Headers and volleys rules (and other kickabout games)

Four people, one goal and half an hour: not enough for a match, plenty for headers and volleys. None of these games has an official rulebook, so every park plays its own version. These are the rules most people use, and the bits worth agreeing first.

Headers and volleys: the basic rules

One goal, one keeper, everyone else attacking together. You need at least three players.

One player goes in goal. The rest are all on the same side, trying to score.
A goal only counts from a header or a volley: the ball must be struck out of the air, from another player's pass or cross.
You can't set yourself up: no flicking it up for your own volley.
Miss the target, or have your shot caught by the keeper before it bounces, and you swap: you're in goal.
The keeper has a set number of lives or goals to let in. Lose them all and the keeper takes a forfeit, or the game starts again.

What to agree before you start

These are the rules that change from park to park, and where the arguments come from:

Bounces: must it be a clean volley, or is one bounce allowed?
How many goals: how many can the keeper let in before the forfeit? Five and ten are both common.
Keeper's catches: does a clean catch always send the shooter in goal, or only from a header?
Rebounds: can you score from a save, the post or the bar?
Outside the area: is there a line you have to shoot from inside?

Wembley (also called World Cup)

Everyone for themselves, or in pairs for Wembley doubles, against one keeper. It's a knockout:

Every player, or pair, tries to score in the same goal at the same time. Everyone else is against you.
Score and you're through to the next round: step off and wait.
The last player, or pair, who hasn't scored is knocked out.
Start again with one fewer, until two are left for the final.
Agree how many goals win the final (often two or three), and whether the keeper changes each round.

More games for small numbers

A few others that need no more than a ball and a goal:

Crossbar challenge: take turns from the edge of the area. Hit the bar to score a point. Closest loses, or first to three wins.
Winner stays on: three or more small teams. First goal wins and the winners stay on to face the next team.
Sixty seconds: one keeper, one feeder, one shooter. A minute to score as many as you can, then rotate.
Keep-ups in a circle: count the touches, no hands, and whoever drops it takes the forfeit.

Enough for a proper game next time

These games exist because people didn't turn up. If that's every week, the fix is a clear "who's in" before the day and a few spare names to call on. There's a guide to organising a weekly game, and when you're one short rather than six, rush goalie keeps a small game fair.

Squadcard collects who's in from a link in the group chat, with a waiting list when it's full, so you know your numbers before you leave the house.

Start a squad

Questions

How do you play headers and volleys?

One player goes in goal and the rest attack together. Goals only count from a header or a volley off another player's pass. If you miss the target or the keeper catches your shot before it bounces, you go in goal.

How many players do you need for headers and volleys?

At least three: a keeper, someone to cross and someone to finish. It works best with four to six.

Does a header count as a volley?

They're different things: a header is with your head, a volley is a kick before the ball bounces. In headers and volleys both count as a goal.

What are the rules of Wembley?

Everyone plays for themselves, or in pairs, against one keeper. Score and you go through to the next round; the last one who hasn't scored is knocked out. Repeat until there's a winner.

Is Wembley the same as World Cup?

Yes. The same knockout game is called Wembley, Wembley singles or doubles, or World Cup depending on where you grew up.