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FA Rules on 11v11 Football in June



In grassroots football, there is an ongoing discussion about whether young players should pause their involvement in full-sized 11-a-side matches during June. The Football Association (FA) has clear regulations on this, ensuring that youth players get a balanced approach to development, rest, and alternative training opportunities.


FA Rules on 11v11 Football in June


According to FA regulations, June is officially classed as the closed season, meaning 11v11 matches—both youth and adult—are generally not permitted unless they meet specific criteria. Exceptions include:


✅ Small-sided games (up to 9v9), which can continue without restriction.

✅ Matches for national representative teams or clubs under FIFA or UEFA jurisdiction.

✅ Single-day tournaments, festivals, and pilot projects granted special FA dispensation.

✅ Competitions authorised by the FA or affiliated associations.


From July 1st, friendlies can resume without County FA approval, provided teams are affiliated for the upcoming season.


Why the Break Matters


The enforced pause in 11v11 football during June serves several important purposes:


📌 Physical Recovery – Young players need time to rest and avoid burnout, reducing the risk of injuries.


📌 Mental Refresh – A break allows kids to enjoy football in a more relaxed setting, such as small-sided games or informal kickabouts.


📌 Developmental Benefits – Playing different formats like 5-a-side or futsal can improve technical skills, decision-making, and creativity.


Balancing Rest and Play


While structured 11v11 matches are restricted, young players can still engage in football through training sessions, skill-based activities, and smaller-sided games. This ensures they maintain their passion for the sport while benefiting from a well-earned break.


Final Thoughts


The FA’s regulations aim to protect young players from excessive strain while encouraging varied football experiences. A break from 11v11 football in June isn’t about stopping development—it’s about ensuring kids grow into well-rounded, resilient athletes.


Steve Halls is an FA-qualified football coach specialising in player development, consultancy, and talent identification. With a deep understanding of youth football regulations, Steve ensures young players receive the right balance between structured competition and much-needed recovery periods. By following the FA’s guidance on seasonal breaks, Steve helps aspiring footballers maintain their passion while prioritising long-term development and well-being.











⚽ Introduction to Futsal



“Fast feet. Sharp minds. Pure football.”

Futsal is more than just a five-a-side game — it’s a global movement that sharpens skills, quickens decision-making, and fuels creativity. The FA’s Introduction to Futsal course is the perfect starting point for coaches, educators, and volunteers who want to unlock the unique power of futsal in developing well-rounded, intelligent players.


This course brings the world’s fastest-growing indoor game into focus, showing how it can transform your players and your coaching.


🌍 What Is Futsal?


Futsal is a small-sided, high-intensity, fast-paced format of football, played on a hard indoor court with a smaller, low-bounce ball. With fewer players, tighter spaces, and non-stop transitions, it demands:


  • 💡 Rapid decision-making

  • 🎯 Technical precision

  • 🧠 Tactical intelligence

  • 🏃 Relentless movement

“Futsal is the school of football — where intelligence and skill are born.”

📚 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn


🧠 1. Understanding the Game of Futsal


  • Origins and global influence

  • Rules, structure, and match flow

  • The role of the futsal ball and hard court surface

  • Key differences from traditional football


💬 “It’s not just a smaller pitch — it’s a whole new game.”

🔄 2. Futsal's Impact on Player Development


  • Enhancing ball mastery and tight-space control

  • Encouraging creativity and flair

  • Promoting game intelligence under pressure

  • Supporting transitions, rotations, and tactical flexibility


🔥 Ideal for youth development, grassroots environments, and academy enhancement.


🎓 3. How to Deliver Futsal Sessions


  • Setting up effective practices

  • Structuring games and constraints

  • Building futsal into a seasonal coaching programme

  • Maximising development through repetition and variation


🧩 Learn how to coach key moments in a futsal match: attack, defence, transitions, and set plays.


🧾 4. Rules and Regulations You Need to Know


  • Key laws of the game: fouls, restarts, substitutions, time-outs

  • Role of the goalkeeper and sweeper-keeper

  • Understanding accumulated fouls and penalty processes

  • Safety, environment, and fairness


🧑‍⚖️ Knowledge of the rules builds confidence and authority when delivering sessions.


🧑‍🏫 Course Format & Delivery


  • 💻 Delivered online (self-paced)

  • 🕒 Takes around 90 minutes to complete

  • 🎯 Includes interactive quizzes, videos, and real-life futsal footage

  • 🧾 Certificate awarded on completion


A brilliant entry point for anyone looking to explore the benefits of futsal — whether in schools, clubs, or academies.


⚽ Why Every Coach Should Learn Futsal


Completing this course means you're:


✔ Equipped to introduce futsal to your players

✔ Aware of how futsal complements traditional football

✔ Ready to promote technical development and quick decision-making

✔ Adding an extra dimension to your coaching identity


“Futsal doesn’t replace football — it enhances it.”

🚀 Futsal as a Developmental Powerhouse


The world's top talents — from Messi to Neymar, Xavi to Ronaldo — credit futsal for shaping their technical ability, composure, and vision. The small court and quick tempo build:


  • Faster reactions

  • Sharper thinking

  • Superior touch and control

  • Love for the ball


🧠 "In futsal, you touch the ball far more — and you think even faster."

🏁 In Summary


The Introduction to Futsal course is your ticket into one of the most exciting and effective development tools in modern football. Whether you're coaching at grassroots or elite levels, futsal provides the perfect foundation for developing smarter, more skilful players.


🌍 Bringing Futsal into Your Coaching Philosophy


Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s connected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. With futsal-inspired development techniques and a passion for holistic coaching, Steve creates environments where creativity, intelligence, and flair flourish.










🏆 FA Level 2 / UEFA C Licence – The Coach’s Evolution



The FA Level 2 in Coaching Football—now rebranded and aligned with the UEFA C Licence—is a major step up from the foundational Level 1 qualification. It’s where theory meets practice, and where a coach transforms from a session facilitator into a true developer of players.


This course challenges coaches to deepen their understanding of the game, refine their practice design, and build a philosophy that drives long-term development.


"Level 1 gives you the tools. Level 2 teaches you how to use them with purpose."

🎯 Course Overview at a Glance


  • 📚 3 core phases: Understanding the Game, Designing Practices, Connecting with Players

  • 💻 Delivered as a blend of online learning and in-person practical workshops

  • 🧠 Supported by FA mentors throughout your journey

  • 🕐 Around 60 hours of guided learning

  • 🧱 Builds directly on the FA Level 1 (Introduction to Coaching Football)


🔍 What You’ll Learn – Key Focus Areas


📖 Understanding the Game in More Depth


This course dives deeper into the game’s principles:


  • In-depth exploration of attacking, defending and transition phases

  • Recognising player behaviours in various tactical moments

  • Understanding positional play and team structure in different formats (5v5 to 11v11)


“To coach the game, you must first see the game.”

🧱 Designing and Delivering Effective Practices


It’s not just what you coach, it’s how you coach it:


  • Practice types: opposed vs unopposed, conditioned games, skill zones

  • Designing sessions to recreate real-game situations

  • Adapting practices for individuals, units, and teams

  • The art of "coaching on the grass" – where delivery, timing, and intervention meet


🧠 Learn to scaffold sessions to challenge and stretch players while maintaining enjoyment.


🗣️ Connecting with and Developing Players


You’ll learn how to shape the player and the person:


  • Managing mixed ability and motivation within your squad

  • Encouraging autonomy and decision-making in young players

  • Building positive relationships and psychological safety

  • Introduction to leadership and emotional intelligence


“Great coaches don’t just deliver sessions. They build belief.”

🔄 In-Game Application & Matchday Coaching


Your ability to read, react, and influence on matchday matters:


  • Developing matchday routines and responsibilities

  • Recognising trends and making in-game adjustments

  • Supporting players through tactical shifts and momentum swings


🎥 Many courses include video analysis elements to sharpen tactical awareness.


🪜 Your Development Journey


The UEFA C Licence isn't an endpoint – it’s a launchpad:


  • Prepare for the UEFA B Licence or bespoke CPD opportunities

  • Reflect on your personal coaching philosophy and style

  • Build a portfolio that includes video, session plans, and observations


🧭 You'll leave the course with a clear action plan for long-term growth.


🧠 Mentor Support and Peer Collaboration


  • 🙌 FA tutors provide personal feedback throughout your journey

  • 💬 Join a community of ambitious coaches to share and discuss ideas


  • 📈 Receive tailored insights to improve session design, communication, and player outcomes

“A coach without reflection is a coach without direction.”

🌍 Why This Qualification Matters


Holding the FA Level 2 / UEFA C Licence positions you as a credible, reflective, and development-minded coach. You’ve demonstrated the ability to:


✅ Plan and deliver advanced sessions

✅ Support the long-term development of individuals

✅ Adapt and problem-solve under pressure

✅ Develop a philosophy with structure and integrity


Whether working with grassroots teams or aspiring professionals, this qualification gives you the technical and tactical depth to truly influence the game.


⚽ Experience You Can Trust

Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s connected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. Whether you're local or international, you’ll benefit from a coach who brings grassroots knowledge with global insight.











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