What to Bring to a Pickup Football Game
A practical checklist for hobby football players in Lviv — boots, kit, payment, hydration, and the small things that make a game smoother.
The short version
For a 1-hour pickup game, you need:
- Boots matched to the surface
- Two t-shirts (light and dark)
- Water (1L+)
- Cash for the rental split
- Shin pads (recommended)
That's it for the basics. The rest of this guide is "what veterans bring that beginners forget."
Boots — match the surface
This is the one thing most beginners get wrong. Wrong boots mean either you slide all game, or the venue refuses you, or you damage the surface.
| Surface | Boot |
|---|---|
| Indoor parquet | Flat-sole indoor (futsal) shoes — no studs |
| Indoor artificial turf | Turf shoes (TF) |
| Outdoor artificial turf | Turf shoes (TF) or multi-ground (MG) |
| Outdoor grass — dry | Firm-ground (FG) studs |
| Outdoor grass — wet | Soft-ground (SG) studs |
| Concrete or rubber playgrounds | Trainers — never studs |
If you're playing on multiple surfaces, MG (multi-ground) is the most flexible single boot — works on outdoor turf and dry grass, less ideal but acceptable on wet grass.
Two t-shirts — non-negotiable
Most pickup games split into "light vs dark" or "shirts vs no shirts." Bring one white/light and one black/dark t-shirt and let the organiser decide on the spot. This is the cheapest way to look like you know what you're doing.
Water and snacks
- 1L water for an hour of football. 1.5L if it's hot.
- A banana or energy bar if it's a 90-minute game or you're running tight on food before the match.
- Avoid energy drinks before the game — they hit too fast and leave you flat in the second half.
Cash for the split
Most Lviv venues are paid by the organiser upfront and split among players after. Carry cash — card terminals at smaller venues are unreliable. Typical pickup game split is 100–250 UAH per player.
If you're new to a game, ask the organiser for the venmo / Apple Pay / SendPulse / Monobank link if cash isn't possible — most have one ready.
Shin pads — quietly essential
Pickup games aren't supposed to be physical, but accidents happen. A loose tackle on hard turf, a bad bounce off a knee, a clash going for a 50-50 — shin pads turn a 2-week recovery into a "shake it off and keep playing." Bring them.
What veterans bring that beginners forget
- A second pair of socks. Match socks soaked through after a wet outdoor game. Dry socks for the drive home matter more than you'd think.
- Plastic bag or wet bag. For dirty boots and wet kit. Saves your car or backpack.
- Spare laces. Shoelaces snap at the worst moments. A single spare in the kit bag saves the game.
- A small towel. Wipe sweat, dry hands before passes, sit on after the game.
- Flip-flops. For after the game when boots come off.
- Tape. Sports tape for ankle support, electrical tape for emergency shin guard fixes.
- Phone in a small dry pouch. If you're wearing shorts with shallow pockets.
What NOT to bring
- A new ball. Pickup games provide the ball. Showing up with your own is fine but not expected.
- Goalkeeper gloves. If you're rotating in goal, the host usually has gloves. If not, the rotation is short enough that bare hands are fine.
- A whistle. Pickup games don't have a referee. Players self-call fouls. Whistles are awkward.
- Studded boots to a parquet hall. You will be turned away. We've seen it twice this year.
The night-before checklist
Pack the kit bag the evening before, not the morning of:
- Boots (right type for the surface)
- Light + dark t-shirt
- Shorts
- Two pairs of socks
- Shin pads
- Water bottle (filled and in the fridge)
- Cash
- Towel
- Phone charger or power bank if you're meeting people there
- Snack
- Plastic bag for dirty kit
Done. See you on the pitch.