FA rules on publishing youth results (U7–U11)

If you coach or run a mini-soccer or younger youth team in England, there's a rule you need to know: results and league tables for U7 to U11 can be recorded, but not published. This guide explains the rule, the exceptions, where it applies – and the matching rules in other nations and sports.

Rules change each season. Check the latest version of each source before you rely on it.

The FA rule: U7–U11

Under the FA's Standard Code of Rules for youth competitions (Rule 21(D)), competitions and clubs may collect results and grading tables for U7, U8, U9, U10 and U11 matches, but must not publish them. The FA Handbook 2026-27 sets out the detail:

• U7: no trophy events at all.
• U8 to U11: up to three trophy events a season, whose results may be published.
• U12 and older: no restriction on publishing results.
• Publishing results that shouldn't be published can lead to a fine.

“Publishing” is broader than a league website. The FA's Guidance Note 6.1 on websites and social media says clubs shouldn't post match results for under-11 teams – so that includes the club's social media, newsletters and public pages. FA Full-Time itself hides tables for these age groups and shows scores as “X-X” (Full-Time FAQs).

What you can still do

• Record scores privately, if your league asks for them.
• Talk about the match – the effort, the teamwork, the brilliant save – without the score.
• Celebrate players with awards that recognise effort and improvement, shared within the team.

Formats and match lengths (England, 2026-27)

The FA Handbook 2026-27 also sets formats and the most a player can play, per game and per day:

Wales and Scotland

• Wales: there's no league or cup competition at U6–U11, and results aren't published. Every squad player gets at least half the playing time, and U12–U17 matches end when one side leads by eight goals (FAW Small-Sided Regulations, FAW Junior Regulations).
• Scotland: 4s, 7s and 9s football in the Scottish FA Player Journey is trophy-free, and results from development games shouldn't be posted anywhere (Scottish FA).

Other sports have similar rules

• Rugby union (England): league rugby and published league tables start at U15 (RFU Regulation 15).
• Rugby union (Wales): mini rugby (U7–U11) is played as festivals with no winners and no scores kept (WRU).
• Rugby union (Ireland): no competitions at U12 and younger – festivals only (IRFU).
• Rugby league (England): at U6–U11, results must not be recorded, published or used to rank teams (RFL).
• Gaelic games: in Go Games (U7–U12) no scores are kept in any form, and there are no league tables until U14 (GAA).
• Hockey (England): junior results are capped at a goal difference of eight (England Hockey).

How Squono helps

Set your club's nation and each team's age group, and Squono applies the right rule: results stay inside the team where they can't be published, and score entry is switched off where no scores are kept. Where we couldn't confirm a rule for a sport, results for U11 and younger stay inside the team to be safe. Tournament pages keep younger age groups' results off the public view too. See every pitch sport.