5-a-side vs 11-a-side football: Which should I play?

One of the world’s best loved and most played sports, football is an incredibly varied game which has multiple formats which all differ hugely from one another. These different versions of the game include the incredibly popular 5-a-side and 11-a-side as well as other small-sided football games, futsal and many more, and each version helps to make the wider game more accessible to everyone.

If you're looking to get involved in football, or are reevaluating which type of football you want to dedicate your time to if you already play, finding the right game for you is important. In this blog, we’ll be going through two of the most popular types of football, 5-a-side and 11-a-side in order to help you make an informed decision on what you want to play.

What is the difference between 5-a-side and 11-a-side football?

Number of players: The most obvious difference between 5-a-side and 11-a-side football is in the name - 5-a-side football is played with five players on either side while 11-a-side teams are made up of 11 players. This more than doubling of the number of players on the field completely changes the game, with formations and strategies adapting to the difference.

Size of the pitch: With more players on the pitch in 11-a-side football, the size of the field itself is increased. For standard senior matches, 11-a-side football is played on a 100 by 130 yard pitch, while the standard 5-a-side pitch is significantly smaller at 40 by 30 yards.

Goal size: The difference in pitch size is reflected in the size of the goals, with 11-a-side senior goals measuring 24 x 8 foot and 5-a-side goals sized slightly smaller at 16 x 4 foot. Junior football goals are reduced in size for both formats, with 11-a-side goals measuring 21 x 7 foot and the small sided game being played with a goal of 12 x 4 foot.

Length of the match: A standard game of 11-a-side football lasts 90 minutes, which is split into two halves of 45 minutes, plus any injury time. In comparison, 5-a-side is a shorter game, typically lasting only 60 minutes.

Do you need different skills for 5-a-side than 11-a-side football?

With all the differences between the two different games of football, there’s no surprise that slightly different skill sets are needed in order to excel in each format. Unsurprisingly, these skills often overlap and all are needed in both formats of the game, with agility, stamina and goal scoring ability being prime examples. Despite this, there are some skills that are more commonly associated with 5-a-side football or 11-a-side football which require consideration if you’re choosing between the two games. 

5-a-side skills

Quick thinking and reactions: An incredibly fast-paced format for football, 5-a-side football games require players to be able to respond very quickly to any changes around them as they go for a goal. This quick thinking can mean the difference between scoring a goal and losing it to a tackle, so expect training to be filled with tackling drills to improve both your mental and physical agility.

Solo control over the ball: Between the shorter pitch and fewer players, 5-a-side football truly allows solo plays to shine. Most games aren’t played in strict formations so 5-a-side players constantly switch from position to position, moving the ball solo if the chance arises. Because of this, exceptionally talented solo players could potentially change the entire running of a game on their own.

11-a-side skills

Longer passes and greater teamplay: Just as 5-a-side football’s smaller pitch places an emphasis on solo strategies, the larger pitch of 11-a-side makes long passes and teamwork an essential skill. If you’re starting training for 11-a-side football, you can expect a lot of time to be spent on developing your control over the ball for long distances and your ability to accurately pass to far off teammates, often past an opposition defender.

Emphasis on strategies and formations: With 11-a-side gameplay relying so heavily on teamwork, you can expect plenty of time spent during training sharpening team tactics and practicing formations. Fortunately, this time will also allow you to develop wider football skills and even find out which position you’re strongest in. 

If you’re new to football and don’t feel comfortable in your ability for any of these skills, don’t worry. Whichever game you choose will have dedicated training sessions that will help you deepen your knowledge of strategies and sharpen your skills, allowing you to learn everything you don’t know with a little time and practice.

What is harder, 5-a-side or 11-a-side?

While it's true that the fast pace of 5-a-side football makes for a tough, physically demanding game, calling it a more difficult version of football wouldn’t be strictly true. Instead, the difficulty of the two versions of the game would depend on your definition. If you’re concerned which would be more difficult to play in the way of high-intensity fitness, then 5-a-side is likely the answer but if you’re wondering which is more difficult to win, the opposite is more true. 

Due to the layout of the game, with the slower pace and less possession, goal scoring opportunities in 11-a-side football are few and far between. In this format, every mistake can lose the game and, once a team is ahead, they’re likely to swap to a heavily defensive strategy that will be incredibly difficult to break through in order to equalise. Contrastingly, goals are frequent in 5-a-side where, even if you’re down three goals or more, making a comeback is very much a possibility.

Should I play 5-a-side or 11-a-side football?

Both 5-a-side and 11-a-side are enjoyable ways to exercise, meet new people and have fun, and neither version of the popular game is an outright winner for everyone. Which game you should play is entirely dependent on your skills, what you hope to get out of the game and how much you’re willing to put into it. 

Fun: It can often be easier to simply enjoy a game of football in 5-a-side, as it is typically less competitive and the high tensity of the workout in 5-a-side can be relaxed by playing with players of similar fitness levels. The formations and strategies employed in 5-a-side football are also significantly less strict, especially when playing in a league at work or with friends. Because of this, there is less pressure to play well and remain focused the entire time. This relaxing atmosphere makes 5-a-side a more enjoyable option for many players who are looking to pursue football as a hobby or way to exercise.

Competitive: Just as 5-a-side offers players a fun, lightly competitive match without strict gameplay strategies to enjoy, players looking for a more competitive game of football will prefer 11-a-side. Instead of the solo plays of 5-a-side, 11-a-side football is characterised by complex, pre-rehearsed team tactics that require incredible skill to pull off successfully. 

Fitness: A key part of both games, if you’re looking for which style of football will help you get fit and stay that way, you really can’t go wrong with either. The only differences here are that 5-a-side offers players a quick, adrenaline-filled 60 minutes of sprinting while 11-a-side football’s larger pitch and tactical gameplay offers a slightly slower alternative, but don’t be fooled it is still a fast-paced game. Overall, if you’re just looking for an enjoyable way to exercise every week 5-a-side may be better for you but if you’re hoping to dedicate yourself to a fitness routine and have the time to train multiple times a week, 11-a-side is a good choice.

Going pro: if your ultimate goal in playing football is to become a professional footballer, your best route is to play both 5-a-side and 11-a-side football. Many professional players today place value in creating a training schedule of both formats, even if their joining in with street football matches is more for fun than as part of a strict training regime. Both formats give highly useful skill sets that are not exclusive to any single format. 

Whatever version of football you choose to get involved in, whether that be the fast-paced and fun 5-a-side or the longer, strategy-driven 11-a-side, make sure you’re ready for your first training session with high-performance football training wear from Avec Sport. Designed to bring out the best of you, no matter your game, all our training gear is lightweight, comfortable and breathable - perfect for long training sessions. Find everything from football training jerseys to shorts and track pants online.