While most competitive football is played over 11-a-side it is more beneficial to play junior football on smaller pitches with less players.

With fewer players you get more time on the ball, there is more demand on accurate short passing and less emphasis on pace and power.

Therefore your technique and touch should benefit.

In a Premiership or League match, three substitutes from a nominated five are allowed to be used.

But in European competition a manager can select from seven players on the bench.

In friendlies more substitutes can be used as long as it is agreed by the teams before the game and that the referee is informed.

It's a fact: The laws of the game state that in an 11-a-side match, a game can not begin if either side has less than seven players.