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How to find a pickup soccer game without a team
In short. You don't need a team. You need a team that's one player short. There are plenty, and they look late: for a game tonight, check in the early afternoon. If you're flexible, go for weekday lunchtime, that's where the most spots are left.
Someone's always missing
Every week, someone gets hurt, someone's stuck at work, someone forgets.
We looked at more than 5,000 games posted by players on Poteau in France in recent months. One in four needed just one player. Another one in four needed two.
Where to look
WhatsApp groups. Active, but closed. You have to know someone.
Your local venue. Some post open slots. Good if you have one venue in mind.
An app that brings venues together. That's Poteau. You see the games around you, the open spots, the price and the expected level. You sign up without knowing anyone.
Around Paris, the venues where players post the most games on Poteau: LE FIVE Paris 18, UrbanSoccer Porte d'Aubervilliers, UrbanSoccer Quai d'Ivry, Stadium Thiais, LE FIVE Paris 17 and UrbanSoccer La Défense.
When to look
Games that need filling get posted late. Usually:
A weeknight game: posted 11 hours before. Check in the early afternoon.
After 10 pm: 5 hours before.
Saturday or Sunday morning: the day before.
Weekend evenings: 7 hours before.
Nothing on Monday for Thursday? Normal.
Where spots are left
Time slot | Share of games |
|---|---|
Weekday, lunchtime | 7 in 10 |
Weekday, afternoon | 7 in 10 |
Weekday, evening | 3 in 10 |
Weekday, after 10 pm | 5 in 10 |
Weekend | 5 in 10 |
Share of games that still had at least one open spot at kickoff.
Weeknights are a race. 7 and 8 pm are the busiest hours, and only one game in three still has a spot at kickoff. At lunchtime, it's seven in ten.
Is the game actually going to happen?
Two players signed up: it goes ahead 8 times in 10. Five signed up: 95%.
So if you're the second one in, you're often the one who gets it going.
To get asked back
Show up 10 minutes early.
Bring a light shirt and a dark one.
Can't make it anymore? Say so early. A last-minute dropout can get you a card.
The organizer's number is on their profile before the game. Handy for finding the entrance.
The Poteau Team
