Overview of the Age Groups
Germany organises youth football into lettered age brackets. The cut-off date is 1 January — the calendar year of birth is what counts:
| Age Bracket | Common Name | Age | Match Format (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-Junioren | U7 (U6/U7) | 5–6 | 2v2 / 3v3 |
| F-Junioren | U9 (U8/U9) | 7–8 | 3v3 to 5v5 |
| E-Junioren | U11 (U10/U11) | 9–10 | 5v5 / 7v7 |
| D-Junioren | U13 (U12/U13) | 11–12 | 7v7 / 9v9 |
| C-Junioren | U15 (U14/U15) | 13–14 | 9v9 / 11v11 |
| B-Junioren | U17 (U16/U17) | 15–16 | 11v11 |
| A-Junioren | U19 (U18/U19) | 17–18 | 11v11 |
Each age group covers two birth years. Players are generally permitted to play up in the next higher age bracket — playing down is only allowed with a special permit.
The exact match formats below U15 are regulated with slight regional variations across the 21 regional state associations (Landesverbände). However, the overarching framework is set by the DFB — and it changed fundamentally in 2024/25.
Children's Football (U6–U11): The New Match Formats
Since the 2024/25 season, new match formats have become mandatory in children's football. Regional associations no longer schedule competitive fixtures in the traditional format for age groups U6 to U11. This marks the most significant structural reform in German youth football in decades.
Why the Reform Was Introduced
DFB studies showed that six-year-olds averaged only 12 to 14 touches of the ball per match in traditional 7v7. In small-sided formats, that number jumps to 60 to 80. Fewer children per pitch means more actions, more dribbling, more shots on goal, and more moments of success — for every child, not just the two best.
Formats by Age Group
U7 (U6/U7): 2v2 or 3v3 on four mini goals. Without goalkeepers, referees, or offside. Matches are staged as festivals: multiple small pitches side by side, with teams rotating after short playing intervals.
U9 (U8/U9): 3v3 or 4v4, with the option of 5v5 on two small-sided goals — including goalkeepers.
U11 (U10/U11): 5v5, alternatively 7v7. This begins the transition towards traditional league competition.
It is important to understand: "Funino" is merely one component of the concept. The overall system differentiates clearly between age groups and increases complexity progressively — from four mini goals up to 7v7.
No League Tables, No Champions
In children's football, there are no league championships and no published standings. Games are played in festival formats and matchdays, often utilising a promotion and relegation principle between pitches during the event: win, and you move up a pitch; lose, and you move down. This naturally creates evenly matched games — the ideal learning environment for young players.
What this means educationally and how training should look: Children's Football vs Performance Training and Motivation in Children's Football.
U13 to U19: The Path to the Full-Size Pitch
U13 (U12/U13): The transition phase. Depending on the regional association, matches are played 7v7 or 9v9 on a reduced pitch, with offside applied in a simplified form. Regular league competition with standings begins here. Training focus: making full use of the "golden age of learning" — technique, game intelligence, coordination. More: The Golden Age of Learning.
U15 (U14/U15): Stepping onto the full-size pitch. Most divisions play 11v11, though some lower tiers still play 9v9. Tactical full-pitch principles now come to the fore: basic shapes, shifting defensively, building up play via third-man runs. Fundamentals: Formations and Tactical Systems.
U17 (U16/U17) and U19 (U18/U19): Full pitch football under virtually the complete adult rulebook. Paths diverge here: grassroots football in the Kreisliga and Bezirksliga tiers, and elite academy football in the Regionalliga and the DFB-Nachwuchsliga.
The League Pyramid in Youth Football
Below the national level, the regional state associations organise competitions. The typical pyramid — with slight variations in naming by region:
| Tier Level | Division |
|---|---|
| District (Kreis) | Kreisklasse / Kreisliga / Kreisleistungsklasse |
| Sub-regional (Bezirk) | Bezirksliga / Bezirksoberliga |
| State (Land) | Landesliga / Verbandsliga / Oberliga |
| Regional | Regionalliga (U17 and U19), U15 Regionalliga |
| National | DFB-Nachwuchsliga (U17 / U19) |
Promotion and relegation function just like in senior football — with one decisive exception at the top, which we will examine shortly.
For U15 sides, the Regionalliga is the highest level of competition; there is no nationwide U15 league. For U17 and U19 teams, the route leads through the Regionalliga divisions or regional state qualifying rounds into the DFB-Nachwuchsliga.
The DFB-Nachwuchsliga (U17 and U19) in Detail
From the 2024/25 season, the U19 and U17 DFB-Nachwuchsliga replaced the former U19 and U17 Junioren-Bundesliga divisions. The 2023/24 season was the final campaign under the old format, serving as a transitional and qualifying year.
The Format: Preliminary Round Plus Main Round
The Nachwuchsliga is played in two distinct phases:
Preliminary Round (Autumn): Teams are divided into regional groups of up to eight clubs, playing each other home and away across 14 matchdays.
Main Round (Spring): Following the preliminary round, the field splits based on competitive performance:
- Liga A: Group winners, runners-up, and the best third-placed sides from the preliminary round. Four divisions of six teams each, playing across ten matchdays. This is the pathway to the German national championship.
- Liga B: The remaining sides, also grouped into divisions, playing 14 matchdays — providing more competitive matches and extended development time.
The German championship is subsequently contested in a knockout phase among the top teams from Liga A.
What Has Changed Compared to the Bundesliga
No traditional relegation for licensed academies. Professional youth academies (Nachwuchsleistungszentren or NLZs) are guaranteed their spots in the Nachwuchsliga. The core principle: player development over relegation fear — coaches are encouraged to adopt bold line-ups and adventurous tactical styles without the constant existential dread of dropping points.
More amateur clubs. Up to eleven amateur clubs can qualify each year through their regional associations — under the old system, that average was only around five or six.
More evenly matched fixtures. The split into Liga A and Liga B after the preliminary round ensures teams face opposition of similar ability more often — mirroring the festival philosophy of grassroots children's football, adapted to elite development.
This reform aligns with the DFB's wider long-term strategy: education over raw results. From 2v2 at U7 level through to the Nachwuchsliga, the underlying goal remains constant: creating optimal learning environments rather than obsessing over league tables. Context on modern trends: Modern Youth Football.
Cup, Championship and the Road to Europe
German Championship: Decided at U17 and U19 level through the final knockout rounds of Liga A. There is no national championship for U15 and below.
DFB Youth Cup (DFB-Pokal der Junioren): A national knockout competition for U19 teams (alongside regional association cup competitions across all age brackets). Teams earn entry via their regional state cups.
UEFA Youth League: The German U19 champions qualify directly for the Domestic Champions path of the UEFA Youth League. Youth teams of German UEFA Champions League participants also compete in the UEFA Champions League path. Learn how the competition works: The UEFA Youth League Explained.
What the System Means for Coaches
In grassroots and children's football: take formats seriously. Small-sided games are not merely prescribed entertainment; they are the most intensive developmental format available. Your training sessions should reflect the same logic: small pitches, maximum touches, and every player actively involved. Practical drills: Small-Sided Games and Match Formats.
In transitional age groups: prepare for format changes. The leap from 7v7 to 9v9, and later onto the full pitch, represents a substantial shift for young players — unfamiliar spaces, longer distances, and different positional play. Quality coaches introduce these format changes gradually in training months in advance, rather than leaving players to adjust cold on matchday one.
In elite development: document progress. The Nachwuchsliga and Regionalliga are key scouting environments — club scouts, national team staff, and academy recruiters watch closely. Clubs that systematically track player development have clearer evidence and leverage during transition reviews and feedback meetings. Useful tools: Tracking Player Development.
Across all age groups: plan age-appropriately. Every bracket demands distinct focal points — from basic ball mastery at U7 to competitive workload management at U19. For the full developmental framework, read: Age-Appropriate Football Training and Football Drills by Age Group.
Five Takeaways on the German Youth League System
1. Two birth years per age group, cut-off date 1 January — spanning from U7 all the way to U19.
2. Children's football has been completely reformed — 2v2 up to 7v7, match festivals replacing league tables, mandatory since 2024/25.
3. The full-size pitch is phased in gradually — stepping up via 9v9 in U13/U15 to 11v11.
4. The DFB-Nachwuchsliga replaces the Junioren-Bundesliga — regional preliminary rounds, followed by Liga A and Liga B, with no relegation for licensed academies.
5. The U19 champions qualify for the Youth League — the German domestic system connects directly to elite European competition.
Read more: Bayern, Dortmund and the German NLZ Academy System.
Read more: U13 Football: Training and Coaching (U12/U13) and U15 Football: Training and Coaching (U14/U15).
Frequently Asked Questions
All Articles in the Youth Leagues Series
Coach OS: Training for Every Age Group
From the 3v3 festival to the Nachwuchsliga — each developmental step demands tailored training.
Coach OS automatically adapts drills and sessions to age group, ability level, and squad size: over 1,244 animated drills, from U7 to U19. Enter your team details — Coach OS organises age-appropriate sessions.
→ Try 30 days free: coach-os.com