7v7 soccer field dimensions
The format that introduces the goalkeeper, offside and a penalty area, and the only one with a build-out line. US Soccer mandates it for U9 and U10, six field players plus a keeper on a field about half the length of a full one.
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Field and equipment
| Age groups | U9U10 |
|---|---|
| Players | 7 per side: 6 field players and a goalkeeper. |
| Length | 55 to 65 yd (50.3 to 59.4 m) |
| Width | 35 to 45 yd (32 to 41.1 m) |
| Penalty area | 12 by 24 yd (11 by 21.9 m) |
| Goal area | 4 by 8 yd (3.7 by 7.3 m) |
| Penalty mark | 10 yd (9.1 m) from the goal line |
| Penalty arc | 8 yd (7.3 m) radius from the mark |
| Center circle | 8 yd (7.3 m) radius |
| Build-out line | Halfway between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line |
| Corner arc | 1 yd (0.9 m) radius |
| Goal | No larger than 6.5 ft high by 18.5 ft wide (1.98 by 5.64 m). US Soccer recommends a 6.5 by 12 ft goal (1.98 by 3.66 m) for this age. |
| Ball | Size 4. |
Rules at 7v7
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
- Yes.
- Offside
- Yes, but only between the build-out line and the goal line. A player cannot be offside between the halfway line and the build-out line.
- Build-out line
- Yes, marked halfway between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line. When the goalkeeper has the ball in hand, or a goal kick is being taken, the other team stays behind the line until the ball is in play; the goalkeeper then passes, throws or rolls it out. If a player crosses early, the goal kick is retaken.
- Heading
- Not allowed. A deliberate header is an indirect free kick from the spot.
- Goalkeeper punts
- Not allowed. A punt or drop kick is an indirect free kick for the other team from the spot (taken on the goal area line if it happened inside the goal area).
- Penalty kicks
- Yes, from a mark 10 yards out.
- Game length
- Two 25 minute halves, no added time.
- Halftime
- 10 minutes.
- Roster
- No more than 12 players.
- Players
- 7 per side: 6 field players and a goalkeeper.
- Minimum to play
- The game cannot start or continue with fewer than 5 on a team.
- Substitutions
- Unlimited, at any stoppage.
- Referees
- One referee with at least US Soccer's entry-level certification (Grade 9 when the standard was written). Assistant referees at the league's discretion; club linesmen who only signal ball in and out of play are fine.
- Restarts
- Opponents stay 8 yards from the ball on kick-offs, free kicks and corners.
Who plays 7v7
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
7v7 questions
How big is a 7v7 soccer field?
55 to 65 yards long and 35 to 45 yards wide (50 to 59 by 32 to 41 meters). The penalty area is 12 yards deep and 24 wide, the goal area 4 by 8, the penalty mark 10 yards out and the center circle has an 8 yard radius.
What size is a 7v7 goal?
No larger than 6.5 feet high by 18.5 feet wide. US Soccer recommends the smaller 6.5 by 12 foot goal for U9 and U10, and many leagues use it.
What is the build-out line in 7v7?
A line halfway between the penalty area and the halfway line. When the goalkeeper has the ball in hand or takes a goal kick, the other team has to drop behind it until the ball is in play, so the defending team can pass out of the back. It also limits offside: a player can only be offside between the build-out line and the goal.
Can the goalkeeper punt in 7v7?
No. Punts and drop kicks are not allowed at U9 and U10; the keeper passes, throws or rolls the ball. A punt is an indirect free kick for the other team. Punting comes back at 9v9.
How long is a 7v7 game?
Two 25 minute halves with a 10 minute halftime and no added time, so 50 minutes of play. US Youth Soccer's policy lists the same and no overtime at 10U.
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