# U.S. Soccer youth soccer rules: formats, match length and playing time (2026)

Canonical URL: https://pitchtime.app/rules/us-soccer

U.S. Soccer publishes small-sided soccer standards in its Player Development Initiatives. These records cite the February 2017 document hosted by US Youth Soccer, with formats, durations and age-specific heading restrictions. Its playing-time philosophy is explicitly not mandated.

## 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?

### U6, U7, U8 [1]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | U6, U7, U8 |
| Format | 4v4 |
| Players on field | 4 |
| Match length | 40 minutes (maximum) |
| Match length basis | maximum |
| Periods | 4 × 10 minutes |
| Period guidance | 4 quarters, no more than 10 minutes each; 5 minute breaks between quarters; playing time can be less when managed by coaches and parents |
| Ball size | 3 |
| Goalkeeper | No |
| Heading rule | Deliberate heading not allowed in 4v4 games; indirect free kick to opponents from the spot of the offence. |
| Substitutions | Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any time. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Philosophy (best practice, not mandated): everyone should participate a minimum of 50% of the time. |
| Build-out or retreat line | No build-out line at 4v4. No offside. |

### U9, U10 [2]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | U9, U10 |
| Format | 7v7 |
| Players on field | 7 |
| Match length | 50 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 2 × 25 minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 halves of 25 minutes; 10 minute halftime; no added time |
| Ball size | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Deliberate heading not allowed in 7v7 games; indirect free kick to opponents from the spot of the offence (if in goal area, taken on the goal area line). |
| Substitutions | Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Philosophy (best practice, not mandated): every player should play a minimum of 50% of the time in each game. |
| Build-out or retreat line | Build-out line used (equidistant between penalty area line and halfway line). Opponents must retreat behind it when the goalkeeper has the ball in hand or on a goal kick; goalkeeper punts and drop kicks not allowed (indirect free kick). Offside applies only between the build-out line and the goal line. |

### U11 [3]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | U11 |
| Format | 9v9 |
| Players on field | 9 |
| Match length | 60 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 2 × 30 minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 halves of 30 minutes; 10 minute halftime; no added time |
| Ball size | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Deliberate heading is not allowed in U11 games; indirect free kick to opponents from the spot of the offence. |
| Substitutions | Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Philosophy (best practice, not mandated): every player should play a minimum of 50% of the time in each game. |
| Build-out or retreat line | No build-out line specified for 9v9. Offside applies (standard Law 11). |

### U12 [4]

| Rule | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Age group | U12 |
| Format | 9v9 |
| Players on field | 9 |
| Match length | 60 minutes (fixed) |
| Match length basis | fixed |
| Periods | 2 × 30 minutes |
| Period guidance | 2 halves of 30 minutes; 10 minute halftime; no added time |
| Ball size | 4 |
| Goalkeeper | Yes |
| Heading rule | Heading allowed in U12 games without limitation under the PDI, but member organisations are empowered to limit or ban it at this level. |
| Substitutions | Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage. |
| Minimum playing time policy | Philosophy (best practice, not mandated): every player should play a minimum of 50% of the time in each game. |
| Build-out or retreat line | No build-out line specified for 9v9. Offside applies (standard Law 11). |

## Notes and qualifications

[1] U6, U7, U8: U.S. Soccer-authored document (copyright 2016 U.S. Soccer) hosted on US Youth Soccer's site; no copy of the PDF was found on ussoccer.com itself. The chart on p.12 lists U6/U7/U8 with 'Game Time 4x10'. Small-sided standards 'will be mandated in August 2017'; the 50% playing-time line sits in the 'Player Development Philosophy' section which the document says is 'not currently mandated'. No referee required at 4v4.

[2] U9, U10: Game may not start or continue with fewer than 5 players on a team. Roster guidance: no more than 12 players (philosophy, not mandated). Field 55-65 x 35-45 yards; max goal 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft. The ussoccer.com story describes the build-out line as '14-yards in front of each goal'; the PDF says 'equidistant between the penalty area line and halfway line' - treat the yardage as approximate.

[3] U11: Chart labels columns U11 and U12 separately; both are 9v9 with identical format/duration/ball, but the heading rule differs, so they are recorded as separate rows. Game may not start or continue with fewer than 6 players. Roster guidance: no more than 16 (philosophy). Field 70-80 x 45-55 yards; max goal 7 ft x 21 ft.

[4] U12: See U11 row. Member bodies (e.g. AYSO, US Youth Soccer) apply their own heading rules at 12U/U12 - see their rows.

## 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.

### U6, U7, U8

Using 4 on the field for 40 minutes (maximum). Recorded format: 4v4.

| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [6 players (+2)](/playing-time-calculator?format=4&length=40&roster=6) | 26:40 (66.7%) | Yes |
| [7 players (+3)](/playing-time-calculator?format=4&length=40&roster=7) | 22:51 (57.1%) | Yes |
| [8 players (+4)](/playing-time-calculator?format=4&length=40&roster=8) | 20:00 (50%) | Yes |
| [9 players (+5)](/playing-time-calculator?format=4&length=40&roster=9) | 17:47 (44.4%) | No |

### U9, U10

Using 7 on the field for 50 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 7v7.

| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [9 players (+2)](/playing-time-calculator?format=7&length=50&roster=9) | 38:53 (77.8%) | Yes |
| [10 players (+3)](/playing-time-calculator?format=7&length=50&roster=10) | 35:00 (70%) | Yes |
| [11 players (+4)](/playing-time-calculator?format=7&length=50&roster=11) | 31:49 (63.6%) | Yes |
| [12 players (+5)](/playing-time-calculator?format=7&length=50&roster=12) | 29:10 (58.3%) | Yes |

### U11

Using 9 on the field for 60 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 9v9.

| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [11 players (+2)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=11) | 49:05 (81.8%) | Yes |
| [12 players (+3)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=12) | 45:00 (75%) | Yes |
| [13 players (+4)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=13) | 41:32 (69.2%) | Yes |
| [14 players (+5)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=14) | 38:34 (64.3%) | Yes |

### U12

Using 9 on the field for 60 minutes (fixed). Recorded format: 9v9.

| Roster (subs) | Equal time (m:ss) | At least 50%? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [11 players (+2)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=11) | 49:05 (81.8%) | Yes |
| [12 players (+3)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=12) | 45:00 (75%) | Yes |
| [13 players (+4)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=13) | 41:32 (69.2%) | Yes |
| [14 players (+5)](/playing-time-calculator?format=9&length=60&roster=14) | 38:34 (64.3%) | Yes |

[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).

### U6, U7, U8

[U.S. Soccer, Player Development Initiatives (February 2017) - Small-Sided Games Chart and 4v4 Standards of Play](https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2023/09/Player-Development-Initiatives-2017.pdf)

> Size 3 ball; 4v4 (no goalkeepers); Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any time; 4 quarters; No more than 10 minute quarters

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [U.S. Soccer: Five Things to Know: How Small-Sided Standards Will Change Youth Soccer (Aug 2017)](https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/08/five-things-to-know-how-smallsided-standards-will-change-youth-soccer)

### U9, U10

[U.S. Soccer, Player Development Initiatives (February 2017) - 7v7 Standards of Play](https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2023/09/Player-Development-Initiatives-2017.pdf)

> 7v7 (6 field players and 1 goalkeeper) ... Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage ... 2 halves; 25 minutes halves; 10 minute halftime; No added time

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

Additional source: [U.S. Soccer: Five Things to Know: How Small-Sided Standards Will Change Youth Soccer (Aug 2017)](https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/08/five-things-to-know-how-smallsided-standards-will-change-youth-soccer)

### U11

[U.S. Soccer, Player Development Initiatives (February 2017) - 9v9 Standards of Play](https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2023/09/Player-Development-Initiatives-2017.pdf)

> Deliberate heading is not allowed in U11 games. Heading is currently allowed in U12 games without limitations but membership is empowered to limit or ban heading

Retrieved: 2026-10-05

### U12

[U.S. Soccer, Player Development Initiatives (February 2017) - 9v9 Standards of Play](https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2023/09/Player-Development-Initiatives-2017.pdf)

> 9v9 (8 field players and 1 goalkeeper) ... 2 halves; 30 minutes halves; 10 minute halftime; No added time

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 soccer formats does U.S. Soccer list?

U6, U7, U8: 4v4. U9, U10: 7v7. U11, U12: 9v9.

### What minimum playing time does U.S. Soccer specify?

U6, U7, U8: Philosophy (best practice, not mandated): everyone should participate a minimum of 50% of the time. U9, U10, U11, U12: Philosophy (best practice, not mandated): every player should play a minimum of 50% of the time in each game.

### How long are the youth soccer matches in these U.S. Soccer records?

U6, U7, U8: 40 minutes (maximum). U9, U10: 50 minutes (fixed). U11, U12: 60 minutes (fixed).