3V3 football (or football 3 next to it) is a small version of the game that focuses on accelerated action, skills development and player’s high participation. It is widely used for youth training, tournaments and will soon be presented as the entry level format for the group of children under 7 years by the FA in England.
Key features of 3v3 football
✅ Number of players – Three players per team, without goalkeepers.
✅ Launch size – Usually, 15m x 25m at 20m x 30m, depending on age and competition.
✅ Goals -S small size, usually around 5 feet wide by 3 feet high (c. 1.5mx 1m)
✅ Game duration – Usually, 5 to 10 minutes in half, but can vary.
✅ Rolling substitutions – o allowed in tournaments and training.
✅ Without out – It encourages attack attack and creativity.
Benefits or 3v3 football
⚽ More touches in the ball – Players get more participation compared to larger formats.
⚡ Accelerated and intense – Players must think and react quickly.
🧠 Promote decision making – Small teams mean that players assume multiple roles.
🎯 Improve dribbling and step – More 1V1 situations and rapid passage movements.
🥅 More objective score opportunities -The low key game leads to frequent attacks.
Where do you play football 3v3?
- Base training
- Tournaments and festivals.
- Street and cage football
- Professional academies
And now the FA in England is integrating 3V3 football into its youth development route to improve the commitment and technical skills of young players, from the 2026-27 season as part of its Future Fitwork For Grassroots Youth Fetale Future Fit: FA in England finally confirms its plans
Do you regularly use 3v3 games in your training? Have tasks in 3V3 tournaments separate or organized games?
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