Understanding the FA's new pathway — and what it means for you and your girls
The game just changed. The FA's Future Fit programme is the most significant redesign of youth football in England since 2012. This book tells you exactly what it means — and why it matters differently for coaches of girls.
Future Fit changes the format at every age group from under-7 upward — rolling out from the 2026/27 season. Here's the complete picture, with the key changes that matter for coaches of girls.
| Age Group | Format | Ball Size | Key Changes for Girls' Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 7 | 3v3 | Size 3 | No GK · No offside · No heading · Carousel format · New |
| Under 8 & Under 9 | 5v5 | Size 3 | GK introduced · No offside · No heading · Kick-ins replace throw-ins |
| Under 10 & Under 11 | 7v7 | Size 3 | 12×6ft goals · No offside · No heading · Retreat line rule New |
| Under 12 & Under 13 | 9v9 | Size 4 | Offside introduced · Heading returns (max 1×/month, 5 headers) |
| Under 14 and above | 11v11 | Size 5 | Full game · Heading up to 1×/week, 10 headers at U14–16 |
The heading ban applies to all players U7–U9 from 2024–25, U10 from 2025–26, and U11 from 2026–27. At U12, heading is reintroduced carefully — technique first, light balls, low volume, self-served, never in opposition. Most grassroots coaches don't know this detail. Book 2 explains it fully.
Future Fit isn't just a format change. It's grounded in two years of consultation and a body of research on how children actually develop. The old structure moved too fast — children were playing in formats too large and complex for their developmental stage.
This book gives you a complete, clear, practical understanding of the new pathway before you open the book for your specific age group. It's the briefing that every Her Game Guide series book assumes you've had.
And it answers the question the FA guidance doesn't answer directly: what does Future Fit mean specifically for coaches of girls? Because the changes don't land the same way on both sides.
Rotating small groups through multiple simultaneous mini-games means every girl touches the ball far more often. For girls, this is about confidence and fun — not rotation logistics.
When heading returns at U12, it needs to be taught from scratch. Technique, neck strength, light balls, low volume, self-served. Most coaches don't know this is coming. Book 2 prepares you for it.
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood changes. 7v7 uses Size 3, not Size 4. If you're ordering equipment, this matters. Book 2 has the full equipment spec for every format.
Shorter than the stage-specific books — because its purpose is different. This is your briefing before everything else.
The history of the old structure, why it needed to change, and what the new pathway is designed to achieve.
The developmental science that drove the redesign — child cognitive load, physical readiness, and why smaller formats produce better players.
Every age group, every format, every rule change — complete and accurate, including the details most coaches miss (ball sizes, goal dimensions, retreat line, kick-ins).
The chapter the FA guidance doesn't include. How each format change lands differently for girls — developmentally, socially, and in terms of retention.
Coaches who are mid-season when Future Fit rolls out face a specific challenge. This chapter tells you exactly how to handle it.
The most common questions grassroots coaches ask about Future Fit — answered directly, without waffle.
Future Fit: The New Game. Your complete briefing on the FA's new pathway — and what it means specifically for the girls you coach.
Getting into girls' coaching — the research, the philosophy, and what you need to know before your first session.
Coaching girls at the Play Phase — U4, U5, and U6. The most important recruitment window in the game.
Coaching girls at under-7. The 3v3 game, FA Future Fit aligned — built specifically for girls.