In respect of the 2026-27 season, the following rules apply for all U7-U11 teams:
DELIBERATE HEADING
Deliberately heading the ball is an offence punishable by an indirect free kick which is taken from the point where the ball was deliberately headed, except:
- where a player deliberately heads the ball within their own penalty area, the referee will stop the game and restart with an indirect free kick to the opposition from the nearest side line of the penalty area where the offence took place.
TOUCHLINE RESTARTS
When the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the touchline, on the ground or in the air, instead of a throw-in, a pass-in / dribble-in is awarded.
The kicker that takes the pass-in / dribble-in may touch the ball again before it is touched by another player.
At the moment of delivering the ball:
- The ball must be stationary on the touchline at the point where it left the pitch and only the kicker may be off the pitch;
- All opponents must stand at least 5 yards from the point on the touchline where the pass-in or /dribble-in is to be taken from.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in.
The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
For further information:
New heading rules for U7-U11 youth football | England Football