3 and in football rules
3 and in, or three and in, is the football game for when there aren't enough people for a match: one goal, one keeper, and everyone else trying to score. There's no official rulebook. This is the version most people play.
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In short
- One goal, one keeper, everyone else against each other.
- The first player to score three goals goes in goal, and the old keeper joins the scrum.
- Everyone's goal count goes back to zero when the keeper changes.
- It works with three players or fifteen, and needs nothing but a ball and a goal.
- Common extras: no goals from outside a line, volleys count double, or headers and volleys only.
How to play
- Pick a keeper: whoever volunteers, or whoever scored last in the last game.
- Everyone else plays against everyone: get the ball, beat the others and score past the keeper.
- Count your own goals out loud. The first to three goes in goal.
- The old keeper comes out and joins in, and everyone's count starts again at zero.
- Keep going until it's dark or someone's mum calls them in.
Variations
If the volleys rule takes over, you're playing headers and volleys. For a proper game, the team generator splits whoever's there into two fair sides.
- Line: no goals from inside a marked line, so nobody just taps in from a yard.
- Volleys double: a volley counts as two goals, a header three.
- Keeper's choice: the keeper can catch and throw it to whoever they like.
- Team version: in pairs, and a pair goes in goal together.
Questions
What is 3 and in football?
A game with one goal and one keeper where everyone else tries to score. The first to three goals swaps with the keeper.
How many players do you need for 3 and in?
Three at the least, one keeper and two shooting, and it works with as many as fit round the goal.
Do goals reset in 3 and in?
In most versions, yes: when the keeper changes, everyone goes back to zero.