[Barron]

I live in SoCal, pickup soccer is really big here and the crowds are as diverse as they come. We can play year round here and most of the scene is located on plush grasses close to the shore where the air is still cool from the ocean.

Soccer is very important to me not only for staying fit but because every day of my life is consumed by either watching it, thinking about it, or playing it. Whenever and wherever I travel I always bring my ball and shoes with me and have had luck in the past finding games in random countries to walk on to. I think its a great way to get top notch cardio while traveling as well as a great way to meet people and learn about culture, society, etc., in whichever city you're visiting.

I know there's large number of soccer players on this forum and wondered if you guys are good at finding games when you travel? What countries have you had the best experiences in?

[rottenapple]

Pickup Football??

[The_CEO]

Argentina.

Go to any park on a weekday evening, or on the weekend and you'll find fellow soccer players of all ages playing.

[Afarang]

anywhere in England. mostly 5-a-side pitches

[JJJames]

What's the difference between soccer and pickup soccer?

[kosko]

(03-19-2014 11:14 PM)JJJames Wrote:  

What's the difference between soccer and pickup soccer?

It's loosely organized. You can just show up and try and get into the game. For basketball during a open gym time a group of friends will show up, they send out a bunch of texts and then those friends of friends and ransoms show up and you make a bunch of games out of it.

[JJJames]

Ohhhh I see.

[rottenapple]

(03-20-2014 12:06 AM)kosko Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:14 PM)JJJames Wrote:  

What's the difference between soccer and pickup soccer?

It's loosely organized. You can just show up and try and get into the game. For basketball during a open gym time a group of friends will show up, they send out a bunch of texts and then those friends of friends and ransoms show up and you make a bunch of games out of it.

Basically thats all football everywhere in the world that is not played on a 11-side pitch. You can always go up to guys playing and ask to join. If you have a good level it will never be a problem, unless they are playing for money or something. So basically do that, I've done that in Europe, Africa, S. America without problems.

Otherwise go on facebook and look for groups like 'football in ...' etc. or find the erasmus/exchange student groups and ask for where they play.

[orko]

(03-20-2014 10:20 AM)rottenapple Wrote:  

(03-20-2014 12:06 AM)kosko Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:14 PM)JJJames Wrote:  

What's the difference between soccer and pickup soccer?

It's loosely organized. You can just show up and try and get into the game. For basketball during a open gym time a group of friends will show up, they send out a bunch of texts and then those friends of friends and ransoms show up and you make a bunch of games out of it.

Basically thats all football everywhere in the world that is not played on a 11-side pitch. You can always go up to guys playing and ask to join. If you have a good level it will never be a problem, unless they are playing for money or something. So basically do that, I've done that in Europe, Africa, S. America without problems.

Otherwise go on facebook and look for groups like 'football in ...' etc. or find the erasmus/exchange student groups and ask for where they play.

Uruguay. Football is ingrained in uruguayan society. Lots of football fields...

[whoishe]

Lots of amateur leagues (I have 6man league outdoor in my 60k people town near Warsaw playing at side-pitches of our main stadium) in Poland as well. Plus group of friends playing outdoor and indoor depending on weather, aften looking for some additional players when they need extra bodies.

[TravellerJay]

Argentina. We were born with futbol in our veins. Just a reminder: it is football in english terms and most played sport in the rest of the world but US.
Soccer sucks, it is football!!

[presidentcarter]

3v3-5v5 pick up games using turned over trash cans or just t-shirts on the ground as goals is the most fun I've ever had playing a sport. Really builds your technical skills versus running around on a larger field using actual goals. We did it just about every day for years at university.

And I would think that you should be able to find a group in just about any country...

[rottenapple]

(03-25-2014 05:41 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

3v3-5v5 pick up games using turned over trash cans or just t-shirts on the ground as goals is the most fun I've ever had playing a sport. Really builds your technical skills versus running around on a larger field using actual goals. We did it just about every day for years at university.

And I would think that you should be able to find a group in just about any country...

Agreed!! I hate the fact that some people think it is only for kids or teenagers. I'm 26 now but if someone invites me to play some street soccer, I'll be there! In some cases I'll even ditch a girl for that if she's average.

[Nascimento]

About time i see a thread like this.

Ive conaidered a vacation down south for pickup footy first, girls second.

My best memories from my childhood in brazil were afternoons playing footy from noon to night, with no break besides swapping teams. Some coconut water and a pastel de quiejo after were icing on the cake.

[Giovonny]

I played a lot pick up futebol-football-soccer in Brasil. The beach, parks, fields, basketball courts, futsal, indoor, outdoor, weighted balls, small balls, 2on2, 3on3, 7on7, everything..

They skill level and natural instinctive talent was ridiculous. I played with children that were better then the grown men in America.

I heard Argentina, Spain, Italy, Serbia, and Croatia are good also. Big surprise right.

I bet Japan is good.

[Switch]

One day I'm gonna make my way down to the Dominican Republic and play pickup baseball with the guys down there. Maybe in Venezuela too. Soccer would be much easier to find everywhere. As long as you don't suck, you should have no problem getting into games.

[TheBulldozer]

I played on the beaches in Rio. Brazilians are so friendly that if you show up on a weekday morning and ask to join, they'll happily let you. Mind you, they stick you in goal, but you'll still get plenty of touches because the field is compact. Expect to be laughed at, but it's all in good fun. I offered to buy a round of coco water or skol for the guys after we played and I made friends for the day.

Good times.