The pains of organising a football match
Organising a football match is often a bigger job than it seems, especially when it comes to rounding up enough players, picking balanced teams, and dealing with the inevitable last-minute dropouts. Whether you're doing it for your weekly five-a-side match with friends or a casual weekend match, here's a look at some of the biggest challenges that come with organising a game and how to handle them.
Getting People to Play
Getting enough players to commit to a game is a constant struggle. Everyone loves the idea of a football match, but getting firm commitments can be another story. You'll often find people dropping in and out of availability as the date gets closer, leaving you unsure of whether you've got the numbers.
The key issue is getting players to confirm in advance. This might involve sending out multiple messages or reminders to chase up people who've gone silent. Even then, some will only make up their minds on the day, which can throw off your planning.
Picking Balanced Teams
Once you've got enough players, the next big challenge is picking balanced teams. Ensuring the game is fair and fun for everyone is easier said than done. You need to account for players' skill levels, fitness, and positions they prefer to play.
Too often, one side ends up stacked with the more experienced players while the other team struggles to keep up. It takes a bit of thought and often a bit of negotiation to get things just right. And, of course, not everyone will be happy with their team assignment.
Last-Minute Dropouts and Reshuffling Teams
Perhaps the most frustrating part of organising a football match is the dreaded last-minute dropout. You've spent time creating well-balanced teams, and then just before the match, someone cancels. Whether it's due to work, family, or unexpected commitments, it leaves you scrambling to reshuffle the teams at the eleventh hour.
With fewer players, you're often forced to change the whole structure of the game—whether it's reducing the number of players per side or adjusting the pitch size. You may also need to reassign players to different positions, which can leave people playing out of their comfort zone.
Sharing Team Sheets
To help avoid confusion on the day, sharing team sheets ahead of time can make a huge difference. Giving everyone the chance to see the teams in advance not only helps people prepare but also gives them a chance to raise any concerns. However, getting those team sheets organised and sent out can be time-consuming, especially when people are chopping and changing their availability.
Not only do you need to finalise the teams, but you also need to ensure that each player knows who they're playing with, what kit to bring, and which position they'll be playing. And of course, if there are dropouts, you'll need to redo the team sheets and communicate the changes, often at the last minute.
Tips for Managing the Chaos
- Send Reminders Early and Often: Chase up confirmations well in advance and send reminders leading up to the match.
- Always, Always Have Backup Players on Standby: Having a few extra players ready to step in at the last minute can save the game.
- Be Flexible: Prepare for the inevitable reshuffling by being adaptable with positions and team structures.
- Use Fiverside: Fiverside lets you manage all of the above easily and in one place. What's even better is that it's free and requires no installs!
Conclusion
Organising a football match comes with its fair share of headaches, from chasing down players to reshuffling teams when someone cancels last minute. But with a bit of forward planning, good communication, flexibility and Fiverside, you can reduce the stress and effort and focus on what matters most—enjoying the game!
Sign up for free now!