Football Girls Development Competition Yr 5/6

Booking

• On the initial booking date, schools may enter either a Borough Championship or a Development Competition within each sport category:
• Initial Booking Opens:
  Monday 14 September 2026, 5:00pm
• Schools wishing to enter both events with different groups of pupils may book onto the second event when open booking begins:
• Open Booking Opens:
  Monday 21 September 2026, 5:00pm
• If an event reaches capacity, schools will be placed on a waiting list and advised accordingly. MSSP will contact schools if places become available in the lead up to the event.

Age

• Year 5/6 Girls

Squad

• Maximum of 10 players. 7-a-side matches.

Eligibility

• Girls only event
• School squads should be familiar with the competition rules before attending this event, although umpiring will be appropriate for the level of competition.
• The intent and principles of the competition have been designed to support pupils learning of the game and not be restricted by enforcement of the rules. We anticipate that many children may not have played competitively before and aim for children to learn more about the sport throughout the day.
• There is also a Girls Football Borough Championships event being delivered this year. Please consider the most appropriate event for your pupils to attend before registering.
• Schools cannot select the same pupils for the Development Competition and the Borough Championships. In the instance that a Championship team player has also played in a Development Competition team, the team will not be able to progress to a group winning position.
• If our football events exceed their capacity for school entrees, priority will be given to schools who are not registered for the Football Borough Championships.
• It is our aim to ensure all schools can access at least one of the events.

Kit & Equipment

• All schools MUST provide their own First Aid kit along with a first aid qualified member of staff.
• Please provide own warm up balls. Match balls are provided.
• The competition will be played on Astro-grass pitches.
• Trainers/Astro and moulded boots are allowed. No metal blades or studded boots will be permitted.
• Shin pads are compulsory.
• Players of the same team should wear the same colour tops/bibs.
• Jewellery must be removed.
• It is advised that if eyewear is essential, it should be made from plastic rather than glass.
• The penalty spot will be at 6.5 yards and a 1m rule in place for players to strike the ball from within.
• A size 4 match ball will be used. Schools should provide their own balls for warm up.

Competition Format

• 7-a-side matches.
• Round Robin groups followed by seeded groups to play other like-placed teams.
• Results will be recorded.
• Points awarded are: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
• Group placing determined by: points accrued, goal difference, goals scored.

Draw Format

• Initial draw will be unseeded. Teams will then be placed in subsequent groups dependent on how they placed in the first groups.
• Each match will be 8 minutes with no half time.
• There will be a 2-minute break between group matches.

Awards

• Medals and trophies will not be awarded at this Development Event.
• Placings certificates will be awarded for group winners across all groups.
• REFSPECT winners – Certificates
• Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.

Results 

• Results will be recorded at this event.
• An event report will be available on the webpage under news section after the event.

Winner’s Pathway 

• There is a planned pathway to London Youth Games from this event.

Staffing and Spectators – IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Due to a range of safeguarding concerns, spectators will not be permitted entry at any MSSP events as of 8th October 2025.
• Primary schools must inform parents in advance when inviting students to take part.
• All staff attending the event must have enhanced DBS clearance and have been fully vetted by their primary school.
• DBS numbers, full name and school photo ID will be required in advance by the host school for events on school sites.
• Upon arrival, all staff members must sign a Code of Conduct form to confirm their intent to support the safeguarding of children at MSSP events.
• Staff must complete a team-sheet ready for registration.
• Staff may be asked to keep score during the games.

Rules – Football Girls Development Competition Year 5/6

• Heading is no longer allowed in primary school age matches. See rules and guidance links below.
• 7 a-side matches
• Size 4 ball
• Teams must be ready to play within two minutes before scheduled kick off time.
• Rock-Paper-Scissors to be played between captains to decide who kicks off.
• A goal cannot be scored direct from a kick-off.
• After a goal is scored there will be a restart with a centre kick by the conceding team.
• Overhead throws and underarm roles can be made for any re-introduction to play EXCEPT corners, where the ball is placed and kicked in.
• Opposition players must be five yards away from where corners and throw-ins are taken.
• Free kicks are direct (unless awarded for a deliberate header – see new heading rules). Free kicks must be taken from where the offence was committed, opponents must be 5 yards from the ball. A goal can be scored straight from a direct freekick. (But not a central restart.)
• Outfield players are permitted in the goal area. Players can move anywhere on the pitch.
• The ball is allowed overhead height.
• The taking of ANY penalties will be subject to the ‘one metre’ rule. Players will have a maximum run-up distance of one metre, rather than one-step, to take the shot. The referee will indicate the 1 metre line with a line marker.
• The ‘roll-on-roll-off’ rule applies to substitutions. Any number of substitutes, without being named, may be used at any time with the permission of the referee. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player.
• If schools bring B teams, players may not swap between teams once the competition has started.
• Substitutions can only be made during stoppages in play and with the approval of the referee.
• Children must not slide tackle.
• A free kick may be awarded if the referee deems a player to be sliding regardless of if contact is made with the ball or not.
• There is no offside.

Goalkeepers

• Goalkeepers can only handle the ball in the penalty area.
• The goalkeeper may leave the goal area however a freekick kick will be awarded against the keeper if they handle the ball outside this area.
• When the goalkeeper takes a goal kick, opposing players do not have to retreat to the halfway line.
• The goalkeeper cannot kick the ball from hand or drop the ball from hand to kick.
• Pass-backs (if a defender passes back to the goalkeeper) are not allowed.
• If the Goalkeeper picks up a pass from their own player, a direct free kick will be awarded from one metre outside the penalty area in line with the position of the infringement.
• The goalkeeper must introduce the ball into play from either rolling or throwing the ball or playing it from along the floor.

Heading 

• Heading is no longer allowed in primary school age matches.
• Deliberate heading of the ball is banned during matches for U11s and below.
• If a player deliberately heads the ball, the referee will award an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
• If this occurs in the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken from the nearest point on the edge of the penalty area.
• If a header occurs, but the opposing team still benefit from the advantage, the referee will play on. Please remind your players to play to the whistle.
• For more information: https://schoolsfootball.org/playing-by-the-rules/fa-regulations/

MSSP Duty of Care 

At Merton School Sport Partnership, the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of every participant is our highest priority. Our Duty of Care framework outlines the measures we take to ensure all events are safe, enjoyable and accessible, covering key areas including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, risk assessments, medical provision, codes of conduct, photography and data protection.

We ask all schools, staff, volunteers and participants to familiarise themselves with these expectations before attending MSSP events.

For full details, please download the MSSP Duty of Care document or visit the relevant section of our website HERE for further guidance, policies and event information.