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How to start a 5-a-side league

A 5-a-side league needs six to ten teams, a venue with a regular night, a fair fixture list and one person to settle disputes. Most leagues that fold do so over money and arguments about scores, not football, so sort those before the first game.

1. Get the teams

Six teams is the smallest league worth running: five weeks of games, or ten if everyone plays home and away. Eight to ten gives a proper season. Start with teams you already know: work teams, Sunday kickabout groups, friends of friends. Ask each captain to commit to the whole season.

2. Book the venue

You need the same pitches at the same time each week. For six teams, that's three games a night, so either one pitch for three hours or three pitches for one. Ask the venue for a block booking for the season and whether they can provide referees.

3. Set the rules

Write them down and send them to every captain before the season starts. Cover:

Playing rules: head height, the keeper's area, slide tackles. See 5-a-side rules for the usual choices.
Points: three for a win, one for a draw.
Squads: how many players per team, and whether ringers are allowed.
No-shows: a team that doesn't turn up loses 5–0 and still pays its share of the pitch.
Moving games: how much notice a team must give, and who agrees the new date.
Disputes: whose decision is final. Usually the league organiser.

4. Sort the money

Work out the cost per team per game: the pitch fee, plus referees if you have them, divided by the teams playing. Collect it before each game or as a season fee up front. Decide what happens when a team drops out halfway.

5. Draw the fixtures

Every team plays every other team once (or home and away), nobody plays twice in a night, and byes are shared out. Use the free fixture generator to draw it in seconds.

6. Keep the table

Get the score from both captains straight after each game. If they don't match, ask both before updating the table. Post the table after every round: it's what keeps teams turning up.

7. Finish the season properly

Winners, a Golden Boot for top scorer, and a players' player of the season voted by the captains. Small prizes, but they bring teams back for the next season.

How Rush Goalie helps

In the Rush Goalie app you set up a public or private league, invite captains, and draw fair fixtures around the nights teams can't play. The table updates as soon as both captains agree a score. Games can be moved by agreement, with a log every captain can see. At the end of the season everyone votes for the awards. Running a league is free.