There are a number of important changes to grassroots youth football for the 2026–27 season. These include The FA's new FutureFit playing formats, changes to the Laws of the Game and the continued implementation of rules introduced last season.
We have summarised the main points that FDYFL managers, coaches, players and referees should be aware of.
The FA's new FutureFit framework has changed the maximum playing formats across youth football:
The biggest change is that children now remain in smaller-sided formats for longer, with 11v11 football not beginning until U14.
Ball sizes have also changed:
Please make sure the correct size ball is available before the match.
FutureFit introduces simpler and quicker restarts for younger age groups.
At U7 3v3, players can kick or dribble the ball back into play from restarts.
The option to kick-in or dribble-in from the touchline also applies through the relevant 5v5 and 7v7 formats. The aim is to get the ball back into play quickly, encourage decision-making and give children more opportunities to play.
The deliberate heading restriction now applies to all affiliated grassroots football from U7 through to U11.
For 2026–27, U11 has been added to the age groups covered by the rule.
Where a player deliberately heads the ball, the referee will award an indirect free kick in accordance with the relevant Laws.
Players being substituted are now expected to leave the field within 10 seconds of the referee signalling the substitution.
The intention is simple - to prevent substitutions being used as a method of wasting time.
Exceptions apply where a player cannot reasonably leave within ten seconds because of an injury, safety or security issue.
If the referee believes a team is deliberately delaying a throw-in, they can signal the start of a visible five-second countdown.
If the throw-in has still not been taken when the countdown finishes, the throw-in is awarded to the opposition.
This does not mean every throw-in has to be taken within five seconds. The countdown is used where the referee considers that the restart is being unfairly delayed.
The same principle now applies where a team deliberately delays taking a goal kick.
The referee can begin a visible five-second countdown.
If the goal kick is not taken before the countdown ends, a corner kick is awarded to the opposition.
This rule was introduced for the 2025–26 season, but it is worth reminding everyone as it continues to apply this season.
Once a goalkeeper has control of the ball with their hands inside their penalty area, they have a maximum of eight seconds to release it.
The referee decides when the goalkeeper has gained control and will visibly count down the final five seconds with a raised hand.
If the goalkeeper continues to control the ball for more than eight seconds:
A corner kick is awarded to the opposition.
The corner is taken from the side closest to the goalkeeper's position when the offence occurred.
The eight seconds begin when the goalkeeper gains control of the ball - not when they stand up or decide they are ready to release it.
The Laws have also been clarified where a penalty taker accidentally touches the ball twice - for example, where the ball strikes the player's standing foot immediately after being kicked.
If the ball enters the goal following an accidental double-touch, the penalty is retaken.
This is different from a deliberate second touch.
There has also been a change relating to Denying an Obvious Goalscoring Opportunity (DOGSO).
Where the referee plays advantage following a DOGSO offence and the attacking team subsequently scores, the player is no longer cautioned for the DOGSO offence itself.
Changes in formats, including ball sizes and game duration for the 2026-27 Season
FutureFit Format Overview (pdf)
DownloadAugust 2026 Update
Laws of the Game Update 2026 (pdf)
DownloadOutline summary of Law changes
changes-to-the-laws-of-the-game-2026-27 (pdf)
Download