Setup · Counter Attack

Choose the player count, then tick steps off as you go. Ticks are kept on this device.

The pitch and match pieces

Place the pitch between the managers. Put the distance sticks, dice, ball markers, cards, injury markers and quick-play guides within reach.
Shuffle the referee cards and draw one at random. Keep its Leniency value visible beside the pitch.

Choose one of the official solo scenarios and prepare any special rosters or positions it specifies. One manager controls both teams.

Place the goalkeeper cards face down. Each manager chooses one goalkeeper.
Shuffle the outfield cards and reveal four. The first manager chooses one; the opponent chooses one; the first manager takes one of the remaining two and the opponent takes the last. Repeat with the first picker alternating until each team has fifteen outfielders.
Choose ten starters and five substitutes from your fifteen outfielders. Add your goalkeeper, assign numbers 1–11 and place the starting eleven in separate hexes in your own half.

Toss a coin to choose who kicks off. The winner puts one player on the centre spot with the ball; the defending team must stay outside the centre circle. Both managers may adjust their formations, then the attacking manager makes a standard pass to any position on the pitch.
Use the Core rules for a first match. Leave high and long passes out; keep the sand timer for the second half.

Place the pitch between the managers. Put the distance sticks, dice, ball markers, cards, injury markers and quick-play guides within reach.
Shuffle the referee cards and draw one at random. Keep its Leniency value visible beside the pitch.

Choose one of the official solo scenarios and prepare any special rosters or positions it specifies. One manager controls both teams.

Place the goalkeeper cards face down. Each manager chooses one goalkeeper.
Shuffle the outfield cards and reveal four. The first manager chooses one; the opponent chooses one; the first manager takes one of the remaining two and the opponent takes the last. Repeat with the first picker alternating until each team has fifteen outfielders.
Choose ten starters and five substitutes from your fifteen outfielders. Add your goalkeeper, assign numbers 1–11 and place the starting eleven in separate hexes in your own half.

Toss a coin to choose who kicks off. The winner puts one player on the centre spot with the ball; the defending team must stay outside the centre circle. Both managers may adjust their formations, then the attacking manager makes a standard pass to any position on the pitch.
Use the Core rules for a first match. Leave high and long passes out; keep the sand timer for the second half.

Place the pitch between the managers. Put the distance sticks, dice, ball markers, cards, injury markers and quick-play guides within reach.
Shuffle the referee cards and draw one at random. Keep its Leniency value visible beside the pitch.

Place the goalkeeper cards face down. Each manager chooses one goalkeeper.
If using supplemental Player Card Sets, shuffle their cards into the outfield draft pool before revealing the first group of four.
Shuffle the outfield cards and reveal four. The first manager chooses one; the opponent chooses one; the first manager takes one of the remaining two and the opponent takes the last. Repeat with the first picker alternating until each team has fifteen outfielders.
Choose ten starters and five substitutes from your fifteen outfielders. Add your goalkeeper, assign numbers 1–11 and place the starting eleven in separate hexes in your own half.

Toss a coin to choose who kicks off. The winner puts one player on the centre spot with the ball; the defending team must stay outside the centre circle. Both managers may adjust their formations, then the attacking manager makes a standard pass to any position on the pitch.
Use the Core rules for a first match. Leave high and long passes out; keep the sand timer for the second half.

Place the pitch between the managers. Put the distance sticks, dice, ball markers, cards, injury markers and quick-play guides within reach.
Shuffle the referee cards and draw one at random. Keep its Leniency value visible beside the pitch.

Place the goalkeeper cards face down. Each manager chooses one goalkeeper.
If using supplemental Player Card Sets, shuffle their cards into the outfield draft pool before revealing the first group of four.
Shuffle the outfield cards and reveal four. The first manager chooses one; the opponent chooses one; the first manager takes one of the remaining two and the opponent takes the last. Repeat with the first picker alternating until each team has fifteen outfielders.
Choose ten starters and five substitutes from your fifteen outfielders. Add your goalkeeper, assign numbers 1–11 and place the starting eleven in separate hexes in your own half.

Toss a coin to choose who kicks off. The winner puts one player on the centre spot with the ball; the defending team must stay outside the centre circle. Both managers may adjust their formations, then the attacking manager makes a standard pass to any position on the pitch.
Use the Core rules for a first match. Leave high and long passes out; keep the sand timer for the second half.