How does a six-a-side league operate? Interview with the president of Pomagam Poprzez Sport foundation

The spring and autumn 2025 editions were special for the Lesznowolska Liga Szóstek (six-a-side league from Lesznowola) – for the first time, the entire competition was run using the FLM System. We spoke with Michał Sikora, president of Pomagam Poprzez Sport (I help through sport) foundation, about how this amateur six-a-side league has changed, which problems were resolved, and how players reacted to the new organisational model. Having used the FLM System throughout the season, Michał shares his hands-on experience, behind-the-scenes insights from the implementation, and his conclusions after the first seasons of working with the system.

Amateur six-a-side league – organisation before implementing the FLM System

FLM System: To start off – tell us how the organisation of the Lesznowolska Liga Szóstek looked before you began using the FLM System. How did you plan fixtures, tables, and results – was everything done manually, in Excel, or through other tools?

Michał Sikora, president of Pomagam Poprzez Sport foundation: At the very beginning, the organisation of the Lesznowolska Liga Szóstek was quite “analogue” and relied on simple tools. I mainly used spreadsheets and text documents to prepare fixtures, results, and statistics. Canva was also helpful – it allowed me to quickly create clear tables and graphics that looked good when communicating with players and fans.

During the matches, I kept traditional match sheets – on paper, I wrote down who scored, who assisted, and the results of each game. At first, it was manageable to handle everything on my own, but with each new edition, as more teams and players joined and our amateur six-a-side league grew, the work became increasingly time-consuming. At some point, I had to involve additional people to help with recording information and updating statistics, because with this scale it was no longer possible to do everything alone.

What were the biggest challenges or difficulties you faced before? What was the most time-consuming or prone to errors?

The biggest challenge was errors in statistics and records. There were typos, incorrectly entered names, or mistakes in results. This was particularly troublesome because players immediately noticed these errors and rightly pointed them out. I tend to type quickly myself, so minor mistakes often appeared, which I later had to correct.

Another major challenge was the time-consuming nature of the work. Entering results into a spreadsheet was one thing, but transferring them later, creating graphics, sharing them on social media, and ensuring everything was accurate took a lot of time. And remember, each matchday involved several games, dozens of players, and dozens of events on the pitch to record.

As a result, the bigger the league became, the higher the risk of mistakes, and the more time was needed to manage them. At times, this made me feel that instead of focusing on developing the project and making the league more attractive, I was getting lost in paperwork and corrections.

What prompted you to look for a different solution? Was there a specific moment that made you realize it was time to take things to the next level?

The turning point was precisely the scale and the amount of statistics that needed to be managed. As more teams and players joined, and with that more data to record, I increasingly felt that manual methods were no longer sufficient. It wasn’t just about recording results – I also had to create tables, update top scorer and assist rankings, and prepare communications for players and fans. Maintaining this at a high organisational level was difficult, especially since I wanted the league to grow and become increasingly professional.

We live in a world of technology, and I’ve always been an advocate for smart use of tools that make life easier. I realized I needed a solution that would not only minimize human errors but also provide added value to players – easy access to results, statistics, and fixtures. I wanted league participants to be able to follow their matches almost “live,” instead of waiting for me to manually update an Excel table or create a graphic in Canva.

That’s why I started looking for a system that would allow me to take organisation to the next level. It wasn’t just about saving time or reducing mistakes, but primarily about raising the standard of the entire competition – making the amateur six-a-side league more attractive for players, fans, and potential partners.

Implementation process of the FLM System in a six-a-side league

What ultimately convinced you to choose the FLM System? Did you compare it with other solutions?

Yes, I looked into other solutions as well, but the FLM System impressed me the most. The key features for me were live results and the ability to manage match sheets directly within the app. A huge advantage is that players can be easily marked in the system before the match, and during the game goals and assists can be recorded in real time from a phone. This not only reduces the organizer’s workload but also gives players and fans instant access to information, making the competition more engaging and professional.

What did the implementation process look like from an organisational and technical perspective? Was everything ready on time before the start of the competition?

From the very beginning, I had dedicated support staff who ensured I smoothly went through the implementation process. Importantly, they didn’t just send instructions – they asked questions and tailored the system to my needs based on my answers. Every time I had a question, I received quick and concrete support. Thanks to this, the implementation went smoothly, and I never felt left alone during the process.

Did the FLM team support you during the implementation process? How would you rate the collaboration – for example, help with configuration, technical availability, and communication?

The most important elements were ready and functioning from the very beginning. Of course, I know I’m not yet using the system’s full potential – mainly due to time constraints. However, I hope to soon involve additional people in managing the league, which will allow us to take full advantage of all the features the FLM System offers.

The FLM team supported me at every stage. I’m really satisfied with the collaboration – communication was quick and precise, and every question received a response. This is very important for me, because organising a league is a major logistical challenge, and knowing that I can rely on technical and substantive support provides immense comfort.

Did any difficulties arise during the preparation or the first days of using the system? If so, how did you handle them?

Yes, of course – minor difficulties did appear, and they probably will again, which is natural when implementing a new solution. I’m someone who prefers to see things in practice rather than read a manual, so sometimes I had to ask for clarification on how certain features worked. Fortunately, it was never a problem for someone to quickly show me and explain. Thanks to this, all the initial challenges were resolved efficiently.

Amateur six-a-side league with the FLM System – how it works in practice

How many teams participated in the spring 2025 edition using the system?

In the spring 2025 edition, 10 teams took part in the competition, while in the autumn edition the number of participants increased to 12 teams.

How large was the organisational team – how many people (referees, coordinators) actively used the system?

The coordinator used the system directly, while the referee provided the necessary information to the coordinators, who managed the matches through the application.

How long did this edition of the competition last, and how often were matches held? Were there fixed dates (e.g., weekly, biweekly), or was the schedule more flexible?

The competition lasted 9 weeks. Matches were held every Sunday from 3:00 PM. From the start, we prioritized a fixed schedule so that teams could plan their participation in advance and avoid scheduling conflicts.

How has the system affected your daily work as organizers? Have you noticed any real improvements?

Definitely! Thanks to the system, we eliminated paper sheets, and verifying line-ups in the app significantly reduced the time between matches. This is especially important on rented pitches – every minute counts. Work ran more smoothly, and the organisation of the entire league became much more transparent.

How did the app perform for referees? Was it intuitive, or did it require additional training?

The app proved to be very intuitive. Once the match time and live scores were set up, using it was extremely simple and fast – even for people using it for the first time.

Which features of the FLM System made your work easiest? What proved to be key – for example, live score updates, statistics, public page, admin panel?

The most important features for us were the admin panel and the player and team statistics. These functions allowed us to monitor the league in real time, and participants appreciated being able to view their achievements online.

How did the app perform for referees? Was it intuitive, or did it require additional training?

The app proved to be very intuitive. Once the match time and live scores were set up, using it was extremely simple and fast – even for first-time users.

Which features of the FLM System made your work easiest? What proved to be key – for example, live score updates, statistics, public page, admin panel?

The most important features for us were the admin panel and the player and team statistics. These functions allowed us to monitor the league in real time, and participants appreciated being able to view their achievements online.

Reactions of players and fans

How did players and fans respond to the new system? Did you notice more engagement, interaction, or interest in statistics?

Players were very positively surprised by the new system. They appreciated being able to follow live results and statistics, as well as view their opponents’ performance, which added an element of professionalism and healthy competition. Many admitted that they felt like they were in a real league, being able to track their achievements – goals, cards, and assists – in real time. The system increased motivation, engagement, and the overall prestige of the competition.

Amateur six-a-side league – impressions after the season

What were your biggest positive surprises after the first season with the FLM System? What made the biggest difference?

The biggest positive surprise was the ability to follow live results and the fact that the entire organisation could be run without paper match sheets and unnecessary bureaucracy. This significantly streamlined the league’s operations and made work easier for organisers, referees, and players alike.

Are there any features or elements you would like to develop, improve, or add? Do you have any suggestions or ideas “for the future”?

In the future, it would be useful to have the option to adjust ranking parameters, for example in the competition for top scorer or best assist – so that it’s possible to define what counts in case of a tie in goals or assists. Another interesting development direction would be introducing a module to manage play-off stages or tournaments.

If you had to summarize in one sentence what the FLM System implementation gave you – what would it be?

Peace of mind and order in the rankings, along with full control over the league’s progress.

Future and recommendations

Who would you recommend the FLM System to? Is this solution for every league, or more for those looking to professionalise?

We would recommend the FLM System to any league – regardless of their level of experience. The system is flexible enough to be adapted to specific needs, both in smaller amateur competitions and in professional leagues. Every amateur six-a-side league can benefit from it.

Who would you recommend the FLM System to? Is it a solution for every league, or more for those looking to professionalise?

We would recommend the FLM System to any league – regardless of their level of experience. The system is flexible enough to be tailored to specific needs, whether in smaller amateur competitions or professional leagues. Every amateur football league can benefit from it.

How would you rate your collaboration with the FLM team – both during implementation and in ongoing support?

We rate the collaboration very highly. The FLM team was responsive, helpful, and engaged at every stage. We can wholeheartedly recommend working with them to other organisers.