Drone Soccer
An introduction to FAI F9A drone soccer: protected drone balls, one scoring striker, three fast sets, and full-contact aerial tactics.
Event overview
Drone Soccer combines radio-controlled quadcopter flying with the structure and teamwork of football. Two teams operate protected drone balls in an enclosed arena. Only the designated Striker may score, by crossing the opponent’s goal ring with the entire drone ball. The other pilots defend, screen, guide, intercept, and create a path for the striker. This page summarizes the FAI 2026 F9A rule framework; it is educational guidance, not a replacement for an organizer’s official event bulletin.
Watch Drone Soccer
Use these videos for a quick introduction to the game and its core rules.
Rules & format
Each section defines a part of how the event is run. Hardware limits, scoring, and safety are inspected on-site.
1. Players & striker
Each team fields the same number of active pilots — three to five, as announced by the organizer. Every pilot flies one drone ball. One pilot is named Striker; only that drone can score. The remaining pilots may defend or guide the attack.
2. Match format
FAI standard: three sets, three minutes per set. The team with more goals wins a set; winning two sets wins the match. Organizers must announce any overtime or penalty shoot-out procedure before the event.
3. Scoring
The striker must take the entire drone ball completely through the opponent’s ring toward the opponent’s baseline. A non-striker may cross the ring, but it is not a goal. Scoring referees decide whether a goal is valid.
4. Restart discipline
After a goal, all active drones on the scoring team must return to their own half before another scoring attempt. Referees can award a penalty shot and disallow a resulting goal if this requirement is breached.
5. Drone requirements
The aircraft is fully enclosed in a non-metal spherical frame and uses a motor-stop failsafe. Metal propellers, pre-programmed manoeuvring, and automatic position or path correction are not allowed. LEDs identify team and player roles.
6. Safe play
The flight zone is enclosed by a cage and nobody enters it during a set. If a drone is damaged, out of control, or unsafe, the pilot activates failsafe, alerts the referee, and the team continues short-handed for the remainder of that set.
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