5-a-side tips

5-a-side rewards different things from 11-a-side: everyone defends, everyone attacks, and one lazy run costs a goal. These are the habits that win more games, whatever your level.

By Squadcard. Last updated 15 October 2026.

In short

Defend as a five: get goal-side, stay on your feet and don't all chase the ball.
Shoot early and low: keepers struggle with shots before they're set.
Move after you pass: the pitch is small, so standing still kills attacks.
In goal, stay big, come off your line to narrow the angle, and roll the ball out quickly.
Talk: "man on" and "time" are worth more than any skill.

Defending

Get goal-side: between your player and your goal, every time the ball's lost.
Stay on your feet: most venues ban slide tackles anyway, and a player on the floor is a player out of the game.
Don't all chase: one presses the ball, the others cut off the passes.
Show them wide: on a small pitch the angle to goal shrinks fast near the side.
Never leave the keeper alone: one player stays back when you attack.

Attacking and shooting

Shoot early: from distance, low and to the corners. Keepers on small goals hate it.
Pass and move: the give-and-go is the best move in 5-a-side.
Use the walls if your pitch has boards: a pass off the side gets round a defender.
Width: one player wide stretches the defence and opens the middle.
Follow in: rebounds are the easiest goals in the game.

Playing in goal

If nobody wants to go in goal, play rush goalie or rotate. Shapes for every size are in the 5-a-side formation maker, and you can move players around on the tactics board.

Narrow the angle: a step off your line makes the goal look smaller.
Stay big: spread and stay on your feet as long as you can.
Restart fast: a quick roll to a teammate catches the other team out of shape.
Organise: you see everything, so tell people where to stand.

Be the teammate everyone wants

Answer the group chat on time, turn up early, take a turn in goal and pass to the player who hasn't touched it for a while. Ratings from your teammates notice all of that: in Squadcard the whole squad rates everyone after every game, and the cards move with it.

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Questions

How do you defend in 5-a-side?

Get goal-side of your player, stay on your feet, and don't all chase the ball: one presses, the rest cover the passes, and one always stays back.

What's the best formation for 5-a-side?

The diamond, 1-2-1: one at the back, two wide and one up front. It gives everyone a clear job. The 5-a-side formation maker shows the others.

How do you score more in 5-a-side?

Shoot earlier, lower and into the corners, and follow every shot in for the rebound.

How do you play in goal at 5-a-side?

Come off your line to narrow the angle, stay on your feet as long as you can, and get the ball out quickly.