How we play
U12 9v9 · FA 2026/27 · Wigan & District Youth League
| Format | 9 v 9 |
|---|---|
| Game | 60 minutes — 30 each way, plus injury time |
| Half-time | About 5 minutes |
| Ball | Size 4 |
| Goals | 16ft × 7ft |
| Pitch | About 73m × 46m (min 64m × 37m) |
| Subs | Rolling substitutes — on and off, they can come back on (referee’s say) |
| Game time | Fair game time. We aim for every player to get at least half a game, where possible. Keepers play the full game. Hard work and a good attitude help us share minutes well. |
| Standards | We play the Bulls way: kind, supportive and positive. Great team spirit is how we win. Negativity, swearing or poor behaviour lets the group down and will mean less game time — and, if we have to, a suspension — because we care about how these lads grow. |
| Offside | Yes — offside from U12 |
| Heading | Allowed |
| Restarts | Throw-ins. No retreat line. No power play. |
| League | Referee needed. League tables and cups. |
| Played | 5 points for every game a lad plays in. One game is 5, two is 10. Added to his overall. |
The Bulls way
We look after every lad. Fair game time means at least half a game each, where possible, and keepers play the full 60 plus injury. We are supportive, positive, and we back each other — high fives, no blaming, one team. A winning atmosphere comes from great team spirit. If someone is negative, swears, or behaves poorly, they will play less, and we may suspend if we must. These standards are here because they help kids grow.
POINTS MAKE PRIZES! Train at home and get your points up.
Games played
5 points for every game a lad plays in. One game is 5, two is 10, three is 15. It is added to the overall with Friday training, parent 3-2-1, opposition MOM, manager’s player and tests.
Training marks
Training is marked out of 40: attendance 10, effort 10, attitude 10, achievement 10. Achievement is a strict, perfect mark — it is meant to get the best out of them.
- • Not turning up — no attendance points that night.
- • Booting balls when Brian is talking — loses attitude and effort.
- • Messing about — loses attitude and effort.
- • Swearing — loses attitude, and can mean less game time.
Home tests
- Pick: Any drill, several, or all six.
- Limit: The same drill can only be sent once per week.
- Week: Monday to Sunday. Unlocks again on Monday.
- Film: Phone on a stand. 0.5–0.6×. Full course in shot.
- Start: Clock starts on GO. One run per clip.
- Mark: Upload the clip. The AI times GO to the last cones, marks technique /5, +5 to complete, speed /10 vs age 11.
How to vote
One vote per family. Same number of votes as lads who played. Honest 3-2-1 — not tactics, not sympathy. From Standish, a family who votes gets 1 point for their own child. Missing parents: Brian or Connor vote for that group.
- • One vote per parent group. If 12 lads turn up, there are 12 votes — no more.
- • Give your 3, 2 and 1 to the lads you honestly think were best.
- • From Standish this week, voting gives your own child 1 point. You still cannot pick him in the 3, 2 or 1.
- • Please don’t vote tactically, and don’t vote for sympathy.
- • Honest votes help the boys push themselves.
- • If a parent is missing, Brian or Connor will cast that family’s vote.