How to organise a weekly 5-a-side game

A regular game is one of the best ways to keep playing football. It needs one person to keep it organised, though, and it doesn’t take much once you have a routine. Here’s how to set one up and keep it going.

1. Book a regular pitch

• Look at local 5-a-side centres, leisure centres and schools that hire out pitches in the evening.
• Ask about a block booking: the same time every week, often cheaper than booking one game at a time.
• Check the cancellation rules, especially for bad weather and holidays.
• Pick a time people can actually make every week. Consistency matters more than the perfect slot.

2. Build your group

You need more people than places. For 5-a-side, aim for a group of 14 to 20 so you still get ten on a week when people are away or injured. Ask friends, colleagues, local social media groups and other players at your venue.

3. Set up a group chat and a routine

1. Post a “who’s in this week?” message at the same time each week.
2. Set a deadline to confirm, for example 6pm the day before.
3. First ten confirmed play; anyone after that goes on a reserves list.
4. If someone drops out, the first reserve takes their place.

4. Sort out the money

Split the pitch cost between the players (for example £60 between ten is £6 each). Ask people to pay before the game by bank transfer, or collect monthly in advance from your regulars. Agree what happens when someone drops out late: usually they still pay, unless a reserve takes their place.

5. Bring the kit

• A good ball, plus a spare, and a pump.
• Two sets of bibs (see bibs or skins etiquette).
• A first-aid kit and the venue’s emergency details.

6. Agree the rules

Decide on the basics before the first game: height restrictions, slide tackles, rotating goalkeepers, and what you do with an odd number of players. Write them in the group chat description.

7. Pick fair teams

Nothing kills a weekly game faster than one-sided matches. Rate your regulars (see how to rate players fairly), pick balanced teams before the game, and post them in the chat.

8. Keep it going

• Share the organising: someone can cover when you’re away.
• Welcome new players and keep the reserves list topped up.
• Keep track of who’s played, so regulars who keep missing out get priority.

Where Playrs helps

Playrs handles the team picking: keep your squad list with ratings, tick who’s confirmed, and get balanced teams to paste into the chat. History shows who played each week. With Playrs Online, a co-organiser can share the squad and cover when you’re away.

Open the free team picker