What Is Sunday League Football? 12 Things To Know!

Whether you play Sunday league, non-league or just five-a-side, there is nothing like coming together for the highs and the lows. But what is Sunday league football? How does it work?

You have probably heard about the Sunday league somewhere on social media or TV but don’t know what it is. Well, you are in the right place.

In this article, you are going to learn everything there’s to know about The Sunday league football. This includes answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Let’s get started.

Quick Navigation

• What is Sunday league?
• How does Sunday league work?
• How do you start a Sunday league?
• Do Sunday league players get paid?
• How long is a Sunday league football match?
• How do you win a Sunday league football?
• Do Sunday league teams train?
• Is Sunday a competitive league?
• How to join a Sunday League team?
• Do Sunday league teams get promoted?
• Do you have to pay for Sunday league?
• Can a Sunday league team enter the FA cup?
• Final Thoughts

What Is Sunday League Football?

The Sunday league is a term used in the Uk to describe amateur football(soccer). It is composed of various competitions all taking place mostly on Sunday. Sunday league also takes place in many different countries but under different names.

In Africa, for instance, it’s not known as the Sunday league as it can also take place on Saturdays.

So, wherever you are in the world, there is a term used to describe that amateur competition taking place every weekend.

How Does Sunday League Work?

Here’s how Sunday league works: People from the same street, same workplace and same school can decide to play every weekend. They then create football teams, competitions and fix game schedules that are going to take place in a specific place with a trophy for the winner(Not always).

In the UK for instance, the Sunday league looks professional. They do have several competitions like the Treble, FA Sunday cup, Sunday football league premier division title and many other cups.

How Do You Start A Sunday League?

You or someone from your neighbourhood, workplace or school can decide to start a Sunday league. It doesn’t necessarily require a huge investment. You can ask people to build their teams, you can decide on the football field, balls and referees and the perfect timetable.

There is no federation to register any competition that takes place in the Sunday league.

You can take your own decisions and set your own rules as the competition founder.

Always be organized whenever you start a Sunday league.

Age doesn’t matter in those amateur competitions. Whether you are young or old, you can take advantage of a Sunday league game.

How Long Is A Sunday League Football Match?

A Sunday league match can last for as much as both teams, the referee and the founder(in case of a competition) agree. The game can last for 90 minutes or less.

How Do You Win A Sunday League Football?

Winning a Sunday league competition or game is not as easy as some think.

I’m going to provide you with a few tips that can improve your Sunday league team and hopefully, win it.

• Train at least two days a week. Practice makes perfect. So, by training, you ensure your teammates’ fitness. If you do this, your team is always going to be ready and ahead of the others.
• Try to improve your players’ weaknesses. For instance, if a player isn’t so good at controlling a ball, make sure he fixes this issue.
• Know your player positions. In this amateur league, players tend to play wherever they want to. But you, as the manager, have to be able to know where to put them on the pitch based on their skills, strength and weaknesses.
• Use different tactics during the game. Don’t just put the players on the pitch and ask them to score goals. You need to implement tactics.
• Analyse your opponent’s weakness. Knowing this will give you an advantage. For instance, if the opposition has a weak left-back, you can decide to play a lot in this area of the pitch.
• The players must give everything on the pitch. Tell your players to play as if it’s a final. This will always boost them.
• Last but not the least, discipline. To win a Sunday league football, the players must be disciplined.

Even if you lose after implementing all those tips, you’ll have no regret.

Do Sunday League Teams Train?

Not all Sunday league teams train but the majority of them do. They usually establish a training program taking place once or twice per week.

During the training, most Sunday league teams do various drills that consist of improving their endurance, passing and shooting ability.

Other teams don’t train. Instead, they prefer to meet during match day and just have fun. This is because some players participating in a Sunday league can be busy with their work and can only be available at weekends.

Is Sunday A Competitive League?

Sunday league often involves players from the top division teams and therefore can be a very competitive league. But it can also be less competitive for you if you are a good player in your position as most Sunday league players are not 100% fit.

If you’re a young and very good player, fit and full of skills, you might find the Sunday league easy.

This is because most Sunday league participants are between 25-40 years old. Most of them don’t even run a lot on the pitch. Imagine being 19 and facing a 40 years old player…

How To Join A Sunday League Team?

Joining a Sunday League team is pretty simple: All you need to do is hang out at stadiums in your local area after work and try to meet new people.

There are a lot of people who don’t have time to play during the day because of work. So, they do it in the evening after work from time to time. The majority of those people already have a Sunday League team.

With that being said, meet those players and talk with them, get their contacts. Chances are they will invite you to play with them and hopefully, join their Sunday League team.

Do Sunday League Teams Get Promoted?

In Sunday league football, no teams get promoted and no teams get relegated. There is no age limit and there is no level. A team composed of 18 years old players can play against 30-40 years old.

Note that there can be some exceptions. For instance, someone might decide to create a Sunday league tournament that only involves players from 22 and above

Do You Have To Pay For Sunday League?

You don’t have to pay to participate in a Sunday league. In fact, Sunday league is free.

However, there can be some exceptions.

For instance, if an individual creates a Sunday league tournament, he can ask the teams who want to participate to pay a few fees to enter the tournament. Those fees will then be given to the winner of that tournament. This is very frequent in Africa and some European countries

Do Sunday League Players Get Paid?

No, Sunday league players do not get paid. Playing in Sunday league is mainly for fun purposes unless there’s a specific competition and the founder decides to award the winner with some $$$.

Can A Sunday League Team Enter The FA Cup?

Sunday league teams are not made to enter the FA cup. All those teams want is to have fun and have a beer at the end of the game. Yeah, the greatest part about Sunday league games is the beer after a weekend game.

Plus, those amateur players have daily jobs. So, the only moment they can really enjoy is on Sunday.

It can’t even be considered semi-pro.

You also have to keep in mind that Sunday leagues often include players who play at a high level of semi-professional football. They usually come to have fun and make the Sunday league more interesting.

Also read: Is soccer just a game?

Final Thoughts

Wherever you are in the world, there is a Sunday league awaiting for you to enter. Of course, if you are not in the UK, it is called by another name. But the result remains the same, we all want to have fun and get that beer with some friends at the end of the game.

Do you have any other questions about the Sunday league? What is it called in your country? Let us know in the comment section.