Aztech 3v3 Tournament
3v3: A New Era for Grassroots Football in Guernsey
Next year, 3v3 looks set to take the island by storm! Craig Tyrrell, Aztech Soccer Centre’s Business Manager, explains the multiple advantages of 3v3 for player development, what the team is doing to support local clubs and how Aztech is already ahead of the game with a Guernsey first.
Can you give us an overview of the 3v3 format?
It’s an initiative that Football England is driving under the brand name FutureFit. From 2026-27, the 3v3 format will be rolled out across England, and here in the Channel Islands, with a view to maximising children’s experience of the game.
The idea is that it will encourage greater player engagement because young players will have more opportunities to learn, play, make decisions, score and stop goals.
Which age groups is the new format relevant to?
3v3 will be the entry format for U7 players, so they can be more involved in play and have the best introduction to football. However, 3v3 is suitable for players up to U11, who can all benefit from the format.
What are the main advantages of 3v3?
Extensive research by England Football has shown that the 3v3 format encourages more physical activity and increases technical actions, leading to more touches on the ball and more play on the pitch for young players.
These smaller formats are already being used in European clubs and are widely recognised as a fantastic way to evolve young players and their skills.
Importantly, 3v3 cements the FA 4 Corner Model, which provides a holistic approach to player development. The model encourages coaches to support player progress across four key criteria – social, physical, psychological and technical/tactical. The approach is critical as it encompasses the varying needs of young players – some might need to develop confidence while others need to work on technical performance.
Any key differences to other formats?
There are three key differences with the 3v3 format. Firstly, there are no goalkeepers, which gives players a faster-paced game with more opportunities to develop ball-manipulation skills. Secondly, there are no officials, just one adult facilitator per pitch, meaning young players have the freedom to lead their own game. Finally, there are no subs, so every child can play as much as they want.
Can you give us any examples of how this type of smaller format been successful?
The popular 4v4 format was successfully introduced by the Dutch Football Association in the 1970s and quickly gained widespread adoption as a coaching method, including in England. It became popular because it delivered multiple advantages. The smaller format has been shown to enhance player speed and movement within the game, providing more ball touches, shots on goal and distance covered.
It also creates opportunities for multiple fixtures, and we’ve seen the benefits of it here at Aztech with our popular 4v4 tournaments.
With 3v3, a fast turnaround of between 6-10 minutes per game means players have the chance to play with and against different players. Here in Guernsey, smaller ‘teams’ will, hopefully, create more opportunities for play beyond our shores.
How will you be supporting local clubs with the transition?
Firstly, by spreading the word! Our coaches here at Aztech are always fully up to speed with changes to the game, so can support any club coaches with the transition, particularly with the U7s.
Our indoor 3G pitch is also available for hire (whatever the weather!) and we’re happy to lend our expertise to supporting player development. We’ve already dealt with several 3v3 enquiries and have also staged a few tournaments here at the Centre to get players used to the new format. This Sunday, we’re hosting a free 3v3 tournament for Year 2 players, featuring our new inflatable pitches. We’ve already seen a few sign-ups from local clubs but it’s not too late to enter!
What can you tell us about Aztech’s new 3v3 inflatable pitches?
We’re really excited about our new inflatable pitches as they’re the first ones to be introduced here in Guernsey.
The pitches have multiple advantages, but a key one is that the games are uninterrupted; as the ball stays within the inflatable. They also keep supporters at arm’s length, minimising distraction so players can concentrate on the game.
We’re always proud of Aztech’s reputation for being ahead of the game and at the cutting-edge of football, and this further investment is a testament to that. As well as developing players at grassroots level, we’re looking forward to helping more youngsters enjoy the multiple benefits football delivers.
Aztech Soccer is hosting a FREE 3v3 Year 2 tournament this Sunday 30th November from 11:00am until 2:00pm. For your chance to be the first to experience Aztech Soccer’s new inflatable pitches, sign up at [email protected].