How to Get Points in Street Football

You don't need a formal pitch to enjoy street football.

Street football is exactly what it sounds like --- football played in the street. But it's not what North Americans call football; it's the other use of the word football. In other words, it's street soccer. Street football is played in virtually every city in the world and can be formal or informal. At its most basic level, it's players (usually youths) playing football in the street. On the largest scale, Street Football World is an organization formed to promote the game across the globe.

Things You'll Need

• Ball
• Nets

Instructions

1. Divide the number of players you have available into two teams. Depending on the size of the area in which you're playing, as well as the number of players, you may wish to alter the traditional rules of soccer slightly to suit your environment. Street football can be played in tight quarters, and when that's the case, you may wish to have three-on-three or five-on-five action.

2. Decide what you'll do for goals, since it may be impractical to set up a net structure if the street has vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Because the playing area is small, your net could be a garbage can laid on its side, a large box or any other portable object. The size of the playing surface and goal may dictate whether you'll use a goalkeeper. If you use a small net, a goalkeeper may not be required.

3. Establish basic ground rules for your game. The rules should follow traditional soccer rules, but may be adapted to suit the environment. Determine where penalty kicks will be taken from, what is considered out of bounds, how substitutions must occur, what is considered offside and any other relevant rules.

4. Obtain points in your game of street football by shooting the ball into whatever you have designated as a net. The net may be an actual receptacle that you shoot the ball into, or it could be a marked area on a wall that the ball must hit. Points can be achieved through goals scored during regular play, on penalty kicks or during a shootout. Keep track of the score to ensure one team wins at the conclusion of play.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not play in a high-traffic area. Encourage all players to keep an eye out for cars and make sure the game stops immediately when a vehicle approaches.

References

• World Cup Blog: Street Football: Cutting Soccer Down to Size
• Street Football Festival 2006: Info
• Street Football World: Football3

Resources

• Trick Star Street Football League: Trick Star Street Football League