5 Common Mistakes When Building Soccer Teams (And How to Avoid Them)

Have you ever organized a pickup game that ended 15–2? Or watched half of the players lose motivation because one team was completely dominating?

These situations happen more often than you think and are usually the result of simple mistakes when building the teams.

Let’s go through the 5 most common mistakes and, more importantly, how to avoid them.

❌ Mistake #1: Completely Random Draw

The Problem

Many organizers simply put all the names in a hat and draw. Or worse: they split teams by order of arrival.

Why doesn’t this work?

• It doesn’t consider skill levels
• It can put all the best players on the same team
• It creates extremely unbalanced matches

✅ The Solution

Use a smart draw based on skill:

1. Rate each player at a level (1–5)
2. Calculate the total available score
3. Distribute players to balance the total score

Practical example:

Team A: 1 Pro (5) + 2 Intermediates (3+3) + 2 Beginners (1+1) = 13 points
Team B: 1 Advanced (4) + 2 Intermediates (3+3) + 2 Casuals (2+2) = 14 points

Result: A much more balanced game!

❌ Mistake #2: Ignoring Player Positions

The Problem

You balance skills perfectly, but put 4 forwards on the same team and all the defenders on the other.

Consequence:

• One team attacks well but doesn’t defend
• The other defends well but can’t create chances
• The game becomes stuck and boring

✅ The Solution

Take positions into account when building teams:

Ideal distribution for 6v6:

• 1 Goalkeeper
• 2 Defenders
• 2 Midfielders
• 1 Forward

Pro tip: When rating players, also note their preferred position. Squadb lets you manage this automatically.

❌ Mistake #3: Always Keeping Friends Together

The Problem

“Oh, these two always play together, I’ll keep them on the same team.”

Why this is bad:

• Creates cliques
• Other players feel left out
• Unbalances the teams (well-connected duos play above their individual level)

✅ The Solution

Rotate player combinations:

• Change teams every week
• Mix experienced players with beginners
• Create new partnerships

Benefits:

• Everyone gets to know each other better
• Players develop adaptability
• Group integration increases

❌ Mistake #4: Not Adjusting During the Game

The Problem

The score is 8–0 at halftime, but you keep the same teams “because that’s how the draw went”.

Result:

• The losing team completely loses motivation
• The winning team stops trying
• The game becomes boring for everyone

✅ The Solution

Be flexible and make adjustments:

When to make changes:

• Difference of 4+ goals in the first half
• One team controlling 70%+ possession
• Players clearly discouraged

How to adjust:

• Swap 1–2 key players between teams
• Add a temporary “special rule” (e.g., the losing team plays with 1 extra player)
• Redraw the teams at halftime

Important: Explain that the goal is fun for everyone!

❌ Mistake #5: Not Reassessing Players Regularly

The Problem

You rated all players 6 months ago and never revisited their levels.

What happens:

• Beginners improve but stay classified as weak
• Injured/out-of-shape players keep a high rating
• Teams become more and more unbalanced over time

✅ The Solution

Reassess regularly:

Recommended frequency:

• New players: After 3–4 games
• Regular players: Every 2–3 months
• Everyone: A full review every 6 months

Signs you need to reassess:

• A player consistently stands out
• A player constantly struggles
• Feedback from other participants
• Obvious changes in performance

How to do it: Keep a simple record:

John Silva
- Current tier: 3 (Intermediate)
- Last review: 2025-08-15
- Notes: Passing has improved a lot,
  consider moving to Tier 2

Bonus: How to Put All These Solutions into Practice

Managing all this manually can be a lot of work. That’s where technology comes in.

Digital Tools Help a Lot

Squadb solves these 5 mistakes automatically:

✅ Smart draw based on skill
✅ Considers player positions
✅ Rotates combinations automatically
✅ Allows quick adjustments during the game
✅ Keeps a history of evaluations

Simplified Process:

1. Register the players once
2. Rate each player’s level
3. With one click, generate balanced teams
4. Save the history for future reference

Checklist: Well-Built Teams

Use this checklist before each pickup game:

• Players rated by skill level
• Total score balanced between teams
• Positions evenly distributed
• Variety in duos/trios
• Plan B if the game becomes unbalanced
• Evaluations updated in the last 3 months

Conclusion

Avoiding these 5 simple mistakes will completely transform the quality of your pickup games:

1. ✅ Use smart, not fully random, draws
2. ✅ Consider positions, not just skill
3. ✅ Vary player combinations
4. ✅ Adjust during the game when needed
5. ✅ Reassess players regularly

Remember: The goal isn’t to create mathematically perfect teams, but to ensure that everyone has fun and gets a competitive game.

With these practices, you’ll notice:

• More competitive matches
• More engaged players
• Fewer people dropping out
• A lot more fun!

Ready to avoid these mistakes in your next pickup game? Try Squadb and feel the difference!

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Have you ever made any of these mistakes? What was the worst situation you’ve experienced in a totally unbalanced game? Tell us in the comments!