5v5, 6v6 or 11v11: which format suits you?

5v5, 6v6 or 11v11? The format decides how big the pitch is, how often you touch the ball and how tired you will be on Monday. Here is how each one plays, who it suits and where to find it in Budapest.

5v5

Ten players on a small pitch with small goals. You touch the ball constantly, the game never stops and there is nowhere to hide. Short bursts of running rather than long sprints make it the most popular after-work format, and ideal if you are getting back into football.

• Best for: quick evening games, improving your touch, getting fit.
• Typical price in Budapest: around 3,000 Ft a spot.

6v6

Twelve players with a little more space and one more teammate. Still fast, with a bit more room for passing moves and a breather between attacks. 6v6 is the most common pickup format on PitchUp in Budapest, so it is usually the easiest game to find.

• Best for: your first pickup game, mixed-level groups, regular weekly football.
• Typical price in Budapest: 2,000 to 2,500 Ft a spot.

11v11

Twenty-two players on a full-size pitch with real positions, offsides and a lot more running. It feels like a proper match. Best when you are match-fit and miss playing in a team shape. In Budapest, 11v11 pickup games are usually at weekends.

• Best for: players who miss real positions and a full-size pitch.
• Typical price in Budapest: around 3,000 Ft a spot.
• Where: Panoráma Sportközpont (II.) and the ÚTE Sport Centre (IV.) have hosted 11v11 games.

Quick comparison

• Most touches: 5v5.
• Easiest to find: 6v6.
• Most running: 11v11.
• Best first game: 6v6.