What do U7, U8 and U9 actually mean?
Grassroots football labels teams by age group rather than school year, which trips up almost every new football parent. Here is how it works.
Age groups follow the season, not birthdays
A youth football season runs from September to May, and a child's age group is set by how old they were on 31 August before the season started. A child who is six on 31 August plays U7 football all season, even after turning seven in October.
Because the cut-off matches the school year, an age group is really a school year group: U7 is Year 2, U8 is Year 3, U9 is Year 4, and so on up to U16 in Year 11.
What each age group plays
The FA sets the format so children get more touches of the ball on smaller pitches, growing into the full game as they get older.
- U7 and U8 — 5-a-side, small pitch, no league tables
- U9 and U10 — 7-a-side, still development-focused
- U11 and U12 — 9-a-side, bigger goals, more structure
- U13 and upwards — 11-a-side on a full pitch
Which group is my child in?
If the maths feels fiddly, our age checker does it for you for the 2026/27 season, and points you at the right Grayshott FC team. Children in Reception and Year 1 start with Mini Sparks before joining an age group at U7.
Play for Grayshott FC
We are a volunteer-run village club at Grayshott Recreational Ground, with teams from ages 4 to 16 for families in Grayshott, Hindhead, Haslemere and nearby villages.
Last updated 14 September 2026 by Grayshott Football Club.