What to do with an odd number of players

You’ve booked 5-a-side, and eleven people turn up. Or nine. It happens every few weeks in most groups. Here are the options, from simplest to most effort.

1. A rolling substitute

Play five against five and rotate the extra player in. Swap every five to ten minutes, or whenever a goal is scored, and make sure everyone gets their turn off, including the best players. This keeps the teams equal on the pitch and is the most common fix.

2. Uneven teams, weaker side gets the extra player

Play six against five, with the extra player on the side that’s weaker on paper. It works well on bigger pitches, but on a small cage pitch the extra player can tip the balance too far. Be ready to move someone at half-time.

3. Three teams, winner stays on

With nine, twelve or fifteen players, three teams of three, four or five work well. Play short games (say seven minutes or first to two goals) with the winners staying on. Everyone gets rests, and it suits groups with mixed fitness.

4. A floating goalkeeper

If your rules allow it, the extra player goes in goal for whichever team is attacking, or keeps goal for both sides at one end. It’s chaotic, but fine for a kickabout.

5. Change the format

If the numbers regularly don’t fit, change the setup. With twelve players, play 6-a-side. With fourteen, 7-a-side. Ask your venue whether a bigger pitch is available.

Avoiding the problem

• Ask people to confirm by a deadline, for example the day before, so you know the numbers early.
• Keep a short reserves list to fill a gap when someone drops out.
• Have a standing rule for what you do with an odd number, so nobody argues on the night.

More on this in how to organise a weekly 5-a-side game.

Using Playrs with odd numbers

Playrs handles odd numbers for you. Set up 2 teams of 5, tick all eleven players, and it makes 6 v 5. It balances the teams on total rating, so the team with the extra player gets slightly lower-rated players (option 2 above). It works the same way for other setups, as long as every team is within one player of your chosen team size. Prefer a rolling sub? Tick ten and rotate the eleventh in.

Open the free team picker