Game format guide: 3v3

How the game works

Age groups

• U7s

Game length

• 6-10 minutes per match
• Multiple matches (rotating teams), allowing for 30-40 minutes of playing time per player
• Short breaks between matches

Team size

• Three outfield players, no goalkeeper
• No substitutions
• Recommended squad size of 6-12 players

Officials

• No officials
• One adult facilitator per pitch to help players make their own decisions safely

Results

• Scores should not be recorded and league tables should not exist

Specific rules

Normal soccer rules, except...

• Games start with a high five to show good sportsmanship
• Decide who gets kick off using a fun game like ‘Rock, paper, scissors’ 
• No offsides
• No heading
• No penalty kicks 
• For a goal to count, the shot must have been taken in the opponent’s half
• After a goal, the conceding team has a goal line restart
  For all restarts (goal line, corners, sidelines and free kicks), players can either dribble or pass in
• For goal line restarts, opposition players should retreat to their own half
• For other restarts, opposition players should be a minimum of 3m away
• All free kicks should be at least 3m from the goal

Equipment

Ball size

• Size 3

Goal size

• 120cm or 4 feet wide, 75cm or 2.5 feet high
• Cones, poles or flat discs can be used if no proper goal available

Player equipment

• Boots (type dependent on surface)
• Shin pads

Formations

• No formations
• Fluid play

Pitch set-up

Pitch dimensions

• Length: 15-20m
• Width: 10-15m

Pitch markings

• Touchlines
• Halfway line
• Centre spot    
• Two goals
• No corner flags

Example set-up on a 5v5 pitch

• Pitches can be set up in whatever way works for you,  but if you have a 5-a-side pitch available, this might be one way to do it