Football - Whole of Football 2.0 Resources](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources)

Additional source: [NZF: New Zealand Football Announces Updated Whole of Football Framework (31 July 2025)](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/155974?newsCarouselId=1937259)

### Fun Football (U8-U9 years)

[New Zealand Football - WOF 2.0 Football Game Formats & Rules: Fun Football (U8/U9) 5v5 overview](https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=24b7b378-d731-4676-a1a4-7ce312114e1b)

> FUN FOOTBALL 5v5 (U8-U9 YEARS) ... GOALKEEPER Yes ... GAME TIME 3 x 15 minute games ... SUBSTITUTIONS 2-3 rolling subs

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [New Zealand Football - Whole of Football 2.0 Resources](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources)

### Mini Football (U10-U11 years)

[New Zealand Football - WOF 2.0 Football Game Formats & Rules: Mini Football (U10/U11) 7v7 overview](https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=5efff680-4b0d-4f3d-bc97-534bf0f6c45a)

> MINI FOOTBALL 7v7 (U10-U11 YEARS) ... GAME TIME 2 x 20 - 25 minute halves or games ... BALL SIZE 4 ... 2-3 rolling subs

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [New Zealand Football - Whole of Football 2.0 Resources](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources)

### Mini Football (12-13 years)

[New Zealand Football - WOF 2.0 Football Game Formats & Rules: Mini Football (U12/U13) 9v9 overview](https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=78100ccc-3706-4d8f-9738-c41379fb7a0c)

> MINI FOOTBALL 9v9 (12-13 YEARS) ... GAME TIME 2 x 25 - 30 minute halves or games ... BALL SIZE 4

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [New Zealand Football - Whole of Football 2.0 Resources](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources)

### Youth Football (14-15 years)

[New Zealand Football - WOF 2.0 Football Game Formats & Rules: Youth Football (U14/U15) 11v11 or 9v9 overview](https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=7398750f-db89-4da4-ab14-d5aa73cd755f)

> YOUTH FOOTBALL 11v11 (14-15 YEARS) or 9v9 ... GAME TIME 2 x 30 - 40 minute halves ... BALL SIZE 5 ... 3-5 Rolling subs

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [New Zealand Football - Whole of Football 2.0 Resources](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources)

### Youth & Senior Football (16+ years)

[New Zealand Football - WOF 2.0 Football Game Formats & Rules: Youth & Senior Football (16+) 11v11 overview](https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=aa9685bf-1a08-4c74-9dd4-819738c76184)

> YOUTH & SENIOR FOOTBALL 11v11 (16+ YEARS) ... GAME TIME 2 x 35 - 45 minute halves ... SUBSTITUTIONS As per competition rules

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [New Zealand Football - Whole of Football 2.0 Resources](https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/whole-of-football-2.0/resources)

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 soccer formats does New Zealand Football list?

First Kicks (4-7 years): 3v3. Fun Football (U8-U9 years): 5v5. Mini Football (U10-U11 years): 7v7. Mini Football (12-13 years): 9v9. Youth Football (14-15 years): 11v11 or 9v9. Youth & Senior Football (16+ years): 11v11.

### What minimum playing time does New Zealand Football specify?

Not specified.

### How long are the youth soccer matches in these New Zealand Football records?

First Kicks (4-7 years), Mini Football (U10-U11 years), Mini Football (12-13 years), Youth Football (14-15 years), Youth & Senior Football (16+ years): Not specified as a single duration; see period guidance and notes. Fun Football (U8-U9 years): 45 minutes (fixed).