Panna

A game played 1 versus 1 in a small area. The object of the game is to dribble the ball through the opponent's legs and then retrieve the ball before the opponent does so, which is called a nutmeg and then retrieve the ball before the opponent does so. Once a player has completed a nutmeg, the game is over.

Tackle and Shoot

Like World Cup/Wembley, this game requires only one goal. The game can be played by as little as three people, with one goalkeeper, and two "attackers" both trying to win. Occasionally it may become two-a-side, often, rather than having a set match time, the "first to" rule is used, usually the amount of goals required to win is five. Rules are basically the same as football as we know it, except that out of play rules are different. If a player hits a shot wide, or over and the goalkeeper doesn't want to fetch it, he allows play to go on. The goalkeeper also doubles up as a referee. A rule that causes some arguments among players is the "deflections" rule. An example of a scenario when deflections are vital is this:

Two players, one A the other B, are playing tackle and shoot. The score is 4-4, and the next goal is the winner. Player A has worked amazingly hard, has run and ran, but just can't get the final goal. Player B meanwhile, is leaning against the goalpost. Suddenly player A lifts a spectacular chip over the goalkeepers head, only for it to hit player B on the knee, and go in. Some "referees" say that player A should have the goal, as it was his shot, and was going in anyway, others say player B should have it, as it hit him last.

Points

This game is useful when there is a wide range in terms of age or ability amongst the players, and also requires a degree of sportsmanship between them. Players pass the ball around and shoot freely, but upon scoring, are awarded points by the goalkeeper according to the distance and/or skill level of the goal scored. This score is usually more generous towards younger players.

Points may also be awarded for a particularly good assist, or to the goalkeeper by the other players, if the keeper makes a good save. Points are usually awarded out of five; five typically being an outstanding acrobatic volley, one typically being a simple tap-in. Usually when a player reaches 20 points the goalkeeper is changed, either for the best or worst scoring player.

Heads and volleys

This game in some forms requires only two players, however most often it needs at least three. In the game one player crosses the ball to another who must then either head or volley the ball into the goal which is defended by another player.

Dozens of different variations of the game exist, including the keeping of 'life tallies' (lives are lost by strikers if they miss, or by goalkeepers if they concede). An optional rule states that when the goalkeeper catches the ball they can then throw the ball to another player; if that player scores (a header or volley) then the original striker is put in goal.

In another variant a striker gains a point by scoring and the keeper loses a point; if the striker misses he loses 2 points and must become the goalkeeper. Other variants include the setting of shooting distances (e.g. shots are not allowed within 6 yards). In some more aggressive variants when a player loses all of their points each of the other players will take a turn to attempt to hit them from the penalty spot.

One version rules that if a shot goes wide or over, the player who had the last touch goes in goal. If a shot isn't volleyed or half-volleyed, again the shot-taker goes in goal. If an outfielder lets a shot go wide he/she goes in. If the keeper catches the ball before it bounces, or if it only bounces once, the player who touched the ball last goes in goal. If a player handballs it twice in one round (until another player goes in goal) they go in goal, however, if they handball it once or don't handball it before the round ends, they lose their handball count.

Also there is a variation of this game in which every time the player in goal concedes a goal he or she gains a letter towards a word (e.g. HORSE) and when the word is spelled out the player has to face a wall whilst other players take shots at the loser's backside. In the United Kingdom this is known as "Brandy", "Megasaurarse", "Bum Blasters", "Red Arse" or "Stingers". Another variation called "Crucifix" sees the losing player standing with his back against the wall with his arms out while the other players take penalties with the aim of inflicting as much pain as possible. If the losing player flinches or moves from this position, a retake is ordered.

In "Crowcombe Rules", played in Somerset, England, outfield players work as a team to score as many goals with a header or a volley as possible. However, every time they miss or score a goal which is either not a volley or is only a half-volley, they lose a goal from their total. If they lose a goal whilst their total is zero, then the last player to touch the ball must go in goal. In the mid 1990s, due to incredibly high scoring sessions causing great distress to goalkeepers, a score limit was introduced. This is decided before the game but is commonly 2 or 3. The other significant difference in "Crowcombe Rules" is that a player may take as many touches as they like in order to set themselves up for a volley, so long as they received the ball in the air and do not let it touch the ground before shooting. "Yarde Rules", a variant of "Crowcombe Rules" also involves a rule whereby if a player kicks a ball into another field, they shall immediately go in goal, irrespective of the current score.

A colloquial name for “Headers and Volleys”, that was coined in the Manchester region of England in the early 1990's, is Gooma. The name is an amalgamation of the two famous sporting clothes brands, Gola and Puma. Around this time both brands were particularly popular in the football boot market. Puma for their High-end Status and signature model, the Puma King. Gola for their bargain basement prices, which were a welcome respite for struggling parents caught in the midst of the early 90’s Economic Recession. Aspiring young professional footballers in the Moss Side area of Manchester used to regularly be found playing Headers and Volleys on the Platt Fields, a multi-pitch park in the area. A particular group of boys became known as the Puma Kings, after the famous football boots, as they each wore a pair. They largely dominated proceedings in the Gooma market and would take on all comers and, for the most part, send them packing in quick time. Finally though, the football playing youth of Moss Side decided to take a collective stand against this dominance. The leader of the revolt was from a particularly poor family, even for such a run down area as Moss Side, which was one of the worst hit areas of Manchester by the recession. As such, he could not afford a pair of Puma Kings and instead used to ply his trade with boots from the complete opposite end of the financial scale, Gola. His skills though and his leadership, more than made up for his financial shortfalls and he managed to gather a strong group, who all decided to follow in his footsteps, quite literally, by donning the Gola footwear. The battle between the Gola Keepers and the Puma Kings was a long standing and regular affair and at some point thereafter, the name was abbreviated to its current form, Gooma.

Games based on scoring goals

Cubbies (also known by many other names, including Wembley Doubles, Knockout, Singles, Cuppy, Co-op, 2-man, FA (doubles) league and 2 'n' through) requires at least three players and one goal. One of the players is designated as a goalkeeper. Players must try and score whilst stopping the other players from doing the same. Team play is optional, and any number of teams (or solo) players can take part.

Typical rules state that in the first round, one goal secures a player's progression to round two. Players that have scored wait (off the pitch) until all but one player has scored. In subsequent rounds, it is not uncommon for the number of goals required to match the round number, but usually only one goal is required.

Often, the place of the goalkeeper from round one is taken by the round's loser.

Many extra rules are often added to stop cheating such as no 'goal scrounging' (waiting by the goal to try to get your foot onto someone else's shot). In this variation, unlike most others, the keeper plays the role of referee, instead of the players deciding arbitrarily about fouls.

Other names for this game include Wembley^[1] (in England), World Cup^[1], Cuppy, Knocky-outy,World Cup Willy, Wurly/Wurly Cup, singles (or doubles, triples etc. depending on how many players there are on each team).

In addition to this, it is common for the 'No scoring inside the box' rule to be played. This is applied not only to make the rounds last longer, but also to help reinforce the no 'goal scrounging' rule. The rule dictates that no player can score from inside a 6-yard (5.5 m) area of the goal (6 yard box if marked). In some cases, players will relax this rule and allow headers and even clean volleys to be scored from inside the box. This rule prevents players from simply running within a few feet of the goalkeeper and smashing it into the goal, making the game fairer for the keeper and for all outfield competitors. Another rule is 'penalties all-round'. This occurs when a player handles the ball resulting every other player getting a penalty. They are awarded at the discretion of the goalkeeper.

The 2-Man (doubles) league consists of three teams of two or more teams. Two teams play at a time for five minutes with one of the other team players as the goalkeeper, only one net is used similar rules to the knock out games above. The aim of the game is to basically score as many as possible, sometimes the 6-yard (5.5 m) area is used as a boundary which you're not allowed to shoot in. Each game won is 3 points, a draw being 1 point. Once a game is over, the other team(s) come on and rotate the fixtures after every game. The keepers will also rotate, one of the players from the team which isn't playing goes in net for the other two teams 5 minute match.

Each team plays each other twice, if two teams are level points at the end of it you sum up the goal difference to decide a winner.

Street football

he term street football encompasses a number of informal varieties of association football. These informal games do not necessarily utilise the requirements of a formal game of football, such as a large field, field markings, goal apparatus and corner flags, eleven players per team (with a minimum of seven per team), or match officials (referee and assistant referees).

Often the most basic of set-ups will involve just a ball with a wall or fence used as a goal, or items such as clothing being used for goalposts (hence the phrase "jumpers for goalposts"). The ease of playing these informal games explains why they are popular all over the world.

Street football can be divided into three varieties: minor adaptations of the association football rules, games based on scoring goals and games which are not.