It’s sad to say but the participation of adult 11 aside game at grassroots has dropped dramatically over the last 10 years. Local Saturday leagues used to be full of teams playing for their local sides across multiple divisions but somewhere over the last 10 years the levels of participation has dropped significantly. There are many reasons for this; facility costs, or lack of facilities, lack of interest, too expensive, people want to go out on the weekend or are working, the digital age, too much football on TV and so on.

 

Due to this it’s become harder to raise a team every week for 11 a side amateur football with teams that play often struggling for numbers right until kick off. This is where Leisure leagues Norfolk comes in. We offer affordable and weekly 6 a side football during weekday evenings on fantastic pitches with referees all at the same venue every week in locations all over Norfolk.

 

So what’s the difference between 6 aside and 11 a side? Why is it the largest growing format in the UK?

 

1.      You get to play more

Often with small sided games you get more of the ball and more time on the ball as our pitches are pretty big. This gives you the opportunity to express yourself and show off your skills (if any) time and time again over the course of a game. This also means less running off the ball as chances are you will have the ball back at your feet within seconds of passing it on.

Although some people throw themselves into small sided games for fitness reasons, more on that later, the reason people play football of any format is because they actually want to play. You know, with the ball and stuff. Whilst 11 a side might be the football that we all see on TV, there’s no denying that you’re more likely to get the ball in a 6 a side game. It’s simple maths. In fact, FIFA (the organisation, not the game) did a study and showed that in a 6 a side game you get twice as many touches as an 11 a side game. Sure it may be ‘proper’ football, but we’d all rather have the ball than just do the 

2.      Plenty of touches in 6 a side football

6 a side football is a dream for the one guy in your team who doesn’t pass as he has more time on the ball to try and take on the whole team! As a whole though 6 a side football gives everyone the opportunity to take on a few players and be in with a chance of scoring. It’s the one format where everyone on the pitch can feasibly score in a single game.

3.      It’s easier to fit into a busy schedule

Lots of people who love football and want to play it have busy work and family lives, partners to keep happy or limited time to socialize with friends. Schedules which simply don’t allow them to commit to 90 minutes of 11 a side football on a Saturday or Sunday traveling all over Norfolk. This is where 6 a side comes in. Since it’s a more intense game than 11 a side, games are shorter. We play for 40 minutes at Leisure leagues and it feels like 90! However you can turn up play and go home in under an hour, which is much needed evening Leisure time for anyone. You get out and get your fitness in for the week, your not out too late missing dinner or family time and you are home in time for the 2^nd half of the football which is when all the action happens anyway.

4.      Keeps us fit and healthy

6 a side football is a good solid intense 40 minute workout where the average player will cover the equivalent of a 5k run. No easy task for anyone but achieved without even meaning to during a 6 a side game. Instead of running up and down a full-size pitch as you would with 11 a side, you do intense, short bursts of running. Although at times it can feel like your going to need a long rest as a sub, this type of exercise is definitely better for you long term, better for your wellbeing and is often much better for you than going to gym. 

5.      No mudbaths just quality pitches

6 a side is, thankfully for those from the UK, a game played on AstroTurf or 3G rubber crumb pitches. That means no mudbaths. We all dreaded those winter months where we would turn up on a Sunday morning freezing cold playing with a rock hard ball and the mud trenches during a game. We all love a game in the rain though but its even better on a quality 3G pitch that doesn’t disappear under your feet when you turn too quickly.

Or the amount of games called off because of waterlogged or frozen pitches. This just doesn’t happen with 6 a side unless its an extreme case of a pandemic.

Also whilst slide tackles were fun on grass, if you were the victim of a bad challenge that could really ruin your week. At Leisure leagues we promote standing tackles, no slides to save yourselves from any damaged limbs and to save yourself the pain of sliding on astroturph.

Ultimately, regardless of the weather (within reason) you can play 6 a side, which is all we want really. 

 

6 . Better for everyone

As the game is quicker and more intense with little to no tactics on smaller pitches, anyone can be the hero.

As it’s quicker and intense, with little or no tactics and on smaller pitches anyone can be the hero. In 11 a side there’s always one who tries their best, but is obviously the weakest player. It’s not nice, but it’s the truth. In 6 a side, due to the intensity and speed of the game, generally there is a real lack of control. This means it’s anyone’s game. Plus the sexy Football a 6 a side team plays where anyone can play anywhere means even the guys who normally get banished to defense in 11 a side can pop up and grab the winner in 6 a side. Anyone can be the hero in 6 a side, and in general it’s probably more a game for all, as opposed to the better players. 

 

Join us at one of our fantastic 6 a side leagues in Norfolk as we bring you 40 Minute midweek weekly fixtures for you and your friends to enjoy. Be the hero.

Sign up today and be a part of the Leisure leagues family

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