Guides › Organising a tournament

How to organise a 5-a-side tournament

A one-day 5-a-side tournament works best with 8 to 16 teams, two or more pitches, short games of 10 to 12 minutes, groups first and knockouts after. Set the entry fee to cover the pitches and prizes, and collect it before the day.

Pick a format

Teams	Format
3 to 5	One group, then a final between the top two
6 to 10	Two groups, semi-finals (A1 v B2, B1 v A2), final
11 to 20	Four groups, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final

Group winners get 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. Decide the tie-breakers in advance: goal difference, then goals scored, then head to head. Knockout games that end level go to penalties, three each then sudden death.

Work out the timings

Allow two minutes between games for teams to change over. With 12-minute games, each pitch fits four games an hour. A 12-team tournament in four groups of three has 12 group games and 7 knockout games, so 19 games: under three hours on two pitches, under two on three.

Spread the group games so no team plays twice in a row, and print or share the schedule with pitch numbers before the day.

Set the entry fee

Add up the pitch hire, referees, prizes and anything else (water, a first-aid kit, medals), then divide by the number of teams. Round it up, so a team dropping out doesn't leave you short. For a charity tournament, add the amount you want to raise per team on top and say so clearly.

Collect fees before the day. A team that's paid turns up.

Write the rules

Most tournaments use the venue's own rules. If not, agree head height, the keeper's area and rolling subs: see 5-a-side rules. Add tournament rules: squad size (usually up to eight), kick-off on time or forfeit, and whose decision is final.

On the day

Arrive an hour early to check pitches, balls, bibs and the first-aid kit.
Have one person running results, and post the group tables as they change.
Keep games to time. The schedule slips fast if one game runs over.
Hand out the trophy, a player of the tournament and a top scorer prize at the end, and take a team photo.

A cup over a few weeks

If you can't get everyone on one day, run a knockout cup instead: draw the rounds, give each round a play-by date, and let teams arrange their own games. Teams without an opponent in the first round go straight through.

How Rush Goalie helps

In the Rush Goalie app you can run a one-day tournament or a cup over a few weeks for 3 to 20 teams. It draws the groups and knockouts, schedules games across your pitches so nobody plays twice in a row, collects the entry fees in the app, and updates the tables as captains confirm the scores.