Adult Pickup Soccer

What is Adult Pickup Soccer?

Adult pickup soccer is a game that is played by adults for adults. It’s a popular way to meet people and enjoy the sport of soccer. Having fun, getting exercise and meeting cool new people are more important than winning in adult pickup soccer. Some players also use pickup games as additional fitness and training sessions to prepare them for their regular organized team matches.

Adult pickup soccer games are organized by Meetup groups, social media pages and other platforms. These games are usually played in the evenings after work on weekdays or on Sundays in public parks, fields or even some indoor facilities. Nonetheless, pickup soccer can be spontaneous and popup at anytime as well.

The goal of adult pickup soccer is to have fun playing the game with other people who share your love for the sport. Pickup soccer games are often played in different formats such as 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 and 6v6. Nonetheless, more organized pickup groups may host full 11v11 soccer matches as well. There are many different types of soccer games that can enjoyed as an adult pickup soccer match.

What are the Different Types of Adult Pickup Soccer?

There are different types of adult pickup soccer. The most popular are recreational adult pickup soccer and pickup adult league teams. Recreational adult pickup soccer is the most popular form of adult pickup soccer. This game is played primarily for fun, not for competition. It is usually played on a recreational field or indoor facility with an informal set-up, such as with a generic round ball and no formal soccer nets on the goals. There are no formal rules and the game does not typically include a referee or lines people. Oftentimes, if the player count is low and the net equipment is lacking, goaltenders are not even part of the game. The number of people who show up and quality of play can vary significantly game to game.

The second type of adult pickup soccer is the pickup adult league team. This is typically more competitive than your pure recreational adult pickup soccer. These teams usually have more rigid rules and include referees, using an official game ball, full size nets, goalkeepers and other uniform/pinnie requirements. The number of players, reliability of games and quality of play are typically far better with this form of adult pickup soccer.

What is Needed for Adult Pickup Soccer

From the Organizer

Pickup soccer is a type of informal soccer game in which players organize the game by themselves, without any outside help from a professional or amateur league or organization. Notwithstanding, many pickup leagues are organized by leagues and soccer clubs as well. There are many different variations of pickup soccer but all have certain similarities. Typically a player or leader will organize the pickup event. The following lists common needs from an adult pickup organizer:

1. App or mobile app to organize players and game times
2. Small nets or popup nets
3. Pinnies
4. Quality soccer ball
5. Referee. If you are lucky you may get a friend or injured player to informally ref the game. Normally there there is no referee.
6. Whistle for referee
7. Cones or markers to mark the field boundaries if required
8. Most outdoor pickup locations are parks and informal public spaces. These spaces typically have lighting so be prepared to pack it in at dusk
9. Speaker and music. Kick it up a notch!

From the Player

Pickup soccer players don’t always need the best equipment. Below lists some basic gear they should wear and bring with them to any pickup game.

1. Shorts and soccer socks
2. Shirts or soccer jerseys in at least 2 color. A light and a dark color is ideal unless you are certain your organizer is providing pinnies.
3. Shin guards for protection. Especially if the quality of players is really diverse
4. Outdoor soccer cleats, turf soccer cleats or indoor soccer cleats. Depending on your playing surface
5. A quality soccer ball. An extra ball never hurts for warm ups or as a back up
6. A great attitude to have fun and meet new people

The Good and the Bad of Adult Pickup Soccer

Adult pickup soccer has been around for decades but has become increasingly popular in the past few years due to the rise in popularity of recreational sports leagues. Extremely hectic and busy lifestyles also adds a premium to adult player commitment levels and availabilities. Adult pickup soccer is a great way to meet new people, stay active and continue enjoying soccer without having to commit any extra time (no need to commit to a schedule) or money for an organized league.

Nevertheless, due to the flexible, informal nature and oftentimes last minute nature of pickup soccer some drawbacks include:

• Unreliability of player attendance. You oftentimes end up with a core group that shows up but the number of players per match can really vary so be ready to adapt and change your style of play or even cancel games outright
• Unreliable start and end times. Good news is that this is informal. It is pickup soccer so you can show or ‘pickup’ and leave anytime.
• Lack of a referee is normally not an issue but some players do forget that many of us need to get up for work the next day and take plays and challenges a little too seriously
• Not uncommon for folks to forget extra jersey colors, pinnies, nets, balls and other gear. Even shoes!
• Quality and availability of soccer fields and playing surfaces can also vary a lot unless these are regularly organized and booked off pickup matches

How to Find Adult Pickup Soccer Games Near You

It is easy to find pickup soccer games in your area. Firstly you need to decide on the type of field you prefer to play on and if it is an indoor or outdoor game and the type of soccer you wish to participate in.

There are many ways to find adult pickup games in your area including:

1. Google “Adult Soccer Games Near Me”. You will find a lot of websites that list games for adults in your area
2. Reach out to people you know family, friends and old teammates may have switched to pickup soccer matches as well
3. Look for local clubs. Contact your local soccer clubs for organized adult pickup leagues
4. Look for local facilities. Contact your local soccer facilities for organized adult pickup leagues or sessions
5. Look for pickup matches. Look for local pickup matches via clubs, social media or apps such as http://www.meetup.com
6. Stop by local fields while games are underway. Stop by your local soccer fields when you see matches are underway. Especially if you notice teams wearing pinnies or non matching shirts or uniforms. Often a dead giveaway. Most folks usually welcome new players. It’s for the love of the game after all!
7. List yourself as a free agent on club and sports sites. Get yourself noticed by listing yourself on club websites or an app such as subsneeded.com so that you can get found by pickup teams or leagues looking for players like yourself. This is true for players of all skills and levels. However, goalkeepers and are highly sought after and may even be able to make a few dollars in addition to enjoying the beautiful game. Refer to our blog for tips on how to get paid to play soccer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adult pickup soccer is a great way to have fun and stay active. For people that enjoy playing soccer, this is a great way to stay in shape, meet new friends and continue to enjoy the sport of soccer without the formal time commitments and costs of playing a team sport.

There are different types of pickup adult soccer in addition to all the different styles of soccer games that can be played. The good news is that adult pickup soccer matches are pretty easy to find and join. They require very little equipment and are low to no cost to participate in. Unfortunately, all this flexibility does have some drawbacks. Unreliable start times, low and unreliable turnouts and poor playing conditions are quite common. Nonetheless, the benefits are well worth it and you will not be disappointed. A pickup team is awaiting your call today!

If you are having trouble finding a pickup match or team or prefer that teams reach out to you, list yourself today on Subsneeded. List and showoff your skills, set your availability and take bookings from teams desperately looking for a goalkeeper or quality player. If you are a pickup organizer in desperate need of players looking to join your matches, check out our extensive listing of free agent players looking for a game.