Open matches: find players near you for your next game
In short
An open match is a listing for a game that still needs players. The host posts the sport, rules, time and place. Players within 50 km (you can set 5 to 100 km) ask to join, and the host approves who plays. You can limit a game to men, women or mixed, add a level range and write a 280-character note.
How do open matches work?
The host posts a game, nearby players ask to join, and the host approves. Nobody is placed in a game automatically, and Flobit doesn't pair strangers for you.
- The host posts an open match with a sport, rules, time and place.
- Players nearby find it in the open matches list, in their daily digest, or through a link the host shares.
- They ask to join. In doubles they can say whether they want to be the host's partner or an opponent.
- The host approves the requests they want. Approved players are in the match, and it appears in their calendar.
- You play, score it live, confirm the result and rate each other's sportsmanship.
If you already know who is playing, a Quick Match is quicker. Open matches are for the people you haven't met yet.
What do I set when I post an open match?
You choose the sport and rules, a time, a place, who can see the game and who can ask to join. Posting is free. Most of it is a few taps, and everything except the sport can be edited later.
| Setting | What you choose |
|---|---|
| Sport and rules | Any sport you have added to your profile, with its format, such as padel doubles with the golden point |
| Time | A date and time you pick |
| Place | A country and city are required (online eFootball has no place); a specific venue is optional |
| Who can see it | Public, or followers only |
| Who can join | Anyone, men, women or mixed |
| Level range | Optional: a minimum and a maximum level |
| Note | Optional, up to 280 characters, for example "Friendly doubles, we need a fourth. Relaxed pace." |
The note can't contain links, email addresses or phone numbers. That keeps contact details out of public listings; players swap them in chat after the host approves. If you move the time or place after players have been approved, they are told and asked to confirm again.
How do I find players near me?
Open the open matches list: it shows listings around you, nearest first. The search area starts at 50 km and you can set it anywhere from 5 to 100 km. It is centered on your location, a place you pick, or your home city.
You can filter by sport and by when: anytime, today or this week. There is no level filter, so read the host's level range and note on each listing. You can browse every sport, but you can only ask to join a sport you have added to your profile.
Daily digest. At 10:00 in your local time, Flobit can send a digest telling you how many open matches within 50 km of your city you could join. It is a quick way to see whether tonight's game exists without opening the app.
If nothing is nearby, widen the radius or post your own. New to a city? The guide to finding sports partners in a new city lists other places to look. A specific listing, with a real time, a named place and a pace in the note, is easier to say yes to.
Can I limit a game to women, to men or to my level?
Yes to gender, and the level range is a clear signal to players. On who can join the host picks anyone, men, women or mixed. A men-only or women-only game can only be joined by players whose profile has that gender set, so someone who skipped the question can't ask to join. Mixed is for mixed-gender teams; it doesn't rule out any one player, and the host decides who takes which side.
Level range is optional. On tennis and padel it uses the 1.0 to 7.0 ladder, so a host can ask for "3.0 to 4.0". In other sports it uses Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. The range is shown on the listing so players can judge whether the game suits them, and Flobit doesn't block anyone who asks to join. You decide, because the host approves every request and can read each player's profile first.
Levels are self-declared. See how ratings and levels work and the padel levels guide if you are unsure what to pick.
How do I find a fourth for padel or doubles?
Post a doubles open match and say what is missing in the note, for example "Need a fourth, level 3.0 to 3.5, relaxed pace." A doubles listing has two sides, and players who ask to join can choose to partner the host or to play against them, so you can fill the empty seats in any order.
Name the venue if you have one, because a real court is easier to say yes to than "somewhere near the park". Approve players as the requests arrive, and confirm the exact time with them in chat once the game is full. For a regular weekly game, build a community for your group so you don't start from zero each week. The same approach works for a fifth for five-a-side or extra hands for volleyball, and the tennis partner guide covers singles.
What happens if nobody joins my open match?
Joining closes at the start time. If nobody has joined by about an hour after the start time, the match is cancelled automatically and shows as expired, and you can post it again for another time. Before that, you can edit it, cancel it yourself, or share the listing link in your group chats to bring in players.
If requests are slow, check the basics first: is the place specific, is the time realistic for the area, and is the note friendly? Widening who can join to "anyone" and dropping the level range gets more requests too. Every listing has a share link that opens a preview in any browser, so you can paste it into a group chat and bring in friends of friends. If you need a game right now, a Quick Match with friends doesn't depend on strangers.
Is it safe to meet strangers through an open match?
Flobit adds some safety steps, but it can't vet people, so use the same care you would with any stranger. What the app does:
- The host approves every request. Nobody is seated until they say yes.
- Notes can't carry phone numbers, emails or links, so contact details stay out of public listings.
- You can block and report any player. Blocked players and their listings disappear from each other's lists.
- You choose who sees your listing. When you post, you can make it public or show it to your followers only.
- Sportsmanship ratings show how past opponents rated a player, unless that player has hidden theirs.
What you should do: meet in a public place first, tell a friend where you are going, and check the person's profile before you accept. An Garda Síochána's advice for meeting people you only know online is to meet in public first and share your plans and live location with someone you trust. Report anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a fourth for padel?
Post a doubles open match with the venue and time, and write what you need in the note, such as "Need a fourth, 3.0 to 3.5." Nearby players ask to join as your partner or as an opponent, and you approve who plays.
Can I play only with women?
Yes. When you post, set who can join to women, and only players whose profile says they are women can ask to join. The same works for men. Mixed is for mixed-gender games. Players who haven't set a gender can't ask to join a men-only or women-only game.
Can I limit an open match to my level?
You can set a level range, and it is shown on the listing. Flobit doesn't block players outside it, but the host approves every request, so you can say no. There is no level filter when browsing, so read the range and note on each listing.
Is it safe to meet strangers?
Flobit can't vet anyone, but it gives you control: the host approves every request, notes can't carry contact details, and you can block and report players. Meet in a public place first, tell a friend where you are going, and check the player's profile.
What if nobody joins?
Joining closes at the start time, and a match nobody has joined is cancelled about an hour later and shown as expired. Before that, edit the details, widen who can join, share the link with friends or post again for a better time. A Quick Match works if you already know who is playing.
How far away can open matches be?
The search starts at 50 km around your location, a place you choose or your home city. You can set any radius from 5 to 100 km. Listings come up nearest first, and you can filter by sport and by anytime, today or this week.
Is posting an open match free?
Yes. Posting, browsing and joining open matches is free, with no ads. Flobit doesn't book courts, so reserve the court with the venue yourself and then post the match with its time and place.
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