Auction Academy · Strategy
How to run pre-auction five-a-side without wrecking auction day
A short five-a-side game can make auction day feel like a proper annual event. Keep it simple: book a nearby pitch, use balanced teams, finish early enough to eat and travel, and make clear that the football is optional. Nobody should miss the auction because they pulled a calf chasing a lost cause.
Make the football an optional opening act
Set the auction as the fixed event. Five-a-side is a bonus for people who want it. A 60-minute game with a clear finish works better than an ambitious tournament that turns a midday auction into a 4pm start.
Choose a pitch close to the venue, ask people to say whether they are playing, and have a numbers plan before you pay. A smaller game, substitutes or two teams of unequal size can all be more sensible than trying to recruit strangers on the morning.
Keep team selection out of the auction
Do not make the five-a-side teams a reward, a punishment or a way to settle fantasy arguments. Mix the group. Nobody needs to spend the first hour losing badly to the man who will also outbid them for the striker they wanted.
Agree the obvious safety basics: sensible footwear, no reckless tackles and no pressure to play through an injury. The day improves when everybody reaches the auction in one piece and still wants to be there.
Build the handover into the plan
Book a shower or changing buffer if the venue needs it. Decide who carries the player list, charging cables and auction record. Arrange food before the first nomination if you know the group will be hungry after a game.
The ideal result is a group already laughing and arguing when the auction begins. The worst result is half the group late, dehydrated and trying to decide the rules while the first player is being named.
Common questions
Do all managers need to play five-a-side?
No. Make it optional. The auction should include every manager whether they play football or not.
How much time should we leave between football and the auction?
Leave enough time to travel, clean up, eat and begin on time. The exact buffer depends on your venues, but do not plan an immediate dash from pitch to first bid.
Put the plan into practice
Read six real auction prices from our founding league.
Ready to bring your group? Run your auction, then enter the final squads in the app.
Create your league ↗