GFA reminder re: U6 Players!

The Gloucestershire FA has received a number of enquiries around Summer Festivals for U6s and they have asked us to publish their clarification about the ruling on this:

Clubs and/or Leagues cannot provide a festival for the U6 age group. Any Club and/or League that provides matches for the U6 age group and any Club participating in such U6 matches are in breach of both The FA Rules and in breach of their Affiliation to the Gloucestershire FA.

Any U6 Festival that is being delivered is not sanctioned or affiliated with the Gloucestershire FA and we therefore advise that clubs do not participate in any un-affiliated football.

Please note the following rules:

A child who has not attained the age of six shall not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match of any kind.

The rule does now allow children when they turn six to participate in matches. This will permit children who have turned 6 during the course of the season to play in the U7s age group.