5 a side popularity across UK/Ireland

Tusky

5 a side football appears to be seriously growing in popularly in recent years - has anyone else noticed this ? New astro pitches are being built all the time and they are all pretty much full throughout the week and late into the night.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any articles, statistics or facts in relation to this ? It would be much appreciated.

veXual

Maybe by contacting www.astro.ie or www.footy.ie they could give you some info

leninbenjamin

5 a sides were always popular I thought... it's just astroturf was expensive until the whole Celtic tiger thing meant we could afford it (on credit though )

jesus_thats_gre

Tusky wrote: »

5 a side football appears to be seriously growing in popularly in recent years - has anyone else noticed this ? New astro pitches are being built all the time and they are all pretty much full throughout the week and late into the night.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any articles, statistics or facts in relation to this ? It would be much appreciated.

I flew into Dublin a few weeks ago on a particularly clear night. The amount was floodlit pitches scattered across the city was insane.

Frisbee

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

jesus_thats_gre

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

Far less organisation required for 5 a aside too..

Mikeyt086

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

Its also much less "formal", no league system, it doesnt ever really matter who wins its just about playing and having fun. I play 5-a-side and 7-a-side weekly, group of lads show up, split into teams, play for an hour, go home. Its perfect, and it caters for alot of young men who have grown up in the Celtic Tiger era of a jam-packed, work orientated, busy week lifestyles (not saying that what i have, far from it, im a student) so sqeezing a quick hour in weekly is perfect for loads of working lads.

It has boomed recently because nice, suitably sized and priced pitches are popping up everywhere because leisure centres and town councils know that "if you build it they will come."

Frisbee

Also it's a lot easier to look better in 5-a-side than a full sized game.

leninbenjamin

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

Actually, if you play it right you run more because less players to pass to requires more off the ball movement. Overall you get on the ball more, less hoofing the ball forward, less fouling, easier to organise as already mentioned and generally more fun because most people don't take it as seriously.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Frisbee wrote: »

Also it's a lot easier to look better in 5-a-side than a full sized game.

What do you have against 5-a-side?
Did the meanies not let you play or what?

Frisbee

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Actually, if you play it right you run more because less players to pass to requires more off the ball movement. Overall you get on the ball more, less hoofing the ball forward, less fouling, easier to organise as already mentioned and generally more fun because most people don't take it as seriously.

I wasn't saying you run about less with that point.

But in 5-a-side I find it easier to score goals etc than at 11-a-side. Mainly because it's taken less seriously and people like to feel good.

leninbenjamin

Frisbee wrote: »

I wasn't saying you run about less with that point.

But in 5-a-side I find it easier to score goals etc than at 11-a-side. Mainly because it's taken less seriously and people like to feel good.

Of course it's easier. Less distance between goals, less defenders, that's kinda the point. I mean on most pitches you can shoot from your own box, of course there are going to be more goals!

flahavaj

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

Its also far easier to round up 10 overweight, lazy Irishmen on a wet windy Tuesday night than it is 22!

Mikeyt086

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Of course it's easier. Less distance between goals, less defenders, that's kinda the point. I mean on most pitches you can shoot from your own box, of course there are going to be more goals!

That why the "2-Touch Rule" and "No goals outside the box" are vital.

Frisbee

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Of course it's easier. Less distance between goals, less defenders, that's kinda the point. I mean on most pitches you can shoot from your own box, of course there are going to be more goals!

Exactly, that's why its so poular imo.

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

That why the "2-Touch Rule" and "No goals outside the box" are vital.

In the leagues, yeah, but in a casual game between mates goals from anywhere are good craic.

yabadabado

it just better craic imo than 11 a side.plenty of goals being scored and everyone will usually score one.

Just wondering how much does it cost ye for the hour?we play on a tues evening, €50 per hour its near athlone

MisterAnarchy

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

I enjoy 5 a side more than 11 a side myself.
Play weekly with a bunch of players who are all fit ,fast and skillful.
The games are hard and competitive but the football is good,ball kept on the ground,passed around quickly and very enjoyable.
Alot of 11 aside matches are long ball hoofing from one end to the other played at 90 miles an hour.Very little skill involved.

mrDerek

i like astro because the surface is nice and smooth and i can do my tricks and dribble{the boards team will find out soon enough } much easier dan on a horrible bumpy pitch.

MisterAnarchy

mrDerek wrote: »

i like astro because the surface is nice and smooth and i can do my tricks and dribble{the boards team will find out soon enough } much easier dan on a horrible bumpy pitch.

Thats true.The new rubbercrumb 3G pitches are a huge advance on the older sand based astroturf pitches which were pretty crap.
If you tried to make a tackle on them or fell you could rip your leg open or get a nasty cut/burn.
The new pitches are very forgiving and have a much better grip,too much grip in some cases.

Xavi6

It's not just the UK and Ireland that it has taken off in. Indoor football is massive in Australia. Our season is only 6 months long (excluding the 3 months preseason we do) so all the lads play during summer. It's too hot to play outside so all summer soccer is 5 a side indoor from juniors right up to oul lads in their 60s.

Tusky

I much prefer 5 a side to 11 a side also. I think its because the type of football I love to play is pass and move orientated, which is very difficult to do on a full sized pitch with 11 player. in a 5 a side I like that everyone attacks together and defends together and much prefer the style of football to 11 a side.

The popularity obviously has a lot to do with the ease in organizing a game. Frustrating that I cant find any statistics on it though. Im pretty sure I read something last year that said it was the fastest growing sport in Ireland.

Mars Bar

We did 5 a side indoor over the winter to keep the fitness up and it was unreal. It really helped improve the girls whose first touch was not great and it has given them a lot of confidence. We have struggled with numbers for training outdoor so just end up doing 3, 4 or 5 a side on the pitch and there is no quicker way of getting fit if you aren't playing tag rugby IMO.

A Dub in Glasgo

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd imagine it also has something to do with people being too lazy to run around a full 11-a-side pitch so 5-a-side suits them better.

Frisbee wrote: »

Also it's a lot easier to look better in 5-a-side than a full sized game.

Were you the guy nobody wanted on their team?

A Primal Nut

I much prefer 11-a-side and always play better. 5-a-side is just about scoring goals and no other contributions are recognised - its all about pure skill and speed.

But of course they are also easier to organise.

Thought 5-a-side has always been popular - for as long as I remember. Its certainly not the recent Celtic Tiger-motivated phenomenon that some people are making it out to be.

dreamers75

Cos its cheaper than a gym? and makes any sort of person feel like a footballer.


Seriously the reason football is the No 1 sport in the world is "messi did this last night ..........oh look i can try and do it"

its like saying where is the 20 a side matches goalposts for jumpers matches gone? they arent they are just 5 a side now on plastic pitches with nice lights and a bar for a drink after it.

civis_liberalis

I play 7-a-side on an astro that's a bit longer that what it should be and it's bloody murder. A lot of ground to cover and the ball is just coming at you the whole time.

The smaller pitch means you are in the action a much bigger percentage of the time.

I just don't have the fitness for 11 a side. I can just about keep up in 7 a side for the first half anyway. I'll stand in the goal for the second half then, gasping for air...

I find 5-a-side quite intense, you don't really get a break unless someone hoofs it over the fence.

GLaDOS

Play in goal in the DCU league, certainly kept busy!

Mikeyt086

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

That why the "2-Touch Rule" and "No goals outside the box" are vital.

God no. I couldn't play by them rules, wouldn't work in our weekly game at all. Nothing better than rounding a few players and I love nothing more than a cheeky chip of the keeper from my own half (keepers tend to run out with the ball in our games).

Actually I just couldn't play two touch would just feel wrong.

I really enjoy the 5 aside astro but Id prefer 11 aside but due to work etc I cannot play for a team. I miss the long passing and also the fact that if you beat a man in 11 aside their aren't two more on top of you straight away.

Ferris_Bueller

I like 5-a-side myself (most of the time), but much prefer 11 a side full games. 5-a-side is good for developing certain sides of your game - if the game is of reasonable standard, you have to be intelligent off the ball, quick and tidy at passing, fit, improves your touch, there is definately very good aspects to it. But I think the opposite also applies if the game is of a poor standard, often its just about who can score the most goals and it nearly turns into a game of tennis just goal, after goal, after goal.

For me 5-a-side is only effective when playing with 10 reasonably good players, which sometimes can be hard to come by.

Tusky

dreamers75 wrote: »

Cos its cheaper than a gym? and makes any sort of person feel like a footballer.


Seriously the reason football is the No 1 sport in the world is "messi did this last night ..........oh look i can try and do it"

its like saying where is the 20 a side matches goalposts for jumpers matches gone? they arent they are just 5 a side now on plastic pitches with nice lights and a bar for a drink after it.

:rolleyes: I disagree with almost everything you said. I dont believe football is popular because people want to try emulate what Messi did last night. Football has always been popular, long before it was on our tvs constantly.

Also, I have never gone for a drink after a 5 a side, and never seen anyone else do it either.

token56

I think I prefer 11 a side although I haven't played alot of 5 a side recently, used to play it alot up until about a year now playing alot more 11 a side at the weekends, and 7 a side during the week, well, when I wasn't injured that is.

But the two games are completely different, I enjoy 5 a side because I have pretty decent acceleration and can just run for hours so its suits since its a fairly fast paced game, but there is nothing better than a proper 11 a side and getting stuck in with some good tackles or picking out a great pass to someone through etc.