Coaches' Corner

Essential resources, tools, and guidance for RUFC coaches and managers

MEAP
Emergency Plan
Manager Tools
Fixture Changes
Session Planning
Drills & Guides
Safeguarding
Welfare & Respect
Game Formats
Pitch & Ball Sizes
Resources
FA & Coaching
Formation Builder
Drag & Drop
Playing Time
Calculator

Manager Tools

Cancel or Change Kick-Off Time

Need to cancel a fixture or change the kick-off time? Use this form to notify the club and update the schedule. Please submit changes as early as possible to allow time for communication with opposition teams.

Open Fixture Change Form

Session Planning

Great sessions start with good planning. Use these FA-approved resources to build fun, age-appropriate training that develops players and keeps them coming back.

Fun First

At grassroots level, enjoyment is the priority. If kids are smiling and moving, you're doing it right.

Development Over Winning

Focus on building skills, confidence, and a love of the game — results will follow naturally.

Age-Appropriate

Tailor activities to your age group. What works for U15s won't suit U7s — keep it simple for younger ones.

Session Ideas by Age Phase

U7 – U8 5v5 Mini Soccer
  • Lots of ball contact — every child with a ball
  • Small-sided games with simple rules
  • Focus on dribbling, turning, 1v1s
  • Short activities (5-8 mins each), keep them moving
  • Use fun themes and imagination (pirates, sharks, etc.)
FA Mini Soccer Coaching Guide
U9 – U10 7v7 Youth Development
  • Introduce passing and receiving with purpose
  • Small-sided games with conditions (e.g. 3 passes to score)
  • Encourage decision making — let them play
  • Work on movement off the ball
  • Keep coaching positive and question-led
UEFA C Diploma Course
U11 – U16 9v9 & 11v11
  • Introduce formations and positional play
  • Focus on game understanding and tactical awareness
  • Build passing patterns and combination play
  • Defending as a unit — shape and pressing
  • Allow players to express themselves creatively
UEFA B Diploma Course
Open Sportplan Session Planner

Safeguarding & Welfare

Every coach and volunteer has a responsibility to keep children safe. Make sure you're up to date on your safeguarding training and know how to report concerns.

Safeguarding Children Course

Mandatory for all coaches. Complete or renew your FA Safeguarding Children workshop every 3 years.

Required

Emergency Aid Course

Every team should have at least one person trained in FA Emergency Aid. Covers injury management and emergency response.

Recommended

Report a Concern

If you see or hear something that worries you about a child's welfare, report it. You don't need to be certain — just concerned.

Important

FA Respect Code of Conduct

Set the standard for behaviour on the touchline. Coaches, players, and parents all have a role to play in creating a positive environment.

Lancashire FA Safeguarding

Your local County FA safeguarding contacts, resources, and reporting procedures.

DBS Checks

All coaches working with children need a valid DBS check through the FA. Renew every 3 years.

Required

Game Format Guide

Quick reference for pitch sizes, ball sizes, match durations, and player numbers by age group. Based on current FA youth football guidelines.

Age Group Format Ball Size Pitch Size Goal Size Half Duration
U7 / U8 5v5 Size 3 37 x 27m 12 x 4ft 20 mins
U9 7v7 Size 3 55 x 37m 12 x 4ft 25 mins
U10 7v7 Size 4 55 x 37m 12 x 4ft 25 mins
U11 9v9 Size 4 73 x 46m 16 x 7ft 25 mins
U12 9v9 Size 4 73 x 46m 16 x 7ft 30 mins
U13 11v11 Size 4 82 x 50m 21 x 7ft 30 mins
U14 11v11 Size 5 91 x 55m 24 x 8ft 35 mins
U15 / U16 11v11 Size 5 100 x 64m 24 x 8ft 35 / 40 mins
U17 / U18 11v11 Size 5 100 x 64m 24 x 8ft 40 / 45 mins
Rolling Substitutions — Allowed at all youth levels. Players can come on and off freely.
Retreat Line — At U7–U9, the opposing team must retreat to their own half for goal kicks.
Heading — Deliberate heading is not permitted in matches at U11 and below. Limited in U12 training.
Equal Playing Time — All players should receive roughly equal game time. Use our calculator to plan rotations.
Full FA Youth Football Guidelines

Formation Builder

Drag and drop players to create your formation. Choose a game format, pick a preset, then customise positions. Double-click a player to rename them.

Presets:
7-a-side — 2-3-1

Drag players • Double-click to rename

Coaching Resources

England Football Learning

Official FA coaching courses, qualifications, and learning resources for grassroots coaches.

Visit Site

Sportplan

Training drills, session plans, and coaching tools for football coaches at all levels.

Visit Site

England Football YouTube

Video tutorials, coaching tips, and educational content from The FA's official YouTube channel.

Watch Videos

Coaches' Voice

Tactical analysis and coaching insights from professional coaches and experts in the game.

Watch Videos

Equal Playing Time Calculator

Helping grassroots coaches give kids fair minutes.

💡 How it works: Youth football leagues often require each child to get fair, roughly equal minutes. This tool calculates a rotation schedule that ensures everyone plays as equally as possible, helping you meet league requirements while keeping it simple on match day.

Between 1 and 24 players.
Players on the pitch (e.g. 5, 7, 9, 11).
Between 10 and 120 minutes.

Automatic Fairness: Calculator finds the best number of rotations for fairest playing time.

Set Your Own: Click to manually choose the number of rotations you want.

Player Names (optional)

Results

Summary

Enter your squad details and click "Calculate Playing Time" to see your rotation schedule.

Rotation Schedule

Rotation Time Players On Players Off

Per-player Summary

Player Total minutes % of game On/Off breakdown