Okay so yesterday I decided to finally test this out myself. You hear people argue online all the time about 6-a-side versus the full 11-a-side game. Which one’s harder? Which one’s faster? I wanted to see with my own legs, you know?
The Setup Mess
First thing, finding players. Getting 11 guys plus subs organized? Pure nightmare. Texts flying everywhere, half the guys confirming last minute, one dude got stuck at work. Took me basically three evenings just to lock everyone down. For the 6-a-side? Grabbed a few neighbors, called two buddies who live close by, done in maybe 30 minutes. Way less headache.
Getting Started & Feeling the Burn
Day of the 11v11 match arrives. Huge pitch, man. It felt enormous. We started warming up – jogging from one end to the other felt like running forever. First few minutes, everyone’s trying to remember positions. “Are you left mid?” “No, I thought YOU were!” Total chaos.
Then the game settled. I was playing right back. Long stretches where I’m just standing there, watching the ball move on the other side. But then, bang! A winger sprints at me, I chase him, lungs burning. Sprint back, recover, stand around again. Felt kind of weird, like a mix of extreme boredom and panic attacks! Plus, the build-up play takes ages. Pass back, pass sideways, switch field… needs a lot of patience.
Switching to the Small Sided Chaos
Couple days later, the 6-a-side game. Smaller astro pitch near my place. Immediately felt different just walking on. Fences close, goals smaller. Game starts and HOLY CRAP. It’s constant action. Ball goes out? Quick throw-in or kick-in, game’s back on in seconds. No standing around. Every single player is involved all the time. One second you’re attacking, the next you’re sprinting back because you lost the ball.
You touch the ball way more, which feels great. But the intensity? Brutal. Legs burning after 10 minutes, constantly changing direction, no hiding space. Mistakes get punished instantly. Lose it near your box? Goal against you. Simple as that.
The Big Differences That Smacked Me in the Face
Here’s what really jumped out:
- Space & Positioning: In 11v11, you got acres sometimes. You need proper shape, everyone in position. 6-a-side? Forget fancy formations. It’s constant movement, squeezing into tight spots, quick combinations. Less thinking about rigid structure, more pure reaction.
- Pace: 6-a-side is crazy faster. Transition is lightning. Less walking, more sprinting. Short sharp bursts constantly.
- Fitness Feel: 11s demand endurance – those long periods standing/running mixed with intense sprints. Wiped me out differently, like a deep tiredness. 6s felt like flat-out high intensity interval training. My lungs screamed.
- Skill Factor: Small game demands quicker feet, tighter control, faster decisions. Less time. Everything has to be sharp. In the big game, you get moments to look up, pick a pass.
- Goalkeeping Nightmare: Smaller goals in the 6s, but shooters are WAY closer. Keeper has almost zero reaction time. Full-size goal? Bigger area to cover, but usually more time to set and see the shot coming unless it’s a breakaway.
- Goals: Man, goals come way more often in the small game. Action packed.
So… Which One Killed Me More?
Honestly? Both are tough but differently. The full game killed me with the sheer size and needing that stamina for unpredictable bursts spread over 90 minutes. My legs felt heavy for days. The small game gassed me utterly in minutes with pure, relentless speed. Needed five water breaks! It’s less structured chaos but physically savage non-stop. Finding out the hard way taught me more than any article could. You gotta try both to really get it! My body is complaining today… totally worth it though.
