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Planning the tournament day

Players in bibs playing on park grass with bunting and cheering friends on a bench
Bunting, cones and a few friends cheering – that is a tournament.

A good tournament day feels relaxed for the players because the organiser has thought it through. The secret is a realistic timetable: matches always take a little longer than planned, so build in breaks.

Timings that work

  • Match length: 8–12 minutes for small-sided games with lots of teams, 15–20 minutes for bigger pitches.
  • Breaks: at least 2–3 minutes between games to change teams and pitches.
  • Rest for players: no team should play more than two games in a row. Cup Day never puts a team on two pitches at once.
  • Lunch: for days longer than three hours, add a proper break.

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Organiser’s checklist

  • Balls (one per pitch plus spares), bibs in two colours per pitch, cones or flags.
  • A whistle and a watch or phone timer for each referee.
  • Water, a first-aid kit and a plan for bad weather.
  • A trophy or medals – even a small one makes a big difference.
  • One phone with Cup Day as the official scorekeeper.