5-a-side Football with Too Few or Too Many Players – Solved

Organising players together for a kick-about or training session at your local 5-a-side centre can be one of the most infuriating things to do.

Whilst Bluefields.com can help you maximise the chance of you getting the right number of players to turn up, it can’t do much for you when you realise the wrong number of people are there and are all waiting to play. Have no fear!

It’s very possible to always have a top 5-a-side session with anywhere between 7 and 15 attendees, and a decent one with 6 or fewer. Below, I state exactly how you can do it, and explain why having 12 players turn up is the best number possible.

6 or Fewer Players

1. Check for Opponents
If 6 people of fewer turn up, it’s probably best to scout out some potential opponents on another pitch – people will generally be willing to give you a game if they’re in a similar situation, especially if you offer to pay halves on the pitch.

2. World Cup Willy
If you can’t find anyone to play against, World Cup Willy is an awesome way to fill up an hour of your life:

> Stick the last person to turn up in goal, and have an ‘all versus all’ tournament against them.
> 1st Round – Score 1 goal and you’re through to the 2nd round. The player who’s left after everyone else has scored is out.
> 2nd/3rd/4th Round – Score 2 goals and you’re through to the next round. The player who’s left after everyone else has scored 2 is out.
> The Final – Score 3 goals and you’re the champion, the runner up goes in goal for the next tournament.

7 Players

You’re likely to be pretty pissed off if you see only 7 players have turned up when you were expecting a good run around. It’s OK though, your options are open.

1. Check for Opponents
7 players isn’t too big a number to try to find a team to play against. 7 on one team is too much though, so consider using subs or giving the other team players if they’re struggling for numbers.

2. World Cup Doubles – 3 teams of 2 & 1 Goalkeeper
World Cup Doubles is the same as World Cup Willy (above) but with teams of two instead of one. It may be seen as a lesser alternative to a match, but a game of World Cup Doubles introduces a team tournament aspect to the game, so players will play competitively throughout the hour. In an hour’s play, you should be able to get 4 or 5 mini tournaments in.

8 Players

4 Vs. 4 – Only Scoring Inside the Area, No Goalkeepers
Playing 4 on 4 without shooting restrictions can lead to scores reminiscing a basketball game rather than a football match. Getting rid of goalkeepers and stating that goals can only be scored from inside the area incentivises good football and clever passing, and you won’t have to worry about the other team scoring long shots into open goals.

9 Players

9 people turning up is probably the most frustrating number possible. However, by playing one of the 2 options below, you can make the best of a bad situation.

1. 4 Vs. 4 – Only Scoring Inside the Area, No Goalkeepers (with one sub)
Same as above…but with a sub…

2. 5 (including 2 of the worst players) Vs. 4 (including 2 of the fittest players)
Giving the team of 4 monkey-rush rules (any player can go in goal at any time) and banning the team of 5 from shooting from their own half, will likely result in a fair game if the players in the team of 4 are able to run about. Make sure you switch the teams up when the players are knackered.

10 Players

5 on 5 – Simples.

11 Players

Similar to having 9 players turn up, but at least you know you will always be able to have at least 5 on each team at any one time.

1. 5 Vs. 5 (with one sub)
It’s not rocket science.

2. 6 (including 2 of the worst players) Vs. 5
6 on 5 is much fairer than 5 on 4 – just make sure all the best players aren’t on the team of 6…or it’ll be a massacre.

12 Players

Perhaps surprisingly, having between 12 and 15 players is often the most fun, and most competitive number at a 5-a-side session.

Whilst it’s possible to play 6 on 6 – if the speed of football being played is anything quicker than snail pace, it’ll be too crowded and less enjoyable.

The best option is to split the group into 3 teams of 4. As shown below, the 4 players on each side will only play outfield for their own team, and can recruit a goalkeeper from the team not currently playing.

To make the game competitive, a ‘Winner Stays On’ ruling should be applied. The games should be timed at 6 minutes each, and if the score is a draw after 6 minutes, the team who has been on the longest should come off.

From personal experience, having 12 people and using this game structure creates the best possible 5-a-side session. You’ll be surprised at how much more competitive players are when they risk having to sit out for a game. Plus, you never have to goal in goal for your own team.

13-15 Players

13 Players – 2 teams of 4, 1 team of 5
14 Players – 1 team of 4, 2 teams of 5
15 Players – 3 teams of 5

Having between 13 and 15 people turn up is nearly as good as having 12 people, and you should use the same game structure. The only difference is that if you’re on a team of 5, you’ll probably have to go in goal for your own team on occasion.

If there’s a player who prefers going in goal, make sure he’s on a team of 5 so he can stay in goal and his teammates can stay outfield.

So there it is, some suggestions are probably blindingly obvious – but hopefully you’ll know what to do when your players are looking to you for ideas. If more than 15 people turn up, it might be best to consider booking a second pitch…

Related Posts:

• Pepe’s guide to 5-a-side Football Leagues in London
• Your Pre-Season Football Training Guide: Week 6
• Your Pre-Season Football Training Guide: Week 5
• Your Pre-Season Football Training Guide: Week 4
• Your Pre-Season Football Training Guide: Week 3