The FA plans to provide support, guidance, and simplified formats to reduce burden. As a market leader, we can also help and guide you whether its from a coach, parent or club perspective we have the knowledge and expertise for any advice you may need. 

The FA emphasises “Spirit of the Game” remains the same — scoring goals, teamwork, and enjoyment stay central.

No — evidence from LJMU, the FA and the Future of Youth Football Project, shows small-sided formats improve technical skill, decision-making, and confidence, helping long-term development.

3v3 increases touches, involvement, enjoyment, and learning opportunities, giving children a better introduction to the game. Remember, these are 7 years old, football needs to be fun and engaging due to being so young - It does not need to be as serious as a World Cup final. 

On a single 5v5 pitch, there can be 4 3v3 games playing at one time. This makes it easy to rotate teams and increase participation. England Football states that 3v3 is designed to reduce pressure on grassroots resources, not increase it. Smaller teams mean fewer players to manage, simpler substitutions, and less matchday admin for volunteers and coaches. Festival-style formats reduce the need for qualified referees, while smaller pitches allow more games in the same space, improving pitch availability. The FA also commits to providing ready-made guidance, templates, and training, so clubs and leagues don’t have to create new systems themselves. Overall, the aim is to make youth football simpler, lighter to run, and more sustainable with existing resources