PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

(U.8 / U.9’s)

5v5 Game Pitch Format
Field Of Play 45M (Length) & 25M (Width)

Please use 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.

 

(U.10/U.11’s)

7V7 Game Pitch Format

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.

(U.12’s)

9V9 Game Pitch Format

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.

(U13 & 14s)

1.  The Field of Play.
     Full Size pitch with full size goals.

2.  The Penalty Area.
     Normal dimensions apply.

3.  The Ball.
     A size 5 ball (weight 370 grams) must be used where available. If a size 5 ball of this weight is unavailable then use the current size ball. From August 2016 the Size 5 ball (370 grams) must be used. For Leagues playing Calendar season football the 370 gram ball must be used from start of season 2016.

   All SFAI National competitions will be played using the Size 5 (370 gram) ball.

4.  The Number of Players.
     Squads will consist of 16 players with some flexibility allowed. (Note: particular competition rules may restrict the number of players on       the referee’s match card)

5.  Team formation.

1-4-3-3 (recommended by FAI)

6. Match Duration.
    Matches will consists of 2 x 30 minute halves at U13 and 2 x 35 minutes halves at U14.

7. The Referee.
    An official match referee must be used.

8. Substitutions.
    Roll on/off substitutions will apply throughout the match.

The Coach shall make substitutions at the half-way line with the permission of the referee and players

who have been substituted may return to the field of play as often as necessary.

At U13 all players should play at least 15 minutes but ideally 30 minutes or more.

At U14 all players should play at least 20 minutes but ideally 35 minutes or more.

(It is the responsibility of the coach to give all squad players the minimum game time indicated).

4. League Tables.
    League Tables apply.

5. The Players’ Equipment.
    All players must wear shin guards.

6.  The ball out of play.
     Normal match rules apply (throw-ins / goal kicks).

7.  The Start and Restart of Play.
     Normal rules apply (kick off at start, when goal is scored and following half time break).

8.  The Method of Scoring.
     Normal rules apply.

9. Offside.
   Normal rules apply.

10. The Back Pass.
      Normal Rules apply.

11. The ball out of play.
      Normal match rules apply (throw-ins / goal kicks).

12.  The Start and Restart of Play.
       Normal rules apply (kick off at start, when goal is scored and following half time break).

13.  The Method of Scoring.
       Normal rules apply.

14.   Offside.
       Normal rules apply.

15.  The Back Pass.
       Normal Rules apply.

16. Fouls and Misconduct.

      Normal Rules apply.

17. Free Kicks.

Normal Rules apply.

18. The Penalty Kick.

Normal Rules apply.

19. The Corner Kick.

Normal Rules apply.

General 

• Team coaches will stand on the same side of the pitch.

Parents should stand on the opposite side of the pitch and only encourage players and uphold fair play.

• Team coaches should rotate players so that they experience different positions on the pitch.

• At the start and end of every game, team coaches and players will line up and shake hands with each other.

 

(U'15 & 16s)

1.  The Field of Play.
     Full Size pitch with full size goals.
2.  The Penalty Area.
     Normal dimensions apply.

3.  The Ball.
     A size 5 ball (450grams) should be used.

4. The Number of Players.
    Squads will consist of 16 players with some flexibility allowed.

(Note: particular competition rules may restrict the number of players on the referee’s match card)

5. Team formation.
    As per diagram 1-4-3-3 (recommended).

6. Match Duration.
   Matches will consists of 2 x 35 minute halves for U15 and 2 x 40 minutes halves for U16.

7. The Referee.
    An official match referee must be used.

8. Substitutions.
Roll on/off substitutions will apply throughout the match.

The Coach shall make substitutions at the half-way line with the permission of the referee

and players who have been substituted may return to the field of play as often as necessary.

At U15 all players should play at least 20 minutes but ideally 35 minutes or more.

At U16 all players should play at least 20 minutes but ideally 40 minutes or more.

It is the responsibility of the coach to give all squad players the minimum game time indicated.

9. League Tables
    League Tables apply.

10. The Players’ Equipment.
      All players must wear shin guards.

11. The ball out of play.
      Normal match rules apply (throw-ins / goal kicks)

12. The Start and Restart of Play.
      Normal rules apply (kick off at start, when goal is scored and following half time break)

13.   The Method of Scoring.

     Normal rules apply.

14.  Offside.
       Normal rules apply.

15.  The Back Pass.
       Normal Rules apply.

16. Fouls and Misconduct.

Normal rules apply.

17. Free Kicks.

Normal rules apply.

18. The Penalty Kick.

Normal rules apply

19. The Corner Kick.

Normal rules apply. 

General.
• Team coaches will stand on the same side of the pitch.

Parents should stand on the opposite side of the pitch and to only encourage players and uphold fair play.

• At the start and end of every game, team coaches and players will line up and shake hands with each other.