Making Soccer Fun for Kids
We are increasingly convinced that making the game for young players and getting them as many touches as possible is as important to improving the caliber of play in the U.S. to international levels as organizational and other changes at more advanced levels. So this is good news – US Youth Soccer is rolling out a new wave of Grassroots resources designed to transform how the youngest players in the game experience their first seasons on the field. At the heart of the initiative is a push for 2v2 and 3v3 formats for U5–U6 recreational programs, backed by research from Europe and recent pilot projects in the United States showing that small-sided play boosts both skill development and player enjoyment.
Under the U5/U6 Game Format Project, US Youth Soccer is providing member clubs with a free toolkit that includes recommended field sizes, team numbers, game length, restart methods, and goal configurations tailored specifically to 2v2 and 3v3 games. Instead of one large 4v4 or 5v5 game tucked into a single field, clubs are encouraged to set up multiple mini-pitches with small or pop-up goals, giving every child far more chances to touch the ball, make decisions, and attempt to score. Research from European environments and U.S. pilot programs shows that these smaller formats significantly increase individual touches, 1v1 situations, and scoring opportunities, all of which correlate strongly with higher perceived fun and more positive feedback from parents.
The new Grassroots resources are not just diagrams and rule tweaks; they are designed to support volunteer parent-coaches who often step into the role with little formal soccer background. Participating clubs receive access to USYS University, an online education hub where coaches can complete an introductory Grassroots course and explore a library of short modules and the USYS National Curriculum, including age-appropriate activities and session plans built around 2v2 and 3v3 formats. The project also integrates “new ball” restarts, a simple mechanic where the coach quickly serves a fresh ball into play to keep the game flowing and make sure quieter or less confident children get frequent, purposeful touches.
For families on the sidelines, the change is meant to feel more like a festival of constant action than a traditional game with long pauses and a few dominant players. Because there are fewer players on each team and more fields in use, it becomes harder for any one child to “hide,” while still keeping the environment non-intimidating and focused on exploration rather than results. Early feedback from the pilot clubs, gathered through end-of-season surveys of coaches and parents, has highlighted increases in player engagement, confidence on the ball, and overall satisfaction with the recreational experience.
US Youth Soccer frames this shift as part of a broader effort to align American grassroots soccer with global best practices and to recapture some of the “street soccer” spontaneity that older generations enjoyed. By doubling down on small-sided, player-centered formats at the very beginning of the pathway, the organization hopes not only to lay stronger technical and decision-making foundations, but also to keep more children in the game longer by making those first seasons unmissably fun. For community clubs and parent-coaches, the message is clear: less emphasis on tactics and scores, more on touches, smiles, and a love for playing
If you’d like to learn more about the details, visit the USYS & download the PDF on the Game Format Project HERE
Ron Stitt
Co-Founder, U.S. Soccer Parent