4v4 soccer field dimensions
The first format. Four a side, no goalkeeper, a field about the size of a basketball court, and rules kept to what a six year old can follow. US Soccer's standard covers U6 through U8, and the younger groups play the same way.
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Field and equipment
| Age groups | U4U5U6U7U8 |
|---|---|
| Players | 4 per side, no goalkeeper. |
| Length | 25 to 35 yd (22.9 to 32 m) |
| Width | 15 to 25 yd (13.7 to 22.9 m) |
| Penalty area | None |
| Goal area | None |
| Penalty mark | None |
| Penalty arc | None |
| Center circle | Center mark only |
| Build-out line | None |
| Corner arc | Not needed |
| Goal | No larger than 4 ft high by 6 ft wide (1.22 by 1.83 m). Smaller goals are fine, and cones or flags will do. |
| Ball | Size 3. |
Rules at 4v4
What changes from the full game at this format. Where US Soccer and US Youth Soccer print different rules, or where the standard leaves it to the competition, the row says so and your league's rules decide.
- Goalkeeper
- None.
- Offside
- None.
- Build-out line
- None.
- Heading
- Not allowed. A deliberate header is an indirect free kick for the other team from the spot.
- Goalkeeper punts
- Not applicable: there is no goalkeeper.
- Penalty kicks
- None.
- Game length
- Four quarters. US Soccer caps each at 10 minutes; US Youth Soccer's own policy lists 6 minute quarters at 6U and 12 minute quarters at 8U. Varies by league.Varies by league
- Halftime
- 5 minute breaks between quarters.
- Roster
- No formal roster required. US Soccer suggests 6 per team so everyone plays at least half the game; US Youth Soccer's manual caps the roster at 6.
- Players
- 4 per side, no goalkeeper.
- Minimum to play
- Not set. Formal teams and rosters are not needed at this age.
- Substitutions
- Unlimited, at any time.
- Referees
- None. Coaches manage the game from the touchline.
- Restarts
- Kick-offs, free kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks; kick-ins or dribble-ins from the touchline are also fine. All free kicks are indirect. Opponents stay 10 feet from the ball under US Soccer's standard; US Youth Soccer's manual says 4 yards.Varies by league
Who plays 4v4
The 2026-27 birth windows under the August 1 to July 31 rule that US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO use from 2026-27. A league on the old birth-year rule groups differently; its chart wins.
The directory lists youth leagues, clubs and fields by city, with the ages each one takes when the league publishes them. Ask a listing a question from its page: when we hold an address for the club the message goes to them, otherwise to the SoccerMapd team, who pass it on.
The formats either side
4v4 questions
How big is a 4v4 soccer field?
25 to 35 yards long and 15 to 25 yards wide (23 to 32 by 14 to 23 meters), with a halfway line and center mark and no penalty area. That is US Soccer's range for U6 through U8; a league short on space will often play at the small end.
What size goal for U6 and U8 soccer?
No larger than 4 feet high by 6 feet wide. There is no goalkeeper, so the goal stays small on purpose, and smaller pop-up goals are allowed.
Is there a goalkeeper in 4v4?
No. All four players are field players, there are no penalty kicks, and all free kicks are indirect.
How long is a U6 or U8 soccer game?
Four quarters with short breaks. US Soccer's standard says no more than 10 minutes a quarter; US Youth Soccer's policy lists 6 minute quarters at 6U and 12 minute quarters at 8U. Your league's schedule is the answer for your team.
Sources
Every figure on this page was read from one of these documents on September 4, 2026. The federations revise them; if your league's chart says otherwise, the league is right.
- Player Development Initiatives, small-sided standards (February 2017) · US Soccer, hosted by US Youth Soccer
- Small-Sided Games Manual, modified rules and diagrams (revised January 2017) · US Youth Soccer, hosted by Washington Youth Soccer
- Policy on Players and Playing Rules (December 5, 2025) · US Youth Soccer
- Player Development Initiatives FAQ (October 2017) · Florida Youth Soccer Association