Football pitches: how to choose one, and what to check
The pitch is the one thing that turns a game from an idea into a real event. Here is how to pick a size and a surface that suit your group, what to check before you commit, and how to handle the money without arguments.
Sizes and formats
Most pitches available to rent are built for small-sided formats. The size decides how many players you need, and how crowded the game feels.
| Format | Approximate size | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 4 v 4 | 25 by 15 metres | A small group, fast and exhausting |
| 5 v 5 | 32 by 18 metres | The most common format, 12 to 14 players |
| 6 v 6 | 40 by 22 metres | A mid-sized group, more room to play |
| 7 v 7 | 50 by 30 metres | A large group, a less frantic game |
A common mistake is booking too large a pitch because "there are lots of us". A 7 v 7 pitch with ten players turns the game into a long run without the ball.
Surfaces: what actually differs
| Surface | How it plays | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial grass | The most common rental surface. Quick ball, even bounce. | Astro boots or short studs. Long studs catch and put the knee at risk. |
| Natural grass | Easiest on the body, but entirely at the mercy of weather and upkeep. | It is mud after rain. Worth asking about drainage. |
| Indoor court | Classic futsal. Low, fast ball, and no weather to worry about. | Indoor shoes only. Black soles are usually banned. |
| Asphalt or concrete | Available and cheap, usually public courts. | By far the worst for falls. Not advisable for a regular weekly game. |
What to check before you book a slot
- Floodlights. If you play in the evening, ask explicitly how late the lights run and whether they are included in the price.
- Cancellation policy. How late you can cancel without paying. That is the difference between an annoying wet evening and an expensive one.
- Parking. In a city centre it occasionally costs more than the pitch.
- Changing rooms and showers. Not every pitch has them, and it matters a lot for a game straight after work.
- Balls and bibs. Some venues provide them, some do not. One question saves you carrying a kit bag.
- What happens if it rains. A covered pitch, or credit toward another slot.
What it costs, and how to split it
Prices vary by area, time and surface, but the structure is almost always the same: you pay for the slot, not per player. So the cost per person falls the more people turn up, which is exactly why a late dropout annoys everybody.
The rule that prevents most arguments
Agree up front that anyone who confirms and does not turn up still pays their share. Not as a punishment, but because the pitch is already paid for and the bill now splits between fewer people. Groups that settle this in week one almost never argue about money later.
Whoever collects, agree it before kick-off rather than in the car park afterwards. KROO does not book the pitch for you, but once you have the slot it handles the part that actually causes the arguments: who has confirmed, who is on the reserve list, and how the sides get split.
Common questions
What size pitch do you need for 5-a-side?
A 5-a-side pitch is roughly 32 by 18 metres, and it is the most common format available to rent. Invite 12 to 14 players for it. A pitch that is too large for the number of players turns the game into a long run without the ball.
What is the difference between artificial grass and an indoor court?
Artificial grass is the most common rental surface, the ball rolls quickly, and it needs astro boots or short studs. An indoor court is classic futsal with a low, fast ball and no weather to worry about, and it requires indoor shoes. Long studs on artificial grass are the quickest route to a knee injury.
How should a group split the cost of a pitch?
You pay for the slot rather than per player, so the cost per person falls the more people come. The rule that prevents most arguments is agreeing up front that anyone who confirms and does not turn up still pays their share, because the pitch is already paid for and the bill splits between fewer people.
