Fixture Lab guide
How Many Pitches Does a Football Tournament Need?
The right pitch total depends on the number of matches—not just the number of teams. Start with the fixture count, then divide the work across the available time slots.
Calculate the match total
For a single round-robin group, the number of games is teams × (teams − 1) ÷ 2. Add every group and any knockout matches.
- 5-team group: 10 games
- 6-team group: 15 games
- 8-team knockout: 7 games
Calculate pitch slots
A 10-minute game with a 2-minute changeover uses a 12-minute slot. A four-hour window contains 20 slots per pitch before breaks.
- Add scheduled breaks
- Reserve time for delayed starts
- Protect team rest periods
- Allow knockout rounds to wait for group results
Use pitches realistically
Continuous use is the theoretical minimum. A workable plan normally needs spare capacity for delays, pitch changes and finals presentation.
- Keep age groups in a clear pitch zone
- Name pitches rather than relying only on numbers
- Reserve selected pitches for knockouts