FutureFit – What it means for you
Grassroots football in England is about to experience one of its most significant changes in decades. Through the FA’s FutureFit, youth football is being redesigned to create a more enjoyable, development-focused experience for young players. The changes (scheduled for take affect from the 2026/27 season) place greater emphasis on ball involvement, skill development and age-appropriate formats.
While that sounds good on paper, it leaves some clubs stranded with old equipment having anticipated a change to the next size up which may no longer be happening as a result of FutureFit
The Key Changes Coming to Youth Football
1. Introduction of 3v3 Football at U7 Level
One of the biggest changes is the introduction of 3v3 football as the first format for Under-7 players. The FA believes smaller-sided games allow children to become more involved in play, receive more touches of the ball and develop key technical skills at an earlier age.
2. Smaller-Sided Football for Longer
FutureFit will also delay the introduction of 11v11 football until Under-14s. This allows players to spend more years in smaller formats that encourage greater movement, decision-making and technical skills.
3. Age-Appropriate Laws of the Game
The FA will introduce rule changes that increase the time the ball spends in play and gradually introduce more complex laws as players progress through age groups. The aim is to ensure the game remains suitable for each stage of a player’s development.
Where we come in
At EuroSoccer, we support clubs, schools and grassroots organisations with a wide range of equipment to help you adhere to FA’s future fit
- Footballs for training and match play in every size https://www.eurosoccercompany.com/footballs/footballs-by-type
- Portable football goals for training https://www.eurosoccercompany.com/equipment/training-equipment/training-pop-up-goals
- Small-sided goals for 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7 matches https://www.eurosoccercompany.com/goal-posts/goal-posts-by-size
As rules and regulations change, having the right equipment in place will help players get the most from every session and match.
If you’re lucky enough to have everything you need in place for FutureFit already, why not come down to our Midlands Showroom or head over to our Website and browse the rest of our Kit and Equipment