U6 Football Fixtures

Many clubs run and operate forms of soccer tots/weekly training sessions as a way of attracting new players to your club in preparation for U7 teams being formed for affiliated football.  

Please note U6 'teams' are unable to play fixtures against other clubs of any kind.

U6 football fixtures are not sanctioned by Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA or The FA, in line with the standard code of rules for youth football (Attached). 

The standard code of rules for youth football outlines the age groups for affiliated football fixtures as U7s up, it also outlines "A child who has not attained the age of 6 shall not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match of any kind."

Where football is unsanctioned it is not covered by the insurance that clubs have in place as part of their affiliation (sanction to play). This means that should any incidents occur, such as serious injury, the personal accident cover that the club have would not cover this incident and clubs/club officials could become liable.

The following is taken from the personal accident insurance summary from Marsh our providers for which a high % of teams in this County use, other companies have similar declarations. Please take note of the underlined section 

"Cover is operative for teams participating in County FA Sanctioned Football and Competitions for the following members:

- Youth Football

- Soccer Tots (i.e. up to U-6s) are automatically insured for non-competitive football training"

This insurance does not cover U6's to play fixtures.

Can a child play for and U7s team once they turn 6?

The short answer is yes, a 6 year can play in fixtures for an U7 team. Please refer to SCORY below. 

"Notwithstanding the above, a child is permitted to play up in the age group above their chronological age group, irrespective of any changes of format or competition structure, save that a child who attains the age of 6 after 31 August is permitted to play only in the Under 7 age group, and may not play in the Under 8 age group, for that Playing Season."

Some clubs in the County do affiliate U7 teams to allow the players that have turned 6 to play in friendly fixtures between them and other clubs, this is not an problem, but again to reiterate, only players that haver attained the age of 6 can play in fixtures.

Club's should not be advertising and arranging fixtures between un affiliated teams, if you are made aware of clubs advertising for fixtures of this kind please report to [email protected]  

It is your responsibility to check that all teams your club is arranging fixtures with is affiliated, if an unsanctioned fixture takes place, the clubs involved would be subject to a disciplinary investigation by SHCFA.  

If you have any questions at all, please contact [email protected]