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5-a-side cost calculator: what each player pays

Put in what the pitch costs and how many are playing. You'll see each player's share, what it comes to over a season, and what happens to everyone else when someone drops out on the night.

How the split works

The cost is shared equally, to the penny. When it doesn't divide exactly, a few players pay one penny more so the total comes out right, and nobody is left covering the gap. With £60 and 10 players it's £6 each. With £65 and 10 players it's £6.50 each. With £60 and 7 players, it's £8.58 for one of them and £8.57 for the other six.

The real cost is the dropout

The venue charges for the pitch, not the players. When one person drops out on the night and doesn't pay, everyone else's share goes up, or the captain quietly covers it. Over a season that adds up, which is why so many captains end up out of pocket. Taking the money before the game, rather than after it, is the fix. Our guide to collecting money for 5-a-side compares the ways to do that.

Ringers

If you bring in a ringer, decide before the game whether they pay a full share. Most teams say yes: they're using the pitch like everyone else. If you need one, see how to find a 5-a-side friendly or a ringer.