KEY POINTS BY AGE GROUP

Minis

Children train on a Saturday morning, at The Ridgewaye. These courses are run by Pure Football. At the end of the U6 age group, children are sorted into teams ready for the following season, with the aim over the course of the U6 year having been to identify and involve a number of parents who can step into the role of team leaders / coaches for the following season.

U7 / U8 (5 a side)

Teams play 5 a side mini soccer matches,

There is a choice of leagues......... The Crowborough League, against teams from other local clubs, every 3rd week or so.

Matches take the format of 2 x 10 minute halves per match.  Because Crowborough League Teams travel in pairs

teams tend to play 2 matches on a match day, so each team gets a total of 40 minutes of football. It is expected that both pair teams are of a similar playing level.

Training takes place at The Ridgewaye. on the weeks where teams don't have organised matches.

We also expect each year to have at least one team playing in the Maidstone Primary League (MPL). These matches are played almost every week except normally during holidays. They also have a set kick off of 10:30am. This normally includes the players more ready for regular matches. This league is regularly seeded and also incorporates competitive trophy events. We also offer the option of this team training midweek on 3G at an extra cost. ( Also to note Maidstone Primary League teams do not require a pair as you play one match of 10min quarters, instead of the two 20min matches as in the Crowbrowborough League.)

Girls & Ladies Teams can choose between The Crowborough Girls League and Kent Girls & Ladies League. The big deciding factor is TCGL plays Saturday TKG&LL plays Sunday.

Only Registered Players Can Play Matches. Players registered for any one of our Crowborough League sides can play for any of our teams. You can only be registered and play for one of the MPL teams.

All Teams play Saturday  Except Kent Girls & Ladies League whos matches are always Sunday.

Ideal squad size: 8-9 players

Football Size 3

U9 / U10 (7 a side)

There are 2 major changes when you move to under 9:

Matches are now 7 a side rather than 5 a side and slightly longer.

Your Saturday matches also now become slightly more frequent (every other week at U10).

At U10 The Maidstone Primary League moves to Sunday.

Girls & Ladies can still play 5 a side at U9s

Ideal squad size: 10-11 players

Football Size 3

U11 / U12 (9 a side)

At U11, the major changes are as follows:

Matches are now 9 a side

The offside rule is introduced

Matches are every week

League matches are now 1 x 60 minutes rather than 2 x 30 minutes (you are no longer paired with another team).

Crowborough players can now only be registered for one of the Crowborough teams. Although they can be registered for a MIP league team as well.

At U12, the Crowborough league moves to Sundays.

Girls & Ladies can still play 7 a side at U11s

Ideal squad size: 13-14 players
Football Size 4

U13 Upwards (11 a side)

At U13, your team moves to 11 a side football (Ladies are allowed to play 9 aside upto open age this varies depending on league), with all the usual football rules. The only exception is that you can continue to use rolling subs as often as you want in games.

From U13 we enter a team into the Kent Youth League for each year. These are normally mainly boys team but there is no reason the team can not include ladies of the correct age.

Ideal squad size: 15-17 players

Football Size 4 until U15