Declan Considine, FAI – Football Development Officer Limerick City
Game Formats
The first two principles of the FAI Player Development Plan were implemented on August 2015. By clicking on the link below you can access the different playing formats that now apply across the country.
https://www.fai.ie/domestic/player-development-plan/PDP-formats
5v5 Game Pitch Format (U.8 / U.9’s)
Field Of Play 45M (Length) & 25M (Width)
Please us Poles for Corner Flags & flat disc cones for keepers penalty area & halfway line
PENALTY AREA:
The GK cannot handle the ball further then 5M from the goal, if they do so the coach should remind them that this isn’t allowed but no free kicks or anything as the approach is one of guidance & learning.
Disc cones can be placed 2M either side of the goal posts & 5M out. Please see attached diagram
RETREAT LINE:
Use YELLOW (only) flat disc cones to signify the RETREAT LINE which splits the 45M (Length) of the pitch into thirds
MATCH BALL:
Size 5 (290g)
RESTARTS OF PLAY:
If the ball goes out of play at the sideline we restart with the game with the player dribbling or passing the ball back in to play. It’s important the players use their feet as much as possible, taking a throw in is not important at this age group, dribbling & passing are more important. Opponents must retreat 3M from sideline at restarts.
If the ball goes WIDE at either goal OR a GOAL is scored– The GK restarts the game by throwing the ball from his hands to a team mate inside the retreat line, the goal keeper CAN drop the ball at his feet & pass the ball to a team mate but he CANNOT kick the ball from his hands or to a team mate outside of the retreat line. If he does play restarts again with the GK.
The focus at this age is playing from the back through the other two thirds of the pitch.
Attackers must remain outside the retreat line at restarts from the opposition GK & only become active when a defender receives the ball & passes it. The focus being on the defender playing from the back without a charge from opponents on the retreat line.
Play resumes as normal.
OFFSIDE:
No offside at this age group.
FREE KICKS & PENALTIES:
All free kicks are indirect & opponents must be 5M from the ball.
NO penalty kicks at this age group.
REFEREE:
No refs at this age group. An appropriate Adult who is not a coach with either team is deiserable & will most likely be a parent but they must apply the format.
Player development & uniformity of pitch size & is key for all players.
7V7 Game Pitch Format (U.10/U.11’s)
Field Of Play 60M (Length) & 40M (Width)
Please us Poles for Corner Flags & flat disc cones for keepers penalty area & halfway line
PENALTY AREA:
Please see attached diagram
RETREAT LINE:
Use YELLOW (only) flat disc cones to signify the RETREAT LINE which splits the 60M (Length) of the pitch into thirds
MATCH BALL:
Size 5 (320g)
RESTARTS OF PLAY:
If the ball goes out of play at the sideline we restart with a throw in
If the ball goes wide at either goal – The keeper restarts the game by throwing the ball from his hands to a team mate, the goal keeper CAN drop the ball at his feet & pass the ball to a team mate but he CANNOT kick the ball from his hands. The focus at this age is playing from the back through the other two thirds of the pitch.
One attacker can remain inside the retreat line at restarts but all other attackers must move outside the retreat line before play restarts.
The players who are now outside the retreat line must remain there until a defender receives the ball from the goal keepers & takes a touch on the ball, once he does this play resumes as normal.
OFFSIDE:
No offside at this age group.
9V9 Game Pitch Format (U.12’s)
Field Of Play is from 18 yard box to 18 yard box (Length) & 55M (Width) as a guide the width of the pitch should be no more than 7 metres either side of the penalty box
Please us Poles for Corner Flags & normal halfway line is in operation so no cones required for that.
PENALTY AREA:
Please see attached diagram
MATCH BALL:
Size 5 (370g)
OFFSIDE:
Normal rules on offside apply.
