Sort out who plays where before Thursday night. Pick a 5-a-side formation, put your mates' names on the pitch, add the subs and send the picture to the group chat.
Casual 5-a-side is not 11-a-side shrunk down. The pitch is small, there is no offside, subs roll on and off and keeper rules change from venue to venue. That rewards simple shapes where everyone knows their job.
The safe default for a casual game.
One player sits in front of the keeper, two cover the width and one stays up top. Every teammate has an easy pass to the left and right, so it suits groups that don't play together every week. The two wide players do the most running: pick the ones who will actually track back.
Mixed ability, or when nobody wants to run the middle.
Two at the back, two up front, simple jobs for everyone. It is the easiest shape to explain in the car park. The weak spot is the gap between the pairs: if the front two stop dropping in, your team splits in half and the other side walks through the middle.
Protecting a lead or facing a quicker team.
Two stay home, one shuttles between boxes and one holds the ball up. With no offside, opponents will leave a player high to hang around your goal; two defenders means one can mark them while the other steps out.
Chasing a goal late on.
Two strikers make the keeper work and press their defenders into mistakes. It leaves one player and the keeper to defend, so only use it when you are behind or clearly the stronger side.
Tight pitches and strong opponents.
Three across the middle-back line, one target up top. On small cage pitches the lone striker can use the boards to bounce passes and shield the ball while the others push up. It needs one player who is happy to battle alone.
Agree the rotation before kick-off: every 10 minutes, after each goal conceded, or one half each for two volunteers. Use the sub name on the keeper to show who goes in next. If your venue has a "rush goalie" or roll-out-only rule, tell the keeper to start attacks quickly with a pass to the free wide player rather than a long ball into the boards.
For most casual teams the 1-2-1 diamond is the best starting point: it gives width, a covering player at the back and someone up top. Switch to a 2-2 if your group prefers simple pairs, or to a 2-1-1 when you need to hold on to a lead.
Yes. Build the team, rename each player, then press Download lineup PNG to save the pitch as a PNG image. Drop it in your WhatsApp or group chat so everyone knows their position and who starts on the bench. No account or app is needed.
Tap a player on the pitch and add a sub name under them. Most 5-a-side leagues use rolling substitutions, so pairing each starter with a sub tells people exactly who they swap with.
Not in a friendly kickabout. Rotating the keeper every 10 minutes or after each goal conceded keeps it fair and stops your best outfield player getting stuck between the posts. In league games, check whether your venue lets the keeper leave the area.
It uses the same drag-and-drop pitch, but this version starts with 5-a-side football shapes and plain position names instead of futsal terms like pivot and ala. If you play FIFA-rules futsal, the futsal builder on the homepage is the better fit.