Until recently, this was a minefield of inconsistency and varied according to region and league rules. Now the FA have issued a ruling to ensure consistency of application across the whole country. Essentially the age group that a player joins is determined by his or her date of birth – this also mirrors the school year.

The following table shows the age groups a player can play in:

Age on 31st of August	School Year (September)	Age Group
Below 6	Year 1	Under 6
6	Year 2	Under 7
7	Year 3	Under 8
8	Year 4	Under 9
9	Year 5	Under 10
10	Year 6	Under 11
11	Year 7	Under 12
12	Year 8	Under 13
13	Year 9	Under 14
14	Year 10	Under 15
15	Year 11	Under 16
16	Year 12	Under 17
17	Year 13	Under 18

Can My Child Play Up Or Down A Year?
For this to take place the FA need to issue a formal dispensation. There are very limited circumstances in which dispensations to play up and down are permitted. The FA seek to maintain a balance between making sure that players are in the appropriate age group for their size and development but also that no one is gaining an unfair advantage and the safety and well being of the child and other children is preserved.

Playing up a year
A player is permitted to play one age up.

The only exceptions are:

Those who are aged 6 can only play when they are 6 years old and play in under 7s
Players aged 15 can play for under 17 and under 18
Players aged 16 can play for under 17, under 18 and open age

Playing down a year
A player can be considered to play a year down if the characteristics of that child’s disability or significant physical developmental delay (‘SPDD’) mean that participation in their chronological age group would put them at a significant disadvantage. An application should be made directly to the FA to consider this. Dispensations are issued for a stated period, which is usually one football season.

As an FA Pilot, FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs can play as an individual or as a team in a boys’ league up to 2 years down if it is considered appropriate for their development and to ensure the right level of competition. FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs can therefore play at their chronological age group, a year down or two years down. There are also pilots taking place involving community girls’ teams playing in a predominately boys league to play down one age group. For leagues to do this, they require permission from the FA so that it can be monitored.

The club will always try to consider what is best for the player and a consensus of the agreement must be reached between the team manager, the child's parents and of course the child themselves.