JUNIOR & YOUTH PLAYING FORMATS

Information on how your club should be forming its teams. There may be variations depending on the size of your club.

First Kicks - 5th/6th/7th Grade

First Kicks Football 2026

Our youngest footballers –5th, 6th and 7th grade - will play games in the new 3v3 format.

In most areas, First Kicks will be organised into 5th/6th Grade and 6th/7th Grade, allowing clubs and schools flexibility to use their judgment on where 6th Grade players best fit based on player experience.

Teams will be made up of 6 - 8 players (8 players recommended). A team will do skill activities, and then split in two groups of 3 or 4 for 3 games, each 8 minutes long.

They’ll rotate after each game, so they play against a variety of other players.

Some regions and clubs may have slight variances. For more information, contact your club or school for details.

Starting in 2026, Juniors will player smaller sided for longer, giving more touches on the ball and more engagement in the game.

Key Points - First Kicks 

  • 5 - 7 years old
  • 3v3 format
  • 3 x 8-minute games
  • No goalkeepers
  • No offside rule
  • No throw-ins or corner kicks
  • Ball kicked/dribbled back into play
  • No published match results or ladders

Fun Football 5v5 - 8th / 9th Grade + U9 Girls

Fun Football 2026

8th and 9th Grade play 5v5 – that’s a goalkeeper and four outfield players. For those who have been involved with Junior football for a while, they’ll notice that goalkeepers are being introduced to junior football earlier – this is one of Whole of Football 2.0 changes.

In most of our competitions, 8th and 9th Grade will play two games of football on game day. Each one is 20mins long, played against two different opposition teams.

There are no offsides, no penalties, and the opposition team must retreat to halfway for goal kicks.

• 8th Grade born 2018

• 9th Grade born 2017

• U9 born 2017 or 2018

Starting in 2026, Juniors will player smaller sided for longer, giving more touches on the ball and more engagement in the game.

Key Points - Fun Football

  • 5v5 format (Four players plus a goalkeeper)
  • 40 minutes maximum game time (Ideally 2x20mins)
  • No offside rule
  • Corners - yes
  • Free kicks awarded for fouls - direct and indirect
  • Retreat to half way for goal kicks
  • Ball kicked/dribbled back into play (No throw-ins)
  • No published match results or ladders
  • Both coaches can be on field during the game (only one can referee)

Mini Football 7v7 - 10th / 11th Grade 

Mini Football (7v7) 2026

10th and 11th Grade play 7v7. That’s a goalkeeper and 6 outfield players.

Games are 50 mins long – two 25min halves. Opposition players must move back behind the retreating line for goal kicks. The retreating line is 30% of the field from the goalline.

The offside line applies from the retreating line.

We don’t display results or league tables.

• 10th Grade born 2016

• 11th Grade born 2015

• U11 born 2015 or 2016

Starting in 2026, Juniors will player smaller sided for longer, giving more touches on the ball and more engagement in the game.

Key Points - 7v7

7v7 Format with Goalkeepers (6 outfield players and a goalkeeper)

50 Min game (2 x 25 min halves)

Size 4 Ball

  • Retreating line rule (1/3 of pitch) for goal kicks
  • Partial offside rule (between retreating line and goal line)
  • Throw-ins for restart
  • Goal kicks - Yes
  • Free Kicks - Yes, Direct and Indirect
  • Corners  - Yes
  • Penalties - No
  • No published match results or ladders

Mini Football 9v9 - 12th / 13th Grade + U13 Girls

Mini Football (9v9) 2026

12th & 13th Grade play 9v9. That’s a goalkeeper and 8 outfield players.

Games are 60 mins long – two 30min halves. Opposition players must move back behind the retreating line for goal kicks. The retreating line is 30% of the field from the goalline.

The offside line applies from the half way line.

We don’t display results or league tables.

Starting in 2026, Juniors will player smaller sided for longer, giving more touches on the ball and more engagement in the game.

• 12th Grade born 2014

• 13th Grade born 2013

• U13 born 2013 or 2014

Key Points 

9v9 Format with Goalkeepers (Eight outfield players plus a goalkeeper)

2 x 30 min halves

Size 4 ball

  • Full offside rule from half way
  • Retreating line for goalkicks to 1/3 
  • Throw-ins for sidelines
  • Corner kicks and goal kicks 
  • Goal Keeper cannot drop kick from hands
  • Free Kicks - Direct and indirect 
  • Penalty kicks - Yes 8m
  • No published match results or ladders

Retreat Line  - All grades

Retreat Line 2026

9v9 -  The retreating line is 30% of the field from the goalline.

7v7 - The retreating line is 30% of the field from the goalline.

5v5 - The retreating line is halfway

3v3 - The retreating line is halfway​​​​​​​

The retreating line isn't just a rule, it's a development tool. By giving the attacking team space to restart, we help players build confidence playing out from the back, and passing and receiving between defensive lines.

It's all about bringing the New Zealand football philosophy to life. Because the game evolves as players grow, the rules shift slightly across different age groups. Let's break it down.