JPL and GOALS Launch National 3v3 League to Transform Grassroots Football for U7s

The Junior Premier League (JPL) has teamed up with GOALS, the UK’s leading small-sided football provider, to launch a groundbreaking new national 3v3 league for Under 7s.

Kicking off on September 6th, 2025, the JPL x GOALS 3v3 will run at 10 GOALS sites across the country and represents a bold new step in the way grassroots football is introduced to the youngest generation of players.

Designed specifically for five, six and seven-year-olds, the 3v3 format focuses on the fundamentals which matter most at that age: confidence, creativity, and developing a love for the game. Instead of cones and stop-start drills, matches are played on bespoke, enclosed air-pitches, which keeps the ball in constant play. And that, in turn, means every player is always involved — making more decisions, taking more touches, scoring more goals and, most importantly, having more fun: key ingredients for children who want to learn new skills.

“More touches. More goals. More joy. This is the future of grassroots football. We’re excited to be partnering with GOALS to launch 3v3 to support the new FA Future Fit Strategy. In collaboration with GOALS, players will be able to experience this new format on air pitches which makes a real difference.

We’re looking forward to this launching in September and identifying real talent within this age group.”

— Corrie Kane-Thom, Marketing & Partnerships Manager (JPL)

The JPL is the UK’s largest youth football league. Each week it brings together thousands of young people through a shared love of football and creates opportunities for them to fulfil their potential and follow their sporting dreams. Players in the JPL get opportunities to train with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus and play against the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool. But the JPL’s commitment to development never comes at the expense of enjoyment. This new 3v3 league is an extension of that mission.

This initiative also aligns with the FA’s Future-Fit Strategy, which is designed to reimagine the way youth football is introduced to the youngest age groups, prioritising skill development, enjoyment, and player confidence from the very first touch. By partnering with GOALS, the JPL is combining elite-level facilities with a player-first approach to make sure young children and their families are given the best possible introduction to football and the greatest chance of building a life-long love of the game.