7-a-side football rules

Teams and subs

Seven players a side: a keeper and six outfield players, so 14 for a full game. Subs are usually rolling, so a group of 15 or 16 lets everyone get a breather.

The rules that vary most

7-a-side is closer to the full game than 5s, so more of its rules are worth agreeing:

• Offside: many friends' games play without it; some leagues use offside, sometimes only in the final third. Agree it first.
• Throw-ins or kick-ins: outdoor 7-a-side usually has throw-ins; caged pitches may use kick-ins.
• Slide tackles: often banned, especially on artificial grass.
• The keeper: usually handles anywhere in the area, as in the full game, and most games keep the back-pass rule.
• Head height: rarely used in 7-a-side, since there's room for the ball in the air.

Fouls, free kicks and penalties

Fouls give a free kick, and a foul in the area usually means a penalty. Without a referee, the player fouled calls it; keep it quick and move on.

How long to play

League games are usually short, with two halves. A friends' game runs until the booking does. Swap ends at half time if one end has the wind or the sun.

Agree it once, then play

Pick your answers to the list above once and post them in the group chat. Then make the sides fair with the 7-a-side team generator, or let Squadcard pick them every week from the players' own ratings. Bigger game? The 8-a-side and 11-a-side generators work the same way.

Questions