4v4 Soccer Field Size
4v4 soccer field size for U6-U8 coaches, including field dimensions, goal size, ball size, player count, no-goalkeeper rules, offside, and game length.
Updated
Quick answer: 4v4 Soccer Field Size
U.S. Soccer small-sided standards set 4v4 fields at 25-35 yards long and 15-25 yards wide for U6-U8. The format uses four players per team, no goalkeepers, size 3 balls, goals no larger than 4 ft x 6 ft, no offside, no penalty kicks, unlimited substitutions, and short quarters. Local leagues can still adjust details.
What Are The Official 4v4 Soccer Field Dimensions?
U.S. Soccer’s small-sided standards list 4v4 fields at 25 to 35 yards long and 15 to 25 yards wide. This format is used for the youngest players because the smaller space creates more touches, shorter decisions, and fewer long runs.
| Rule area | 4v4 standard |
|---|---|
| Common age range | U6-U8 |
| Field size | 25-35 yards long by 15-25 yards wide |
| Players | 4 per team |
| Goalkeepers | No goalkeepers |
| Goal size | Maximum 4 ft high x 6 ft wide |
| Ball size | Size 3 |
| Offside | No offside |
| Penalty kicks | No penalty kicks |
| Substitutions | Unlimited |
The point of 4v4 is not to shrink adult soccer. It is to create a game young players can actually play.
How Big Is A 4v4 Youth Soccer Field For U6-U8?
A practical 4v4 field is roughly the size of a small training grid: 25-35 yards long and 15-25 yards wide. Coaches should avoid making the field too large for players who are still learning to dribble, stop, turn, and pass.
If the field is too wide, the game becomes a chase. If it is too narrow, players get stuck in a crowd. The best 4v4 field gives every player room for a first touch.
What Goal Size Is Used For 4v4 Soccer?
U.S. Soccer lists the maximum 4v4 goal size as 4 feet high by 6 feet wide. Many programs use small pop-up or portable goals, but the event rule should still define the accepted goal size.
Because 4v4 does not use goalkeepers, the goal should not be so large that every long kick becomes a goal.
Is There A Goalkeeper In 4v4 Soccer?
No. In U.S. Soccer’s 4v4 standards, there are no goalkeepers. Every player is a field player.
This matters for coaching language. Instead of assigning a child to stand in goal, teach everyone to attack, defend, and recover together.
Are There Offside Rules In 4v4 Youth Soccer?
No. U.S. Soccer’s small-sided standards do not use offside in 4v4. The goal is to keep the game moving and avoid stopping young players for a rule they are not ready to understand.
Coaches can still teach simple spacing. Tell players to spread out, support the ball, and find open space.
How Long Is A 4v4 Game?
U.S. Soccer’s 4v4 standards use short quarters. US Youth Soccer policy also uses quarters for younger age groups, though exact quarter length can vary by organization and local league.
Before kickoff, confirm the local match length and whether substitutions happen at any time or at natural breaks.
Sources for 4v4 Soccer Field Size
- U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives - The 4v4 standards list field size, goal size, ball size, player count, game length, substitutions, and modified rules.
- US Youth Soccer Players and Playing Rules Policy - US Youth Soccer policy gives age-group timing, ball-size, and player-number context for its competitions.
Related 4v4 Soccer Field Size guides
Use these youth soccer reference pages to check connected rules for age groups, field setup, equipment, and match planning.
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