5-a-side football and futsal: pitches, rules and players
Small-sided football is the easiest way to play regularly: a pitch for an hour, ten friends, no referee needed. This guide covers how 5-a-side and futsal differ, what to wear, how to find a pitch near you and how to book it without wasting a Tuesday evening.
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How it's played
- 5-a-side is usually played on artificial turf (3G/4G) with small goals, often with rebound boards or nets around the pitch. Teams have five players including the goalkeeper; some venues run 6-a-side or 7-a-side on bigger pitches. Games are typically 50–60 minutes, split in two halves or played as one block.
- Futsal is the indoor variant with its own official rules: a hard court, a smaller ball with less bounce, kick-ins instead of throw-ins, a four-second rule for restarts and accumulated fouls. Futsal rewards close control and quick passing; 5-a-side on turf is more physical and forgiving.
- Most casual groups set their own rules: no slide tackles, no goalkeeper handling outside the area, goals scored only from the attacking half. Agree on them before kick-off.
What you need
- Boots: on artificial turf use turf shoes (short rubber studs) or AstroTurf boots; metal or long moulded studs damage the surface and most venues ban them. For futsal, flat indoor shoes with a gum sole.
- Shin pads are optional in casual games but sensible. Bring two sets of bibs or shirts in contrasting colours; many venues lend bibs but not always.
- Ball: venues usually provide one, but check. Futsal uses a size 4 low-bounce ball.
- Water, a towel and a change of clothes – changing rooms and showers vary a lot between venues.
How to find a court near you
- Venue types: dedicated 5-a-side centres with several pitches, school or municipal pitches rented in the evening, indoor sports halls for futsal, and in Turkey the classic “halı saha” with a roofed artificial pitch.
- What to check: pitch size (5v5, 6v6, 7v7), surface and when it was last replaced, floodlights for evening slots, roof for winter, changing rooms and showers, parking and public transport, and whether the venue allows you to arrive 10 minutes early to warm up.
- Peak time is weekday evenings 19:00–23:00 and weekend mornings; off-peak slots are easier to get and often cheaper.
- In the Sparrio app, filter by sport and location, open a venue to see photos, surface, lights and opening hours, and request your slot directly.
Booking tips
- Book the same slot every week if your group is regular – many venues keep recurring bookings for loyal groups.
- Confirm the number of players a day before and keep a list of reserves. Posting a “2 players missing” request in Sparrio fills the gap faster than a group chat.
- Arrive on time: the next booking starts right after yours. Ask about the cancellation rule and whether a deposit is required.
- Split the cost before the game with a payment app so one person is not chasing money for a week.
What affects the price
- Pitch hire is usually priced per hour for the whole pitch, not per player. The main factors are city and district, indoor vs outdoor, floodlights, time of day, day of week and pitch size.
- Prices vary widely between countries and even neighbourhoods, so we do not publish averages here; each venue in Sparrio shows its own price range, as entered by the venue.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do I need for 5-a-side?
Ten in total, five per team including the goalkeeper. Bring one or two reserves; in Sparrio you can post a request for the missing players.
Can I wear normal football boots on artificial turf?
Short moulded or turf studs are fine on most 3G pitches. Metal studs are usually banned. Check the venue's rules.
What is the difference between 5-a-side and futsal?
Futsal is indoor, on a hard court, with a low-bounce ball and official rules (kick-ins, four-second restarts). 5-a-side is usually on artificial turf with rebound boards and informal rules.
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Last updated: 2026-10-18