What are the standard dimensions of a football field. How do FIFA regulations impact field sizes. What are the key areas within a soccer pitch. How do professional stadium field sizes compare. What factors influence grass and turf management on football pitches.
FIFA Regulations for Football Field Dimensions
Football, known as soccer in some regions, is played on a rectangular field with specific dimensions regulated by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). These regulations ensure consistency across professional matches while allowing for some flexibility based on available space and level of play.
FIFA stipulates the following dimensions for standard football fields:
- Length (touch line): 90-120 meters (100-130 yards)
- Width (goal line): 45-90 meters (50-100 yards)
For international matches, the requirements are more stringent:
- Length: 100-110 meters
- Width: 64-75 meters
Why do these dimensions matter? The size of the field significantly impacts the pace and style of play. Larger fields may favor teams with strong endurance and passing abilities, while smaller pitches can lead to more intense, close-quarters gameplay.
Evolution of Football Field Dimensions
The standardization of football field dimensions has evolved significantly since the sport’s early days. In the 1800s, fields could be up to 100 yards wide and 200 yards long, nearly twice the size of modern pitches. This vast playing area often led to low-scoring matches and exhausted players.
Several key developments shaped the modern football field:
- 1882: Introduction of boundary lines and a halfway line
- 1887: Addition of the penalty mark
- 1892: Introduction of goal nets
- 1937: Implementation of the D-shaped penalty area curve
How did these changes impact the game? The introduction of clearly defined boundaries and specific areas within the pitch helped standardize gameplay, reduce disputes, and create more structured tactical approaches to the sport.
Key Areas Within a Football Pitch
The Goal Area
The goal area, also known as the six-yard box, is a crucial part of the football pitch. FIFA regulations state that:
- The distance from each goalpost to the parallel lines should be 5.5 meters
- When including the standard goal size, the total distance between the lines is 18.32 meters
What is the purpose of the goal area? This small box serves multiple functions, including:
- Defining the area from which goal kicks must be taken
- Providing a reference point for positioning during corner kicks
- Offering additional protection to goalkeepers when challenging for high balls
The Penalty Area
The penalty area, or 18-yard box, is a larger rectangle that encompasses the goal area. Its dimensions are:
- 16.5 meters extending into the field from the goal line
- 40.32 meters wide (distance between the lines parallel to the goal line)
The penalty mark is positioned 11 meters from the center of the goal, within this area. How does the penalty area influence gameplay? It defines the zone where:
- Goalkeepers can handle the ball
- Fouls result in direct free kicks or penalty kicks
- Defenders must be cautious to avoid conceding penalties
Professional Stadium Field Dimensions
While FIFA regulations allow for some variation in field sizes, many top-tier professional clubs opt for a standard dimension recommended by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations): 105 × 68 meters (114.8 × 74.4 yards).
Here are the dimensions of some famous stadiums:
- Camp Nou (Barcelona): 105 × 68 meters
- Wembley Stadium (London): 105 × 68 meters
- Old Trafford (Manchester): 105 × 68 meters
- Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro): 105 × 68 meters
- Stamford Bridge (London): 103 × 67 meters
- Anfield (Liverpool): 101 × 68 meters
Why do most professional stadiums adhere to these dimensions? Consistency in field size allows teams to:
- Maintain consistent tactics across home and away matches
- Ensure fair play in international competitions
- Optimize player performance and conditioning
Grass and Turf Management in Football
Grass Length and Appearance
The grass on a football pitch is not just for aesthetics; it plays a crucial role in gameplay. Typical grass length on professional pitches ranges from 25-30 millimeters. The distinctive striped pattern often seen on fields serves a practical purpose beyond visual appeal. How is this achieved?
- Grass is cut in alternating directions, creating visible stripes
- This pattern helps assistant referees spot offsides more easily by providing visual references
Grass Types and Climate Considerations
The type of grass used on a football pitch varies depending on the local climate. In cooler regions, common grass species include:
- Ryegrass
- Meadow-grass
- Tall fescue
Warmer regions often utilize:
- Bermudagrass
- Zoysia species
- Seashore paspalum
Why is choosing the right grass type important? The appropriate grass species ensures:
- Optimal playing conditions throughout the season
- Resilience to heavy use and varying weather conditions
- Reduced maintenance costs and water usage
Drainage Systems
Proper drainage is essential for maintaining playable conditions in various weather scenarios. UEFA guidelines recommend:
- A sand-dominated root zone beneath the pitch turf
- A pipe-drained sub-base underlying the sand-dominated zone
How does effective drainage benefit the game?
- Prevents waterlogging during heavy rain
- Maintains consistent playing conditions
- Reduces the likelihood of match postponements
- Protects the grass from damage due to standing water
Goal Post Evolution and Specifications
The goal posts, an iconic element of any football field, have undergone significant changes since the sport’s inception. Key milestones in goal post evolution include:
- Pre-1882: No crossbar, goals counted when the ball passed between posts at any height
- 1882-1892: Introduction of a ribbon approximately 2.5 meters above the ground to mark goal height
- 1892: Addition of goal nets in England
- Early 1900s: Transition from square to round and oval goal posts
Modern goal post specifications vary slightly between different levels of play:
- Professional and college: 18 feet, 6 inches wide
- High school: 23 feet, 4 inches wide
- All levels: 10 feet high from the ground
Why are these specifications important?
- Ensures fairness and consistency across different matches and competitions
- Influences scoring opportunities and goalkeeper strategies
- Impacts the overall dynamics of the game, particularly in set-piece situations
Additional Considerations for Football Field Setup
Beyond the core dimensions and features, several other factors contribute to a properly set up football field:
Advertising Boards
UEFA guidelines recommend an additional 1-3 meters of space beyond the touchline before placing advertising boards. This extra area serves multiple purposes:
- Enhances player safety during tackles or when running off the pitch
- Provides space for assistant referees to move along the sideline
- Allows for ball retrieval without interfering with advertisements
Bench Areas
The technical area, where team benches are located, is typically positioned:
- Along one sideline
- Equidistant from the halfway line
- With enough seating for team officials and substitutes
How does the bench area layout impact the game?
- Facilitates communication between coaches and players
- Allows for quick substitutions
- Provides a designated area for team management during the match
Warm-up Areas
Many modern stadiums incorporate dedicated warm-up areas for substitutes. These are typically located:
- Behind the goals
- Along the sidelines beyond the technical areas
What are the benefits of designated warm-up areas?
- Allows substitutes to maintain readiness without disrupting play
- Enhances the overall match day experience for players
- Reduces the risk of injury when players are called into action
The Impact of Field Dimensions on Tactics and Play Style
The size and condition of a football field can significantly influence team tactics and individual player performance. Consider the following aspects:
Field Size and Team Strategy
Teams often adapt their playing style based on their home field dimensions. For example:
- Larger fields may favor teams with strong passing games and high endurance
- Smaller pitches can benefit teams that rely on high-pressure tactics and quick transitions
How do managers account for field dimensions when developing game plans?
- Adjusting formation to exploit or mitigate the effects of field size
- Tailoring player selection based on the physical demands of different pitch sizes
- Developing specific set-piece routines that leverage field dimensions
Pitch Condition and Player Performance
The quality and condition of the playing surface can have a substantial impact on player performance and injury risk. Factors to consider include:
- Grass length and density
- Evenness of the surface
- Moisture levels and drainage efficiency
How do these factors affect gameplay?
- Influence ball speed and bounce, affecting passing accuracy and dribbling
- Impact player movement and acceleration, potentially altering tactical approaches
- Affect player fatigue and injury risk, especially in challenging weather conditions
Technological Advancements in Football Field Management
Modern football field management incorporates various technological innovations to maintain optimal playing conditions and enhance the overall match experience. Some key advancements include:
Hybrid Grass Systems
Many top-tier stadiums now use hybrid grass systems that combine natural grass with synthetic fibers. These systems offer several benefits:
- Increased durability and resistance to wear
- Improved stability for player footing
- Better drainage and reduced maintenance requirements
Undersoil Heating and Cooling
Climate control systems beneath the pitch help maintain ideal playing conditions in various weather scenarios:
- Prevent freezing in cold climates
- Promote grass growth and health in cooler seasons
- Regulate soil temperature for optimal grass performance
Automated Irrigation and Monitoring
Advanced irrigation systems and sensor networks allow groundskeepers to:
- Precisely control water distribution across the pitch
- Monitor soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels in real-time
- Optimize resource usage and maintain consistent playing conditions
How do these technological advancements benefit the sport?
- Ensure high-quality playing surfaces throughout the season
- Reduce the likelihood of weather-related match postponements
- Enhance player safety by maintaining consistent field conditions
- Improve sustainability through efficient resource management
The Future of Football Field Design and Management
As the sport of football continues to evolve, so too will the design and management of playing fields. Several trends and innovations are likely to shape the future of football pitches:
Sustainable Design and Maintenance
Environmental considerations are becoming increasingly important in stadium and field design. Future developments may include:
- Water-efficient irrigation systems and drought-resistant grass varieties
- Solar-powered field lighting and climate control systems
- Biodegradable line-marking materials and eco-friendly fertilizers
Multi-purpose Stadiums
To maximize venue utilization and revenue, many stadiums are being designed or retrofitted for multiple uses:
- Retractable or convertible playing surfaces
- Modular seating arrangements to accommodate different sports and events
- Integration of non-sporting facilities for year-round community use
Enhanced Spectator Experience
Future football field designs may incorporate features to improve the fan experience:
- Augmented reality displays for in-seat match information and replays
- Improved sight lines and proximity to the action
- Interactive elements that allow fans to engage with the match environment
How might these developments impact the game of football?
- Potentially influence rule changes to accommodate new field technologies
- Alter the economics of stadium ownership and management
- Create new opportunities for fan engagement and participation
- Further standardize playing conditions across different venues and climates
As football continues to captivate audiences worldwide, the evolution of field dimensions, design, and management will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the beautiful game. From the precise measurements stipulated by FIFA to the cutting-edge technologies employed in modern stadiums, every aspect of the football pitch contributes to the sport’s enduring popularity and competitive spirit.
Football (soccer) field dimensions
The size of a football (soccer) field is about 100 metres long and 60 metres wide, but in official games there are regulations about the minimum and maximum dimension. In the world football the most official dimensions are those that had been decied by FIFA (The Fédération Internationale de Football Association).
According to the stipulations from FIFA a football field should have specific minimum and maximum dimensions:
- The length (touch line) has to be minimum 90 metres (100 yds) and maximum 120 metres (130 yds).
- The width (goal line) has to be minimum 45 metres (50 yds) and maximum 90 metres (100 yds).
For international matches the rules are somewhat stricter:
- The length has to be minimum 100 metres and maximum 110 metres.
- The width has to be minimum 64 metres and maximum 75 metres.
In 1800s, the fields could be up to 100 yards wide and 200 yards long. The boundaries were only marked by flags until 1882 when boundary lines, as well as a halfway line (the center circle became a standard five years later), on the turf were enforced.
The goal area
The goal area is the small box inside the penalty area. The FIFA rules stipulates that the distance from each goalpost to the lines that goes parallel with the touch line should be 5.5 metres. When the size of a standard goal is added it makes the distance between the lines 18.32 metres.
The penalty area
The penalty area is the bigger box close to the goal that integrates the goal area and the penalty mark (it was introduced in 1887 and was complemented by D-shaped curve in 1937). The lines that extend into the fields are 16.5 metres and they have a 40.32 metres distance from each other.
The penalty mark is 11 metres from the goal line and centered on the fields’ goal line.
Examples
A very common field dimension among the top clubs in the world is 105 × 68 metres (114. 8 × 74.4 yds), since this is a recommendation from UEFA. Some famous stadiums and the dimension of their football fields:
Camp Nou: 105 × 68 metres
Wembley: 105 × 68 metres
Old Trafford: 105 × 68 metres
Emirates Stadium: 105 × 68 metres
San Siro: 105 × 68 metres
Allianz Arena: 105 × 68 metres
Maracanã: 105 × 68 metres
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: 105 × 68 metres
Stamford Bridge: 103 × 67 metres
Anfield: 101 × 68 metres
According to the guidelines of UEFA, it should be an additional 1-3 metres beyond the touchline to the advertising boards.
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The grass
The grass length
The typical length of the grass on a pitch is 25-30 millimeters. The grass is often cut from side to side, in every other length, which brings visible stripes on the grass. This is made to help the assistant referees to spot offsides easier by giving vertical references.
The grass types
Depending of the climate, different turfgrass is needed. In cooler regions grass species like ryegrass, meadow-grass and tall faescue is used. In warmer regions, species such as bermudagrass, zoysia species and seashore paspalum is used.
The drainage
Among the UEFA guidelines is considerations for drainage. To avoid that pitch is filled with water in heavy rain, it should be a sand-dominated root zone below the pitch turf. Underlaying this sand-dominated zone is a pipe-drained sub-base.
The goalpost
Until 1882, the goalposts would lack a crossbar and goals could be approved when the ball was kicked between the post several metres up in the air. A period before the crossbar were introduced, a ribbon about 2.5 meters above the ground were used as marking the height. The net would be introduced ten years later in England. In the beginning of the 1900s, round and oval goal posts were introduced instead of the previous square variants.
References:
https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/Stadium&Security/02/54/11/97/2541197_DOWNLOAD. pdf
The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football – David Goldblatt (2008)
Football Field Dimensions & Measurements
Football Field Dimensions & Measurements
Most football field dimensions are similar across different levels
of competition. Below is a graphic showing a basic football
field. We also have explanations below detailing the small
differences between the high school, college, and pro ranks of
football. You can also check out our
Quick Facts About Football Court
Measurements.
The Basic Football Field
Differences Between College, Professional and High School Football Fields
The number one difference between high school and college/pro
football fields is the goal post. The width of the goal posts
are 23 feet, 4 inches for high school as compared to 18 feet, 6
inches for college and pro ranks. All goal post are 10 feet
from the ground. There should be padding on the goal post from
the ground up to 6 feet from the ground.
You’ll also see a “G” on high school fields where the goal line is
located. It should also be noted that small signs are usually
placed on high school fields on the 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 yard
lines outside the field as a visual aid for the players.
In professional football fields, the coaches and team’s box
dimensions may vary a little from college or high school.
Quick Facts About Football Field Measurements
Q: How long is a football field?
A: From end zone to end zone, it is 100 yards or 300 feet.
Counting the end zones, it’s 360 feet long.
Q: How tall are the goal posts on a football field?
A:
At least 20 feet in high school, 30 feet in college and pro.
Q: How wide is a football field?
A: 140 feet.
Q: What is the limit line on football field?
A:
Typically the boundary for fans and/or media.
Q: How long is a Canadian football field?
A: 110 yards from goal to goal, which is 10 yards
longer than US football fields.
Q: What size are the marks and lines on a football
field?
A: Typically 4 inches wide.
An Overview of Football History
North American (or “gridiron”) football is the most popular sport in
the United States today. The National Football League’s annual
revenue dwarfs that of Major League Baseball and the National Basketball
Association, America’s two other dominant sports leagues. It has
the most participants of any sport at both the high school and college
levels. The Super Bowl is the biggest annual sporting event in the
U.S., and college football rankings are always a topic of great debate
every year.
Oddly, though, as popular as football is in the U.S., it is not
played virtually anywhere besides North America. In fact, in other
parts of the world, the term “football” actually refers to what
Americans would call “soccer. ” The sport actually originated from a
combination of soccer and rugby, and the first official game of college
football, played on November 6, 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton,
reflected these origins. It was not until the 1880s, when Yale
rugby player Walter Camp began to change the rules of the sport, that
North American football came to resemble the sport we know it as today.
That original game featured two teams of 25 players each, and the
ball had to be kicked or batted with hands, feet, head, or sides.
The size of the teams was reduced significantly over time, down to the
11 players used on the field today. The professional era of
football officially began November 12, 1892, when William “Pudge” Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play a game for the Allegheny Athletic
Association in a match against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. The
NFL was formed in 1920 and established itself as the premiere
professional league by 1922.
Parts of the world outside of the U. S. sometimes still refer to North
American football as “gridiron.” This term came from a description of
the sport’s playing field, which until the early 1920s was marked with a
series of parallel lines in a checkerboard pattern, resembling a literal
gridiron. Even though the design of the field would change, the
nickname would remain. No matter what the sport is called,
however, there is no denying that North American football is king of the
hill in the U.S.
Football Field Dimensions for High School, NCAA, Pro
Football Field Marking Dimensions
NCAA Field Layout & Dimensions
The field shall be a rectangular area with dimensions, lines, zones, goals and pylons as indicated and titled the following three links:
Field Dimension 1, Field Dimension 2, and Field Dimension 3
High School Football Field Differences
The National Federation of State High School Associations states that:
- High school goal posts are 23’4″ wide and 20′ tall from ground while NCAA goal posts are 18’6″ wide and 30′ tall poles from ground.
- High school hash marks are 53’4″ from the sidelines while NCAA hash marks are 60′ from sidelines.
Marking Boundary Areas
Measurements shall be from the inside edges of the boundary markings. The entire width of each goal line shall be in the end zone.
Limit Lines
a. Limit lines shall be marked with 12-inch lines, at 24-inch intervals; 12 feet outside the sidelines and the end lines, except in stadiums where total field surface does not permit. In these stadiums, the limit lines shall not be less than six feet from the sidelines and end lines. Limit lines shall be 4 inches in width and maybe yellow. No person outside the team area shall be within the limit lines.
b. The limit lines shall continue six feet from the team area around the side and back of the team area, if the stadium permits.
Team Area and Coaching Box
On each side of the field, a team area in back of the limit line and between the 25-yard lines shall be marked for the exclusive use of substitutes, trainers and other persons affiliated with the team. Limit lines designating team areas shall be solid lines. A coaching line shall be marked with a solid line six feet outside the sideline between the 25-yard lines. The area between the coaching line and the limit line between the 25-yard lines shall contain white diagonal lines or be marked distinctly for use of coaches (Rule 9-1-5-a). A 4-inch-by-4-inch mark is mandatory at each five-yard line extended between the goal lines as an extension of the coaching line for line-to-gain and down indicator six-foot reference points.
Field Painting Strategies
Learn about Field Painting Strategies from sports turf managers. This easy reading tutorial covers the customer, field marking paint, plant growth regulators, precautions, football season preparations, game week activities, field marking tools, paint mixing, field striping, and painting logos from manufactured stencils and do-it-yourself layouts.
A. All football field dimension lines shown must be marked 4 inches in width with a white, nontoxic material that is not injurious to the eyes or skin (Exceptions: Sidelines and end lines may exceed 4 inches in width, and Rule 1-2-1-g).
B. Twenty-four inch short yard-line extensions, four inches inside the sidelines and at the inbounds lines, are mandatory; and all yard lines shall be four inches from the sidelines (Rule 2-11-4).
C. A solid white area between the sideline and the coaching line is mandatory.
D. White field markings or contrasting decorative markings (e.g., logos, team names, emblems, event etc.) are permissible in the end zones but shall not be closer than four feet to any line.
E. Contrasting coloring in the end zones may abut any line.
F. Contrasting decorative material is permissible within the sidelines and between the goal lines but shall not obliterate yard lines, goal lines or sidelines.
G. Goal lines may be of one contrasting color from the white lines.
H. Advertising is prohibited on the field [Exceptions: (1) Permitted for any game not played in-season when the sponsor is associated with the name of that game, and (2) NCAA Football logo].
I. White field yard-line numbers measuring 6 feet in height and 4 feet in width, with the tops of the numbers nine yards from the sidelines, are recommended.
J. White directional arrows next to the field numbers (except the 50) indicating the direction toward the nearest goal line are permitted. The arrow is a triangle with an 18-inch base and two sides that are 36 inches each.
K. The two inbounds lines (hash marks) are 60 feet from the sidelines. Inbound lines and short yard-line extensions shall measure 24 inches in length.
L. Nine-yard marks 12 inches in length, every 10 yards, shall be located nine yards from the sidelines. They are not required if the field is numbered according to Rule 1-2-1-i.
TruMark Marking Products/Resources
Field Marking
When marking dimensions of a football field for the first time and subsequent seasons how many points or intersections should you be staking? Here’s my quick calculations and why these are staking points for pulling a string line when marking a football field.
“Mandatory” staking points
4 – Four primary corners of the football field playing boundary, a squared field
4 – Goal line on both sides and ends of the field
36 – Each 5 yard line on both sides and ends of the field, 9 x 4 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45)
2 – 50 yard line both sides
4 – Midfield hash mark, cross hash, both sides and both ends, different distances for high school (53′ 4″), college (60′), pro from the sideline
50 – Subtotal
“Optional” staking points
4 – 9 Yard Mark, 27′ offset from the sideline to top of the Sideline Numbers
4 – Coach / Bench Player zone, 6 foot off the sideline at 25 yard line mark
4 – Media safety zone, 12 foot off the sideline from four major corners
4 – Optional sideline number pylons
4 – 4 inch hash mark offset from the sideline to support 5-yard lines and 4″ x 24″ hash mark
20 – Subtotal
Check out the different staking options using marking whiskers and associated stakes (nails and Raptor Stakes), Stake Alls integrated marking whisker with plastic stake, Tru Mark metal field line anchor with whisker plug.
Save time by using Tru Mark String Winders and the feature to allow for quick string recovery using a cordless drill.
We offer the 3.5′ and 6′ heavy duty football Sideline Number Stencil Sets and Hash Mark Stencil .
Trumark’s Trail Blazing Blog
Learn about field painting and turf tips, sports turf industry trends and future trends impacting our local community.Here is some information on field marking operations.
- How many cans of paint are needed to line a field?
- Football Field Stencils for quick application and professional appearance
- Make your lines and stencils stand out with Tru Mark Premium Quality Field Marking Paints . Tru Mark field striping paint for synthetic/artificial and natural turf surfaces.
- Click here to learn How to Select a Field Marker . The article lists a series of questions and notes concerning the capabilities and features you should consider when making a purchasing decision.
- Click here for the advantages of using acrylic latex field marking paint for striping your sports fields. Click here to understand the cost savings advantage of using acrylic latex paint over aerosol paint.
Soccer Field Size, Layout, and Dimensions – Backyard Sidekick
In this article I will cover everything soccer field related. From the different types of soccer fields, to their size and dimensions, all soccer field questions I’ve researched and answered here.
A regulation soccer field as defined by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is between 110 to 120 yards long, and 70 to 80 yards wide. The optimum soccer field size is 360 feet long (120 yards) by 225 feet wide (75 yards), but many professional soccer fields vary in size.
That’s a good example of the dimensions of a professional or competition soccer field. But high school and college level fields are also very common for playing soccer. Let’s dive into the soccer field layout, and the different field types and their dimensions.
What Is The Standard Soccer Field Size
Soccer field size may vary, but must stay within certain parameters to meet the guidelines of different organizations. For example, an international soccer field may be of a different size than a standard soccer field, and have to fit within different regulated dimensions.
Here are some tables that show the regulation soccer field sizes:
FIFA Standard | Minimum | Maximum |
---|---|---|
Length | 100 Yards | 130 Yards |
Width (Goal Line) | 50 Yards | 100 Yards |
All lines must be of the same width, which must be not more than 12 cm (5 ins).
FIFA Laws Of The Game (source)
International | Minimum | Maximum |
---|---|---|
Length | 110 Yards | 120 Yards |
Width (Goal Line) | 70 Yards | 80 Yards |
As you can see the international soccer field dimensions are more strict. This is to keep teams playing on similar sized fields when competing with teams from other countries. A standard soccer field however, has some wiggle room in field size. This opens up options for where a soccer field can be placed, and increases the number of playable fields across the board.
Here’s a cool video showing some common sports arena sizes to give you an idea of how big a soccer field is and where it fits in the world of sports.
Soccer Field Layout
The dimensions of the field overall have requirements, but so do all the markings inside the field of play. The goal box, and penalty box need to be of a certain size as well as the corner kick locations and the center circle.
Let me break down each part of a soccer field, their layout and dimensions, and then we’ll cover what the markings are. Let’s start with the most important area, the goal and penalty box area of the field. View the image below to see where these are on the field.
Goal Box
The goal box will start 6 yards from the ends of both sides of the goal post, and extend 6 yards onto the field. The another marking will connect the ends of those two to create the goal box.
Notice the goal box fits entirely inside the penalty box in the image below.
Penalty Box
The penalty box is drawn similar to the goal box, except using 18 yards as its measurement. 18 yards from either end of the goal post, and 18 yards into the field. Connected with another mark to create the penalty box.
Penalty Kick Mark
The penalty kick mark is placed 12 yards away from the center of the goal. This is where penalty kicks will be made inside the penalty box on the penalty kick mark.
Penalty Arc
The penalty arc is drawn only outside the penalty box with a radius of 10 yards, with the penalty kick mark being it’s center. The reason to have a penalty arc in the first place is to make sure all other players are at least 10 yards away from the penalty kicker.
Those are important field dimension to remember in soccer. The others include the center circle, the corner arc, and the goal dimensions.
Center Circle
The center circle is placed at the center of the field with a radius of 10 yards. The very center of the center circle is the most center location on the entire soccer field. View the image below to see what that looks like.
Corner Arc
The corner arc is where a corner kick will be taken. The corner arc is a 1 yard radius 1/4 circle in each corner of the field. When taking a corner kick, the ball must stay within the corner arc.
Some fields will have a marking 10 yards away from the corner arc to prevent players being closer than 10 yards during a corner kick.
Flag Post
Even the flag posts at each corner of the field have a regulation. The flag posts must not be less that 5 feet tall and be placed at each corner of the field.
Official Soccer Goal Dimensions
The official soccer goal dimensions as regulated by FIFA, is to have a soccer goal 8 yards in width (7.32 meters) and 8 feet in height (2.44 meters) measured from the inside of one post to the inside of the other post, and from the ground to the bottom of the top post.
The goal posts must be white in color and securely anchored to the ground. A white net may be attached only if it does not affect game-play. Most soccer games will use a white net on the soccer field, and some fields require it to play.
What Are The Markings On A Soccer Field?
Now that you now the layout of the field, all the markings will be pretty straightforward. I do want to point out that the goal line is sometimes referred to as the end line and the touch line is often referred to as the side line.
Here is the list of soccer field markings:
- Corner Arc
- Goal Box
- Penalty Box
- Penalty Arc
- Penalty Kick Mark
- Sideline
- End-line
- Halfway Line
- Center Circle
Are All Soccer Fields The Same Size?
No, not all soccer fields are the same size. But all official soccer fields do fit inside an agreed upon set of dimensions. An official FIFA regulation soccer field will be between 100 to 130 yards long, and 50 to 100 yards wide. A typical soccer field is 120 yards long by 75 yards wide.
As you can see there is quite a bit of lee-way in the allowed dimensions of a soccer field. Technically, a perfectly square field 100 yards by 100 yards would fit into these FIFA regulation sizes, but they actually stipulate that the field must not be square. So you will not be able to find a square shaped regulation soccer field.
Although FIFA sets the overall standard for soccer field dimensions, many leagues have their own regulations a soccer field must adhere to. Here’s a quick chart to show you the optimal soccer field sizes for some popular soccer leagues and clubs.
League/Group | Length | Width |
---|---|---|
English Premier League | 115 Yards | 75 Yards |
FIFA | 115 Yards | 74 Yards |
MLS Major League Soccer | 110 Yards | 70 Yards |
Barcelona Pitch | 115 Yards | 74 Yards |
As you can see, most soccer fields will vary in dimension, but be close enough to not affect game-play in a negative way. Aside from professional soccer fields and dimensions, there are youth, high school, and college fields that use their own set of standard soccer field dimensions.
Youth Soccer Field Dimensions
Youth soccer fields can vary in size depending on the age and size of the players. Playing on a large professional sized soccer field is not fun for kids, or local adult pick-up games or leagues. Youth fields range in sizes 15X30 yards to 60X100 yards.
Local groups and teams creating a league will typically play on youth or high school fields to make the games more fun.
The size of field is usually determined by the size of player. For example, if the youth players step size are about half the step size of a full grown adult, they would play on a U-8 field meant for players 50% the size of an adult. A 10 or 12 years old would be about 80%, and would play on a U-12 field.
The step size is important because it determines the length of a step taken to kick a ball. If the little ones are playing a field that is too big for them, they will quickly get bored, or even worse, give up. Here’s a handy chart to quickly tell what field youth should be playing on based off size and age.
Age | % Of Adult Step | Field Size (Yards) | Field Label |
---|---|---|---|
14+ | 100% | 60 x 100 | U-14 |
12 | 80% | 50 x 80 | U-12 |
10 | 70% | 40 x 70 | U-10 |
8 | 50% | 25 x 50 | U-8 |
6 | 25% | 15 x 30 | U-6 |
High School Soccer Field Dimensions
High school soccer fields are not the same size as professional fields, and will typically fall into the U-14 category sized soccer field. The high school soccer field regulation size is set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and range from 55 to 80 yards wide and 100 to 120 yards long.
As you can see on the smaller end of those regulation sizes, a high school soccer team could utilize a U-14, 60 by 100 yards youth field. Many smaller high schools will use their towns local youth sized fields to play games and practice on. But a larger high school will typically have their own soccer field of regulation size.
College Soccer Field Dimensions
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sets the standard college level soccer field dimensions at 70 to 75 yards wide and 115 to 120 yards long. These strict soccer field regulations are set to more closely match a professional sized soccer field, and fit with the FIFA regulated sizes.
Everything from the goal size to the diameter of the center circle on a college soccer field is set to match professional league soccer field dimensions.
The optimum size is 75 yards [68.58 m] by 120 yards [109.73 m]. Facilities
in use before 1995 need only to be rectangular the width of which shall not exceed the length. Facilities constructed after 1995 shall be a minimum of 70 yards in width [64.01 m] by 115 yards [105.16 m] in length. (source)
A soccer field is larger than a football field because a football field is limited to 53 1/3 yards wide, where a soccer field is typically 75 yards wide and can be up to 100 yards wide in some cases. The overall square footage of a typical professional FIFA soccer field is greater than an NFL regulation football field.
Dimension | Soccer | Football |
---|---|---|
Typical Width | 75 Yards | 54 Yards |
Typical Length | 120 Yards | 120 Yards (including end-zones) |
Playing Area | 9000 Sq. Yards | 5400 Sq. Yards |
The smallest acceptable FIFA regulations size soccer field is 50 by 100 yards, which translates to about 5000 square yards of playing area. So technically, the smallest soccer field will be smaller than an NFL football field, but those sized fields are very uncommon and not allowed for international matches.
Is An MLS Field Smaller Than FIFA?
No, an MLS field is not smaller than FIFA regulation. A Major League Soccer (MLS) fields dimensions are in the acceptable range of FIFA international standard sizes. FIFA allows for a range of dimensions for a soccer field, and every MLS field fits within those dimensions.
While some FIFA soccer fields may be smaller than an MLS field, the MLS field dimensions are set in accordance with the FIFA international soccer field dimensions standard.
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Robert Sampson
I’m Robert Sampson and I live in Colorado where I spend a lot of time in the backyard with my family either grilling, playing games and sports, or working on a project to make our backyard a better place to be.
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Association football (soccer) field dimensions | Vertical association football pitch – Template | Football pitch metric
“A football pitch (also known as a football field or soccer field) is the playing surface for the game of football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, “The Field of Play”.
All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define. …
Pitch boundary.
The pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer sides are called touchlines. The other opposing sides are called the goal lines. … The two touch lines must also be of the same length… in international matches, the goal lines must be between 64 and 75 m (70 and 80 yd) long and the touchlines must be between 100 and 110 m (110 and 120 yd). All lines must be equally wide, not to exceed 12 centimetres (5 in). The corners of the pitch are demarcated by corner flags. …
Goals.
Goals are placed at the centre of each goal-line. These consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the corner flagposts, joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts must be 7.32 metres (8 yd) apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar must be 2.44 metres (8 ft) above the ground. Nets are usually placed behind the goal, though are not required by the Laws.
Goalposts and crossbars must be white, and made of wood, metal or other approved material.” [Association football pitch. Wikipedia]
The diagram example “Association football (soccer) field dimensions” was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Football solution from the Sport area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
www.conceptdraw.com/ solution-park/ sport-soccer
Association football (soccer) diagram
How Big is a Soccer Field? Dimensions and Size – Your Soccer Home
Many people are interested in knowing how big a soccer field is. I remember when I first found out, I was surprised at all the requirements of the size and dimensions that a soccer field must comply with. I wanted to share this information with you to help you understand and appreciate the space in which soccer is played.
So, how big is a soccer field?
The size of a soccer field must be between 100-130 yards (90-120 meters) long by 50-100 yards (45–90 meters) wide. In an international game, the field’s size must be between 110-120 yards (100-110 m) long by 70-80 yards (64-75 m) wide. [source]
You may be here because you have a role in creating a soccer field, or you may just be a fan who is interested in this area of soccer and just wants to know how big a soccer field is. Either way, this post should answer all your questions regarding the size and dimensions of a soccer field.
Size and dimensions of a soccer field
Measurements of the markings on a soccer field
When it comes to the dimensions, size, or markings on a soccer field there are specific criteria that every field or stadium has to comply with.
For instance:
A soccer field is 100-130 yards (90-120 meters) long. At both national and international level, the rules of soccer dictate that a field’s length be within these measurements.
As you can see in the image above everything from the width of the field to the radius of the corner arc is clearly laid out to help everyone understand what the size and dimension requirements are on a soccer field.
In the rest of this post we’ll go into more detail about the measurements for each individual area of the field and explain everything you need to know.
Official soccer field dimensions
This table below lays out the requirements for soccer field dimensions and clearly shows how big a soccer field is.
Yards | Meters | |
Maximum Width | 100 | 90 |
Maximum Length | 130 | 120 |
Minimum Width | 50 | 45 |
Minimum Length | 100 | 90 |
Information taken from the official Laws of the Game of soccer
In the above table, measurements are from the outside of the lines as the lines are part of the area they enclose. The touchline must also be longer than the goal line.
The dimensions of a soccer field are 100-130 yards (90-120 meters) long by 50-100 yards (45–90 meters) wide. The rules of soccer permit some flexibility around the dimensions of the field to allow teams to play in the area available to them.
If you look at this graphic below, you will see the slight variations between the lengths of the fields that MLS teams play on. But you will also notice that they are all within the dimensions required by the rules of soccer.
Length of 5 MLS soccer fields
You will see a similar story with the widths of the soccer fields.
Width of 5 MLS soccer fields
This means a soccer field is larger than a football field and if you’re interested in comparing the size of a soccer field to the size of a football field click here to go to my article comparing the two fields in detail.
Dimensions for a soccer field in international games
For international games, the requirements are similar but slightly different. This table below will show you what the maximum and minimum lengths and widths should be for and international game.
Yards | Meters | |
Maximum Width | 80 | 75 |
Maximum Length | 120 | 110 |
Minimum Width | 70 | 64 |
Minimum Length | 110 | 100 |
Length and width of an international soccer field
In the above table, measurements are from the outside of the lines as the lines are part of the area they enclose. The touchline must also be longer than the goal line.
Each individual competition can determine the length of the goal line and touchline within the above dimensions that are set out for them. You will often find that different games are played on slightly different sized fields even in the same competition. This is because even within a competition’s guidelines there can be some variations.
Soccer Field markings
The only markings allowed on the field are the specific markings described in these rules and shown in the graphic above. The markings are used as boundaries to clearly define where on the field the ball or the player is.
It is a requirement that the field of play must be rectangular and marked with continuous lines which must not be dangerous.
It is acceptable to use artificial playing surface material for the field markings on natural fields as long as it is not dangerous.
The two longer boundary lines are referred to as the touchlines. The two shorter lines are called the goal lines.
The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line, which joins the midpoints of the two touchlines.
The mark in the center of the field is at the midpoint of the halfway line and a circle with a radius of 10 yds (9.15 m) is marked around it. At kick-off, at the beginning of each half or at a restart after a goal has been scored, the opposing team must stay outside of this circle until the ball has been kicked.
Marks may be made off the field of play 10 yds (9.15 m) from the corner arc at right angles to the goal lines and the touchlines. This is to show the distance the opposing team must stay away from the ball at a corner kick.
All lines must be of the same width, which must not be more than 5 inches (12 cm) and the goal lines must be of the same width as the goalposts and the crossbar.
Where artificial surfaces are used, other lines are permitted provided they are a different color and clearly distinguishable from the football lines.
A player who makes unauthorized marks on the field of play must be cautioned for unsporting behavior. If the referee notices this being done during the match, the player is cautioned when the ball next goes out of play.
The goal area in soccer
When you look at a soccer field you will see two rectangular boxes around the goals. The smaller of the two boxes is called the goal area.
To determine the size of the goal area two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 6 yds(5.5m) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for 6 yds (5.5m) and are connected by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.
These measurements are why you may sometimes hear the goal area referred to as the “6-yard box”.
The penalty area in soccer
The larger rectangular box surrounding the goal is referred to as the penalty area.
To determine the size of the penalty area two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line 18 yards (16.5m) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for 18 yds (16.5 m) and are connected by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.
These measurements are why you may sometimes hear the penalty box referred to as the “18-yard box”.
Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 12 yds (11m) from the midpoint between the goalposts. The penalty mark is measured from the center of the mark to the back edge of the goal line.
An arc of a circle with a radius of 10 yds (9.15 m) from the center of each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.
Corner area in soccer
The corner area is defined by a quarter circle with a radius of 1 yard (1 m) from each corner flagpost drawn inside the field of play
Flagposts in soccer
A flag must be placed at each corner of the soccer field. It should be at least 5 ft (1.5 m) high and it must have a non-pointed top.
There is the option of placing a flagpost at each end of the halfway line. This is not a requirement and can be done if desired. If a flagpost is placed at the end of the halfway line then it must be at least 1 yard (1 m) outside the touchline.
The technical area in soccer
Not every soccer field will have a technical area. Only stadiums or fields where there is a designated seated area for team officials, substitutes and substituted players will there be a need for a technical area.
When it comes to the technical area certain rules apply. They are as follows.
- The technical area should only extend 1 yard (1 m) on either side of the designated seated area and up to a distance of 1 yard (1 m) from the touchline
- Markings should be used to define the area
- The number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the competition rules
- The occupants of the technical area are identified before the start of the match in accordance with the competition rules
- The occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner
- The occupants of the technical area must remain within its confines except in special circumstances, e.g. a physiotherapist/doctor entering the field of play, with the referee’s permission, to assess an injured player
- Only one person at a time is authorized to convey tactical instructions from the technical area
Goals in soccer
When it comes to the goals on the field of play there are also specific rules that have to be followed.
- A goal must be placed on the center of each goal line.
- A goal consists of two vertical posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.
- The goalposts and crossbar must be made of approved material. They must be square, rectangular, round or elliptical in shape and must not be dangerous.
- The distance between the inside of the posts is 8 yards (7.32 m) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 8 ft (2.44 m).
- The position of the goalposts in relation to the goal line must be in accordance with the set guidelines which show that the goal post must be 6 yds(5.5m) from the nearest goal area line and 18 yds (16.5 m) from the nearest penalty area line.
- The goalposts and the crossbar must be white and have the same width and depth, which must not exceed 5 ins (12 cm).
- If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it has been repaired or replaced in position. If it can not be repaired the match must be abandoned. A rope or any flexible or dangerous material may not replace the crossbar. Play is restarted with a dropped ball.
- Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal; they must be properly supported and must not interfere with the goalkeeper.
- Safety Goals (including portable goals) must be firmly secured to the ground.
Field surface in soccer
When it comes to the field surface that the game will be played on there are a couple of options for what can be used.
- The field can be completely natural – such as grass. This is what you will most commonly see.
- The field can be completely artificial. This is dependent on the specific competition rules the field is being used for.
- The field can be a hybrid of natural and artificial materials. Again, this is dependent on the specific competition rules the field is being used for.
In any competition, if an artificial surface is used then the color of the surface must be green.
An artificial surface must also meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf or the International Match Standard unless special dispensation is given by The IFAB. This applies when the artificial surface is used in competition matches between representative teams of national football associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches.
The IFAB makes the decisions
There is only one authority for any professional or official game who decides what a soccer field is going to look like. That is the International Football Association Board(IFAB). The IFAB is the organization that governs and decides what the rules of soccer are. From the FIFA World Cup final all the way down to a small remote village a soccer game has to follow their rules.
This is no different when it comes to the size or dimensions of the soccer field. The IFAB has specific measurements and expectations that have to be followed. In this post, these rules have been laid out for you so you can see and understand what a soccer field should look like.
All these sizes, dimensions, and measurements used in this post are the official measurements taken from the IFAB Rules of the Game.
If after reading this you want to see how a soccer field compares with a football field then click here to go to an article I wrote comparing the two.
Or if you’re interested in finding out more about the rules of soccer check out this recent article I wrote – A Simple and Easy to Understand Guide to the Rules of Soccer
*Also, check out the next post – The 15 Pieces of Equipment Used in Every Soccer Game *
FIFA Soccer Field Dimension (Find Out The Stipulated Soccer Field Dimensions By FIFA!)
Last Updated on December 7, 2020 by Daniel Cuttridge
According to the stipulation from FIFA, the length of a soccer field must be a minimum of 90 meters (100 yards) and a maximum of 120 meters (130 yards). Also, the width of the soccer field must be a minimum of 45 meters (50 yards) and a maximum of 90 meters (100 yards). A football (soccer) field has a size of about 100 meters long and 60 meters wide, however, there are different rules in official games about the minimum and maximum dimensions. FIFA (The Federation International de Football Association), decides the most official soccer field dimension. FIFA noted that every soccer field must have specific maximum and minimum dimensions. This includes;
1. The length of a soccer field must be a minimum of 90 meters (100 yards) and a maximum of 120 meters (130 yards).
2. The width of the soccer field must be a minimum of 45 meters (50 yards) and a maximum of 90 meters (100 yards).
However, international matches have their own rules which are somehow stricter.
The rules state that;
1. The width of a soccer field must have a minimum of 64 meters and a maximum of 75 meters
2. The length of a soccer field must have a minimum of 100 meters a maximum of 110 meters.
This Table Contains Various Examples Of Top Stadiums And Their Field Dimensions.
Examples Of Stadium | Field Dimensions |
Camp Nou | 105×68 meters |
Wembley Stadium | 105×68 meters |
San Siro | 105×68 meters |
Old Trafford | 105×68 meters |
How Wide Is A Soccer Goal?
24 feet or 8 yards
How Tall Is A Soccer Goal?
A soccer goal is 8 feet tall! The opening area inside the crossbar and posts is used to measure a soccer goal size. The inner edges of the vertical posts have a distance of about 8 yards across which is around 7.32 meters. The height of the crossbar is measured from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground, and a standard goal post should be 8 feet (2.44 meters) tall.
What Is The Corner Flag Height?
A flagpost is installed at the corners of the field, measuring 5 feet (1.5 meters) high. A 1-meter radius is drawn in form of a quarter circle inside the field of play at each corner.
The Goal Area
The small box inside the penalty the area is known as the goal area. The FIFA rules stipulated that the distance between each goal post from each goal post to the touchline should be 5.5 meters. The distance between the lines increases to 18.32 meters when the size of a standard goal is added.
The Penalty Area
The bigger box close to the goal that merges the penalty mark and the goal area is called the penalty area. 16.5 meters is the measurement of the lines that extend into the fields, there is about a 40.32-meter distance between them. The penalty mark is centered on the field’s goal line and it is 11 meters from the goal line.
Examples
Following the recommendation from UEFA, most top European football clubs in the world have a very common field dimension which is 114.8 × 74.4 yards (105 × 68 meters). We have picked some famous football club stadiums with their football fields;
1. San Siro stadium: 105 × 68 meters
2. Allianz Arena stadium: 105 × 68 meters
3. Maracanã stadium: 105 × 68 meters
4. Camp Nou stadium: 105 × 68 meters
5. Wembley Stadium: 105 × 68 meters
6. Old Trafford stadium: 105 × 68 meters
7. Emirates Stadium: 105 × 68 meters
8. Tottenham Hotspur stadium: 105 × 68 meters
9. Stamford Bridge stadium: 103 × 67 meters
10. Anfield stadium: 101 × 68 meters
What Are Youth Soccer Field Dimensions (Mini-Soccer)?
The age of the participants determines the youth football field dimensions. Normally, a smaller-size field is used for mini soccer, or junior football to accommodate kids’ sizes and abilities.
For kids between the age of 7 and 8, the field size is 60-90 feet wide (18.30-27.45 meters) x 90-150 feet long (27.45-45.75 meters). For kids between the age of 9 and 10, the field size 90-120 feet wide (27.45-36.60 meters) x 150-180 feet long (45.75-54.90 meters).
What Are The High School Soccer Field Dimensions?
The NFHS, National Federation of State High School Associations has rules set concerning the U.S. high school soccer field dimensions. The high school soccer field has a variety of sizes from 55 yards in width x 100 yards in length to 80 yards in width x 120 yards in length.
What Are The NCAA And College Soccer Field Dimensions?
The NCAA soccer field has a variety of sizes from 70 yards in width × 115 yards in length to 75 yards in width × 120 yards in length.
What are the World Cup Soccer Field Dimensions?
If you’re talking about the biggest championship competition involving FIFA men’s national teams, the FIFA World Cup is one of them. In this championship, 211 countries compete to fight for a spot in the final rounds. The FIFA World Cup is certainly the biggest single-event sporting competition in the whole world. The optimal FIFA field dimensions are the same as the World Cup field dimensions. The field dimensions include;
110-120 yards (100-110 meters) in length by 70-80 yards (64-73 meters) in width.
What Size Is A Canadian Football Field?
The size of a Canadian football field is 110-120 yards (100-110 meters) in length by 65 yards (59 meters) in width.
Final Words
The bottom line is that a football (soccer) area has a size of approximately a hundred meters in length and sixty meters wide, nonetheless, you will find rules that are different in recognized activities about the minimum as well as maximum dimensions. FIFA (The Federation International de Football Association), decides probably the most recognized soccer field dimension. FIFA noted that each soccer field should have certain minimum and maximum dimensions. We’ve reached the final session of this informative article. We hope you were able to find resources in your quest to know the FIFA soccer field dimensions. Please do not hesitate to contact us for questions or comments. Thanks!
Layout and dimensions of the football field
Today, the football field is not only the place where the matches between the teams take place. This is a very complex engineering project that strictly complies with the established standards for the placement, size and arrangement of various support systems. The first requirements for the standards of the field for playing football appeared in 1863 in a single set of rules, which were established by the Football Association of England, founded on October 26 of the same year.It was the very first football association in the world. It was she who made a special contribution to the formation of modern football rules and standards that stadiums must comply with in order to host official matches of the national and international level. Currently, the requirements for football arenas are spelled out in the FIFA Laws of the Game. According to these rules, a soccer field is a rectangular area where the goal lines must be shorter than the side lines.
Field size
There are no clearly defined sizes of a football field, but there are limits.
For national matches:
- The length of the sideline must be no less than 90 and no more than 120 meters.
- The length of the goal line is from 45 to 90 meters.
For international fights:
- Sideline length 100-110 meters
- Field width 64-75 meters
- Recommended size of a football field: 105 meters long and 68 meters wide.
Field marking
The field marking is carried out using lines, the width of which is the same and cannot exceed 12 centimeters.The lines must fit into the area they delineate. The middle line connects the two side lines, thereby dividing the field into two halves of equal size. In the middle of this line there is a mark in the form of a solid circle measuring 30 cm, which is the center of the field. A circle with a radius of 915 centimeters is drawn around this mark. A goalkeeper area is located on each half of the field. The markings are carried out at a distance of 5.50 meters from the outside of the goal post. Two stripes 5.5 meters long are drawn perpendicular to the goal line, directed into the depth of the field.Their end points are connected by a line parallel to the goal line. A goal kick is taken from within this zone. In the penalty area, the goalkeeper may play with his hands. The marking is carried out at a distance of 16.5 meters from the goal post. Two stripes 16.5 meters long are drawn perpendicular to the goal line, directed into the depth of the field. Their endpoints are connected by a line parallel to the goal line. In the center of the penalty area at a distance of 11 meters from the goal line, a mark is made in the form of a solid circle with a diameter of 30 cm.Penalties are made from this point.
An arc with a radius of 915 cm is drawn behind the penalty area, and the eleven-meter mark is the center of this circle. The players must be behind this arc when the penalty kick is taken. At the four corners of the field, a mark is made in the form of an arc with a radius of 1 meter to determine the area of the corner kick. The field coverage can be synthetic or natural (grass), but always green. The football field consists of several layers: drainage and heating pipes, crushed stone and sand substrates, grass turf.The grass lawn needs constant watering, fertilizing and planting bald patches. Very often the grass is not grown directly at the stadiums, but is brought in the form of rolls.
Related Topic: World’s Largest Stadiums
90,000
Outdoor football: everything you need to know about organizing a street football field
If you are planning to open an open-air football field for residents of the block, students of a regular or specialized school, or to prepare young football players for future victories, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules and recommendations for arranging the sports field.We will tell you about them in this material.
Standards for the size and coverage of a football field
The standard dimensions of a training or playing field for amateur athletes and novice football players do not have strict regulations – the length of the field can vary from 90 to 120 meters, the width – from 45 to 90 meters (total area – from 4050 to 10800 square meters). Stricter requirements are imposed on the venues where international matches are planned to be held – the length of such a field must be at least 100 meters, and the width must be at least 64 meters.If we consider the standards of the International Football Association, then the field should have strictly defined dimensions – 105 meters long and 68 meters wide.
The surface for a standard public playground can be almost anything, but the favorite is still a synthetic surface, as it is less traumatic than a sand embankment or asphalt, and more durable than a natural grass lawn. Synthetic turf was originally developed for regions where the climate is not suitable for photosynthesis and grass growth in sports varieties, but today it is used on all training and playgrounds to reduce maintenance costs.For a typical public playground, a spray or modular granulate coating is ideal – it is sufficiently resilient, resistant to any weather conditions and prevents slipping and injury during a fall. For sites where professional athletes are trained, a synthetic carpet with artificial thread, covered with sand and rubber crumb, is used. Natural turf is mainly used for international competitions, as it requires a well thought out drainage and heating system.
Rules for drawing lines of marking and location of playing areas
- Central zone. The field area is divided into two halves by a center line from one sidewall to the other. In its center, the middle of the field is marked – a circle with a diameter of three tenths of a meter, and around it is a second circle with a diameter of 18.3 meters.
- Goalkeeper area. A goal kick zone is marked on both ends of the court. 5.5 meters are counted from the inside of each post, lines are drawn from these points towards the center of the field and are connected by a third line parallel to the goal.As a rule, the size of the goalkeeper area is 18.32×5.5 meters.
- Penalty area. From the inside of the goal posts, measure sixteen and a half meters in both directions and draw two parallel lines towards the center, connecting them with a third line parallel to the goal line. Thus, we get a penalty area of 40.32×16.5 meters. In the center of the line parallel to the goal, a circle with a diameter of three tenths of a meter is drawn, and behind it is an arc with a radius of 9.15 meters for the penalty shootout.
- Corner sector. An arc with a radius of one meter is drawn at each corner of the perimeter.
- Peripheral markup. It marks the perimeter of the field and must be no more than 12 cm wide.
- Flagpoles. They are installed in the corners of the field and must be at least 1.5 meters high.
Accessories and equipment for the football field
There are three types of gates for installation on a football field: 2×3 meters for minifootball and handball, 5×2 meters for training children and juniors, and 7.32×2.44 for older age groups and training for professional football players.The soccer goal net is not available in any universal size, therefore it is matched to the soccer goal, based on their parameters. Also, the following equipment for playing football can be installed on the field: covered or open booths for substitutes, open or covered stands and referees’ benches. An electronic football scoreboard for scoring and timing of the game can become a convenient, although not necessary for a public site, addition.
Where to order sports equipment for children in Minsk?
You can also buy children’s sports equipment for kindergartens, halls, schools and streets.To order equipment at Alfasport production, you need to write to the feedback form or call the phones listed on the website!
What is the size of a football field? Football field requirements
According to international rules, the size of the football field is 100-110 by 64-75 meters. The football field is rectangular in shape. A world-class football stadium is a complex structure that consists of several parts: turf covering the entire area of the football field, a substrate of rubble, sand, pipes that heat the football field, drainage and irrigation pipes.The soccer field has a center circle, penalty area, goalkeeper area and penalty mark. The football field is green by the accepted standards.
The length of the football field is 100-110 m, the width of the field is called the goal line (64-75). Behind this strip is the goal markings for the football field. Corner flags are placed in the corners. The size of the pitch in meters is important in professional matches. In amateur competitions, adherence to playing field standards is of little importance.The pitch for football training can be of any size, as long as the sideline is longer than the goal line. The standard size of the football field is optional, these values are relative.
Requirements for the football field
The standards of the football field, like the rules of the game, have been in place since 1863. Since that time, changes to the markup have been rarely made, approved in the first paragraph of the rules. The final layout of the soccer field was formulated by FIFA in June 2013.
In 1863, it was established how many meters a football field was.They assumed a length of 100-130 yards, a width of 50-100 yards. Basically, the length and width of the football field is 105 * 68 m. The dimensions of the football stadium for professional games are determined by rigid frames. Compliance with the requirements is monitored by international federations. The permissible length of the field for football is 100-110 m, the width of the football field is 64-75 m.
The marking of the field was changed in 1901 and 1937, a penalty and an arc from the point from which penalties (free kicks) are performed with a circumference of 9, 15 m were added.The markings are made with the same lines with a maximum width of 12 cm. Two long lines indicate the length and width of the field, they are called lateral. The goal lines are set with two short ones, while the length of the first is greater than the second. Also, a middle line is marked on the football field, which unites both side lines. The center of the field is marked on this line. It is encircled in a diameter of 9, 15 m. It is from this place on the site that the game begins at the start, at the beginning of the first half, of all subsequent rounds, if the time of the match is added.The team that conceded a goal starts the game with it.
The pre-start excitement of the leaders of many Russian football clubs is connected with how the team will start, on which field the season will start. After all, permission to hold home matches at their own stadium is obtained if it is ready. If the coverage and markings meet all the requirements of the federation and the league.
Photo 1. The stadium of the football club “Spartak” “Otkritie Arena” has been operating since 2014.
Dimensions of the football field
The football stadium has one shape. The sideline is longer than the goal line. The dimensions of the football field do not have clear boundaries, while the width and length do not exceed the permissible threshold. Strict requirements for football pitches are imposed during official competitions.
For domestic matches, the established frames: field length from 90 to 130 yards, minimum width 50 yards, up to 100. If international matches are held, then the dimensions of a standard football field are within 100-110 m length and 64-75 width.On this occasion, there are instructions in the rules (150×68 m). At the same time, the requirements for the playing field are not strictly regulated, various deviations in its parameters are possible.
According to the first paragraph of the Football Rules, the dimensions of the field are:
- in length – 90-120 m;
- in width – 45-90 m.
But other standards for international competitions:
- length – 100-110 m;
- width – 64-75 m.
Photo 2.The goal area indicated by the markings is also called the goalkeeper’s court.
What does the margin size affect
Many teams prefer certain margin sizes. The tactics that matter in football are carried out with a specific width and length of the field. Wide areas are suitable for long attacks on the opponent’s goal. With a few extra meters, players get additional room for maneuver and for the formation of free zones.
For teams with counter-attacking tactics, it is preferable to play on a narrow field, as this size simplifies the defense.The zones are narrow and it is more difficult for the players of the attacking teams to break through them. The size of the soccer field is also important when using vertical passing tactics. The length allows you to throw the ball into the empty spaces behind the backs of the defense to the goalkeeper’s opponent’s court from his goal.
Photo 3. The large size of the football field gives room for maneuvers such as throwing the ball behind the backs of the defense.
Interior areas
In addition to the length and width of a football stadium, the size of the pitch, the interior areas are clearly defined.The field is mirrored into two parts. The central circle within a radius of 9, 15 meters. The gate is located opposite the goalkeeper’s area. The inner sides of the goal posts are located 5, 5 meters from the side lines of the court. At the same distance, the gate is connected to a line that is drawn parallel to the border of the field. This area is in order to orient the goalkeeper, who stands with his back to the goal. It is forbidden to push the goalkeeper.
Special areas of the field
Ten field players provide a field for maneuvers.The goalkeeper has a goal area and an area bounded by two rectangular sections. The goal area is considered larger than the penalty area. On these courts, the goalkeeper is allowed to hit, catch or hand the ball. The first zone, from which goal kicks are performed, measuring 7, 32 by 2, 44 m; 18.32 by 5.5 m. The second court, 11 meters from which the penalty area is located, has dimensions – 40, 32 by 16, 5 m. teams.The side line of the football field is also drawn one meter from the technical area. This area is required by the team coaches to convey instructions to their players.
Standard field sizes | Field sizes for international matches | FIFA recommended sizes | |
Length | 100maximum m minimum, 120m minimum, 120m minimum, 120m minimum m (130 yards) | minimum 100 m (110 yards), maximum 110 m (120 yards) | 105 meters |
Width | minimum 45 m (50 yards) maximum 90 m (100 yards) | minimum 64 m (70 yards), maximum 75 m (80 yards) | 68 meters |
Area | 4050 m 2 – 10800 m 90 215 2 | – | 7140 m 2 |
Table with the established sizes of fields for different types of football games.
Field coverage options
The main surface of the football field is a natural grass lawn. For the mixture, various combinations of bluegrass, bent grass, clover, fescue, ryegrass are used – the choice is determined by the region. These herbs are able to withstand prolonged exposure to judges running on it, players, and the scorching sun, frost. The football pitch is bouncy and traction.
Photo 4.Cleats should not slip on a quality football pitch.
The lawn for the football field is created in two ways: the grass is grown on the territory of the stadium or it is brought in rolls and rolled out on the spot. The lawn should not be natural, the use of artificial material is permissible. The artificial turf for a football field is made of polymers. The coating has a pile that resembles the villi of real grass. Many main or reserve fields, training grounds are equipped with a heating system for protection from the cold or they are equipped with artificial grass.
Types of surfaces
A natural football field requires special care, it is watered, fertilized and the gaps are sown. Up to two matches a week are played on the grass. The grass for big sports is not grown on the field, it is brought in rolls in the form of turf.
Artificial turf for a football field resembles a synthetic carpet with blades of grass sticking out of it. A blade of grass is a product made of synthetic fiber, has a shape and stiffening ribs. For the elasticity of the artificial turf, it is covered with sand and rubber crumb.
The artificial covering survives the scorching sun and frost. But the care of the artificial turf is also important, the process is limited to the processing of the lawn with a special machine. The filler is removed, separated and stacked. After a set number of games on the field, the surface is changed to a new one.
The mixed covering is a turf with artificial pile sewn into it. Its cost is great, but a mixed lawn is like playing grass. At the same time, more matches are played on it.Care consists of watering, fertilizing and filling in the gaps. World Championships are held on natural grass turf (or mixed, which is equivalent to it).
Photo 5. Synthetic fiber turf is delivered in rolls and consists of fine pile
Coating features
There is an allowable space between the fibers of the artificial turf on the football field. It is filled with sand and rubber granules. The structure of the football field softens the friction when a football player falls.Decorative lawns are soft, and the space between the pile is not filled with sand.
There is another type of artificial turf, a middle between a practical and decorative lawn. The space between the pile is filled with quartz sand, but there are no rubber granules. Such a lawn covers a children’s football field, sports grounds, but not large fields for football.
Photo 6. It is necessary that the surface of the football field softens the friction in the event of a player falling.
Football field markings
A standard football field is surrounded by four lines: two side lines and two at the goal. The width of these marks is no more than 12 cm, like the width of the other markings on the field. The field for the game is divided into two parts by a strip – this is the marking of the center of the field. Draw a line in the form of a continuous circle with a radius of 9, 15 m.
On a part of the sports arena, the goal area is marked. The boundary is drawn from points from the inside of the goal post, at an angle of 90 degrees to the goal mark.The length of the border is 5, 5 m. Two more lines are drawn in the depth of the field, connected by a common strip, which is drawn parallel to the gate. Their length is also 5, 5 m.
Penalty area
Half of the field has a penalty area – the place where the goalkeeper is allowed to take, pass and catch the ball with his hands. The markings start from the inside of the goal posts. Two stripes are led into the depth of the field, their length is 16.5 m. At the end (after 16.5 m), these lines are united by another stripe, which is applied parallel to the goal line.At 11 meters from the penalty area, a penalty mark is drawn in the center of the goal. Outside the penalty area, a semicircle with a radius of 9, 15 m is drawn so that its middle coincides with the 11-meter markings. This line simplifies the gameplay when placing players during penalties. According to the rules of the game, the players, besides the one who takes the penalty kick, are no closer than 9, 15 m from the 11-meter mark.
All corners of the football field have sectors with a radius of 1 m, from where the corner kick is taken.Standard gate size 7, 32 m long, 2.44 high.
Goal markings
Photo 7. The standard length of a football goal is 7.32 m, height – 2.44 m.
The gates are located in the center, according to the markings. They are made up of racks, which are located vertically at the same distance from the flagpoles in the corners. In the upper part, the goal posts are connected with a horizontal crossbar. The distance between the posts is 7, 32 m, from the bottom crossbar to the ground – 2, 44 m.The crossbars and both posts have the same width and height, up to 12 cm.
The width of the goal line is the same as the width of the posts. Behind the goal, a net is attached to the ground or posts, it is securely located so as not to interfere with the goalkeeper. The color of the goalposts and crossbars is white. The rungs and posts are made of metal, wood or any other material. Elliptical cross section. At a distance of 9, 15 m from the corner sectors at the goal or side lines, the zones from which the players take corner kicks are marked.The gates stand firmly on the surface, portable structures are used if they meet this requirement.
Flagpoles
At the corners of the football field, flags are set on flagpoles with a height of at least 1.5 meters, without sharp points in their upper part. This is the perfect view of a soccer field. Flagpoles are installed one meter from the intersection of the lateral and midline, but this option is not used.
Additional areas
Indoor football field and other stadiums where there are areas for finding technical personnel, substitutes have technical area markings.The boundaries begin at the field, protrude a meter on either side of the bench area. The boundaries of this zone are marked with special markings.
Lighting of the football field
Lighting of the football field complies with the established standards. There is a specific lighting scheme applicable to sports stadiums. Linear lighting systems involve the installation of high-power floodlights along the length of the sides of the field above the canopy of the stands. Or the lighting equipment is mounted on special structures.
A solid line of spotlights or separate groups of lighting fixtures provide an environment for the audience. This system takes into account the capacity of football stadiums. The depth of the spotlights’ shadows is reduced to eliminate glare. The design of the lighting line for the football field is carried out so that shadows from the canopies of the stands are not formed. Equip a football field with light barriers.
Football fields are illuminated with high-power metal halide floodlights (1000-2000W).LED equipment is not installed at such facilities due to non-compliance with technical requirements for lighting. If there are no athletic zones on the field, then it is preferable to use floodlights with symmetrical and asymmetric distribution of the light flux, 4 or 6 support ones. The height of the supports is placed along the length of the football field 12-25 m. The lighting equipment must have two positions: “competition” and “training” mode.
Photo 8. Special high-power floodlights are used to illuminate football stadiums.
For a field of standard size, 12-16 floodlights will be required, a smaller number will not work to make the lighting natural and illuminate the entire area of the stadium. It is important to have a backup power supply.
Requirements for the safety of the football field
The football field is covered according to the requirements with a high quality grass lawn that meets the accepted standards for size and construction. A field with a flat surface does not contain elements that lead to injury to players.Regarding the size of the football field, there are values - 105 * 68 m. Minor fluctuations are allowed, taking into account the requirements of the organizer. The layout of the football field is in accordance with the rules of the game. You also need to provide security zones.
Requirements for the field design
The stadium design is a multi-layer structure that consists of irrigation, drainage, heating and lighting systems. The design also includes the installation of football equipment and inventory. The construction stages of a football stadium affect functionality, ergonomics, safety and other important criteria.
The design of the field for playing football provides: evenness, water resistance, stability (including mechanical damage), playing characteristics. It is important that the turf allows the player to interact with the field. The characteristics of the lawn affect the player’s movement. It is important to respect the degree of cushioning, vertical deformation, resistance to rotation of the sole and frictional force.
These figures with the design and dimensions are considered features of the football field.Amortization, deformation and resistance are provided by the structure of the foundation of the field of play. The frictional force depends on the quality of the turf. But the quality of the lawn also depends on the materials of the base, drainage systems, irrigation, how much water permeates the coating. The safety of the football field depends on meeting the required values.
Photo 9. The construction of the sports arena is carried out in accordance with all the requirements for sports grounds.
Engineering systems of the football field
The characteristics of the football field are determined by the presence of engineering systems for drainage of the upper layer and underground. These systems provide the ability to play matches in the rain and drain water from the field even during heavy rains. Heating systems for the playing field are installed to ensure comfortable play in the cold season.
Photo 10. The gameplay does not stop even during a rainstorm.
Grass Laying Features
Professional football stadiums meet the accepted standards for artificial turf.A mixture of quartz sand and rubber granules is poured onto the grassy surface of the football field. The sand is necessarily river quartz, since there are no impurities in it, which means that water will not remain on the surface. The rubber filling gives the coating the desired evenness along the length and height of the pile, and also provides the desired ball bounce.
To increase the wear resistance of artificial grass, a layer of geotextile is placed on the top layer of fine gravel. After that, the lawn is rolled out and glued with tape or glue.The marking lines of the football field are made of white artificial grass. The surface of the field is formed after backfilling with a mixture of quartz sand and crumb rubber. The indoor soccer field is also laid according to technology, with the preparation of the foundation. More often, wood flooring is taken as a basis.
Football field turf maintenance
Natural turf maintenance consists of a number of tasks. The turf requires regular watering. It is preferable to equip automatic irrigation, which will start as the soil dries up.The irrigation system will simplify the process of fertilizing the soil. The lawn is watered a few days before the game in the evening, when the evaporation is low.
Mowing the grass lawn is carried out with a lawn mower with sharp blades. For cutting the grass cover, a special technology is provided, they do: across, along. The main requirement is not to mow the lawn for a short time, after a while the coverage will become thin and lose its aesthetic properties.
Photo 11. The natural lawn must be mowed regularly.
Raking is considered an important part of maintenance, it is carried out to clean the cover and create a bed for sowing grass.
Maintenance of the grassy pitch of the football field is carried out systematically. The turf is reshaped throughout the year. Overseeding the grass is performed when the density is 50%. Overdoughing is a measure if there are heavily trampled and destroyed zones on the field.
The main surface of football fields is a natural grass mixture. Various combinations of clover, bluegrass, fescue, bent grass and ryegrass are used to create it, able to withstand prolonged exposure to running players, judges and weather.
Maintenance of the artificial turf
The artificial turf of the football field is combed to level and raise the pile. A uniform distribution of the filler is carried out, controlling the height of the pile. Football lawns are combed at least once every two weeks, sports surfaces every week.
Photo 12. Maintenance of synthetic fiber pile – carding and leveling.
Pour filler into areas where it is absent or contained in insufficient quantities.If there is not enough bedding, then this will cause bending of the villi and the impossibility of combing them. The presence of weeds on the football surface is unacceptable; they must be removed to prevent overgrowth. It is allowed to treat the field with herbicides when the next few days are dry and sunny.
There are no foreign objects on the territory of the football field, especially bulky and heavy ones. Before moving on artificial turf with any shoe, you should check it for dirt and stones.Contaminated shoes are cleaned.
It is prohibited to move on the artificial turf in any vehicle. Special equipment for cleaning the lawn or adding filler is an exception. In the autumn, the football floor is inspected so that it does not get clogged with foliage, it is cleaned on time. Foliage changes the properties of the artificial pile and spoils a significant part of the lawn.
Overfilling or complete replacement of the filler is performed every 1-2 years to prevent caking of sand and crumbs.Also, this procedure will get rid of the likely germination of moss and weeds.
The cold Russian climate does not allow playing football, in early spring and late autumn, in stadiums with natural turf. Many main or reserve training football fields in our country are made either with a heating system from drain pipes laid under the field, or with artificial “grass”.
Requirements for lighting and fencing of the field
Lighting equipment (floodlights and lanterns) comply with international standards, are firmly fixed so as not to blind players and spectators.Football field fencing has several functions: zoning and security. Dividing the stadium into zones allows you to restrict the entrance to some of them, thus excluding possible incidents at the stadium. The height of the fence is at least 4 meters along the main perimeter and 6 meters behind the gate. The calculation of the lighting equipment takes into account the length of the football stadium. The main requirement is to ensure a comfortable game at any time of the day.
Photo 13. The dimensions of the fence must meet the established standards: at least 4 meters in height (at the gate – 6 meters).
Special sectors of the football field
The football field map includes a special area where the technicians, coach and substitutes are located during the game. This is the technical area of the football stadium, which is planned during the construction of the playing field. Spectators watch the game in the stands, which are divided into sectors. To ensure the comfort and safety of the movement of people around the football stadium, each sector has a separate exit.
Ideally on the playing court, there are additional areas behind the goal for players to warm up.Also, these zones allow for the movement of referees during the game, staff who serve balls, medical workers, security services and the media. The dimensions of such zones are at least 8.5 m on the sides of the football field, at least 10 m from the goal lines.
Photo 14. Beijing National Stadium is one of the largest in the world (91 thousand people).
Summary
A football field is a complex structure, not a turf. The properties and characteristics of the field are determined by factors such as an efficient irrigation, drainage and heating system.When developing a stadium project, the following criteria are taken into account: climate, rainfall, proximity to the location of groundwater. It is also important to take into account the frequency of the games on the field.
The standard dimensions of a football field are determined by the first paragraph of the Football Rules. The size has no clear restrictions, but at the same time the width and length correspond to the accepted norms. The shape of the football field is necessarily rectangular. The sideline is longer than the goal line. The surface of the playing field is flat and smooth.
Photo 15. A high-quality football field consists of many elements – high-quality surface, accurate markings, convenient arrangement of stands and safety
There are three types of football field from the possible options: natural, artificial and mixed. A natural lawn consists of a soil part, grass. Or finished turf, which is brought into the field in rolls and rolled out on site. Artificial turf includes synthetic grass and filler.The poured mixture is a combination in certain proportions of river (quartz) sand and rubber crumb. Mixed soccer turf involves combining natural grass and artificial pile. The base turf is stitched with synthetic fibers to increase resistance to mechanical damage. Also, due to the plexus of the root system of the grass with an artificial substrate, an increase in resistance to erosion is achieved.
Type of sports turf | What is | Characteristic |
Natural | Soil with sown high quality grass3 9000 care, not cheap | |
Artificial | Backfill with artificial grass | Long shelf life, easy maintenance, resistance to different climatic conditions |
Combined gas thread | Maximum imitation of a natural lawn while maintaining dignity Institute of synthetic analogue |
Comparative table of different types of lawn.
The option of covering a football field has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The characteristics of natural lawns have remained unchanged for many years. Artificial turf has recently undergone significant renovations with the support of FIFA and UEFA. The improvement and improvement of artificial turf has led to the fact that sports clubs are more likely to choose this option. Due to the difficulty in providing regular maintenance of natural turf. The cost of artificial football turf does not diminish its competitiveness compared to natural turf.
Video: Football field markings
Dimensions of a mini-football field in meters (standard) + markings
Author Roman Novikov Read 5 min Views 23.5k. Posted by
Hello everyone! In this article, we will discuss the standard futsal field sizes and futsal court markings. What should be a futsal field? How can the size of the court affect the outcome of a match? Look for answers to these questions in the article!
Standard sizes of a mini-football court
It’s no secret that all mini-football fields have different sizes.You have probably played both small and large venues in various tournaments. There is no one size fits all for futsal fields, there is only a range in which they must be tucked away.
Futsal field dimensions (NOT international matches):
- Length – 25 to 42 meters
- Width – 15 to 25 meters
For international tournaments, the requirements are more stringent. FIFA defines the standards that futsal courts must meet.
Futsal field for international matches has the following dimensions:
- Length – 38 to 42 meters
- Width – 28 to 22 meters
Futsal field dimensions Futsal penalty area
As size margins can affect the result?
The size of the playing area can have a significant impact on the outcome of a match.
Teams that build the game from defense find it more convenient to play on small (narrow) areas .The small size allows to create a density of in their own half of the field and wait for the opponent’s mistakes. I call it ambush ?. As a rule, the team has many chances in the counterattacks.
More than attacking teams in enjoy playing in large halls. This helps stretch the opponent’s defense and have more room to maneuver.
Based on this, we will give 3 useful tips:
Tip # 1. If you have the opportunity to choose the site where you will play in the tournament, then choose it taking into account your playing style and the opponents with whom you will have to play.
As a rule, amateur tournaments are held in several halls and they all have different sizes.
Tip # 2. Train in the hall where the tournament matches will be held. The site will become familiar to you and you will not need to get used to it. If this is not possible, look for a gym of a similar size.
Council number 3. If your training hall is larger than the playing hall, then use chips to reduce the area. It is necessary to bring the team as close as possible to the playing conditions.
The size of the mini-football goal
The mini-football goal, like the playground, must correspond to the parameters:
- Width (distance between the rods) – 3 meters
- Height (from the crossbar to the floor) – 2 meters
- The net must be made of approved materials and attached to the back of the crossbar and posts
- The crossbar and two rods are of the same thickness
- The goal posts can be round, rectangular or square
- The crossbar is strictly perpendicular to the two rods
- Color the goal must be different from the color of the court
- The goal can be made of metal, wood and other materials approved by FIFA
- The frame of the goal must not be dangerous for football players
Dimensions of mini-football goals
Official documents (regulations, requirements, rules) that relate to futsal can be found at the official on the website of the Russian Mini-Football Association www.amfr.ru.
On our site there is a section dedicated to mini-football. There you will find a lot of useful information and you can take something new for yourself. This is especially true before the start of the futsal season.
Here are links to some of our materials:
- Tips for choosing futsal shoes – TOP-5 models according to an expert
- Tactical schemes in futsal: variations, pros and cons
- Pillar in futsal: qualities, variants of rallies
- Working variants of free kicks and corners in futsal
- History of the development of futsal
Read and improve your skills in futsal! ?
Ball size for futsal
FIFA also presents Requirements for the size of futsal balls :
- Circumference – 62-64 cm
- Weight – 400-440 g
- Pressure – 0.6-0.9 atm
- Rebound from the floor when dropped from a height of 2 m – 50-65 cm
The ball must be round (the ball can eventually become an “egg”).It can be made from leather and other FIFA approved materials.
Futsal pitch markings [Dimensional diagram]
The futsal court markings must be clear and distinct from the color of the pitch. The width of the marking lines is 8 cm.
Which marking elements are present on the mini-football pitch:
- Two side and two end lines
- Center line (divides the pitch in half)
- Marking the center of the field and a circle with a radius of 3 meters around
- Mark “5 meters” outside the field (for corner kicks)
- Marks for a penalty kick and 10-meter kick (double penalty)
- Two marks at a distance of 5 m to the left and right of the 10-meter point (show where there should be players when a 10-meter shot is broken)
- Replacement zones along the sideline
- Corner sector
All the listed elements can be seen in the picture below.
Futsal field markings
Conclusion
In this article you learned about what a futsal field should look like and how its size can affect the result.
If this article was useful to you, share it on social networks ?
Read more articles in our futsal section.
See you soon ?
Dimensions and markings: how the football field works – EURO 2020
The first requirements for the football field were formed in the 19th century.Since then, the main parameters have not changed, but the field has become much more beautiful and technologically advanced. What are the dimensions of a modern football field, why do you need a striped lawn and what does the markings mean?
The size of the football field was first established in 1863 by a vault
rules of the Football Association of England. The rules stated that the maximum
field length should be 200 yards (182.88 meters), maximum width –
100 yards (91.44 meters).
In this case, the boundaries of the field should be marked with flags, and
the gate consisted of two vertical posts located at a distance
8 yards (7.3 meters) apart, with no tape or crossbar on them.Then the size of the field changed, but the aspect ratio remains the same to this day.
In 1891, a net appeared on the gate, and ten more
years – the penalty area. In 1937, the last
a change in the markings – an arc of the penalty area appeared, with a radius of 10 yards (9.1 meters) from
penalty points.
Dimensions and markings
The football field is a rectangle 105 meters long and 68 meters wide. These dimensions are enshrined in the FIFA standards.
According to UEFA requirements, the field with the longitudinal axis must be oriented to the north.If this condition is met, the influence of the sun on the game is minimal.
There must be a markings on the football field, as they are taken into account in the rules of the game.
Modern football markings:
- The center or middle line that divides the field into two equal
half.
- Circle in the center of the field with a radius of 9.15 m.
- Penalty lines and
goalkeeper area (goal area) on each half of the field.
- Angles that are outlined by a quarter circle and
marked with flagpoles.
Even the boys in the yard need to somehow imitate the markings. Otherwise, the game is simply impossible. So, from the center of the field, located in the central circle, the rally begins at the beginning of the match and after each goal scored.
Hand play for goalkeepers is allowed in the penalty area. All violations committed by the players of the defending team within the penalty area are punished with a free kick from the 11-meter mark (penalty).
This mark is located directly on the central
the axis of the goal, strictly in the center, at a distance of 11 meters from the goal line.
Goalkeeper or goal area – priority area
attitude to the actions of the goalkeeper. Any forceful pressure on the goalkeeper during
play within the goalkeeper’s area is not allowed.
Which grass is suitable for football
Football fields can be natural or artificial. But
the main requirement is that the surface must be green and even.
Initially, all fields were sown with natural grass. WITH
Over the years, the requirements for the quality of the surface have grown, new types of lawn began to appear, and agronomists have improved their care skills in order to keep the turf in perfect condition.
Striped soccer field when the grass is darker in color
alternating with lighter ones, achieved by mowing the lawn. When the field
cut with a special machine, roller
traverses the cut lane, crushing the grass in the direction of travel of the machine. And since the car changes direction after each strip, a striped visual effect is created due to the different reflection of light from the surface of the blades.
This effect helps referees and viewers better
navigate what is happening on the field.For example, it is much easier to spot an offside position from any angle.
But a football field is not just a well-groomed lawn with applied paint, it is a complex multi-layer
construction. Under the grass, a substrate of sand and gravel, heating pipes, drainage pipes and aeration pipes are hidden.
Artificial turf was first used in 2003 on
the World Youth Football Championship in Finland.On synthetic
FIFA-approved cover played ten matches, including the final between Brazil
and Spain (1: 0).
The FIFA opinion stated that artificial turf,
created specifically for football fields, completely repeat the properties
natural grass and can be used for matches of all levels.
In 2001, FIFA developed quality standards for
artificial turf to ensure the safety of the players. Quality Concept
implies rigorous testing both in laboratories and in real conditions.Artificial turf manufacturers can apply for a license to
Receive the FIFA Approved badge.
Main characteristics of the football field and equipment
Football field is a rectangular field with a flat surface, covered with a sports surface of a special quality. And also the area surrounding it from all sides, and free of any objects – the safe play area.
A general rule of thumb when building a soccer field is that the size should include not only the size of the playing time, but also the boundaries within which the game takes place.And also on the class of the team that will play on it.
International matches and games of all-Russian importance are held on a field of sizes from 100 to 110 meters and a width of 64 to 75 meters. A football field of this type is also surrounded by an enclosed running track with a length of 400 meters.
And the width is from 45 to 90 meters. As you can see, the length of the field should always be greater than the width.
Futsal pitches are 60×90, 50×75 and 40×60 meters in size.
The safety area of the football field must be at least 2 meters wide along the sideline.4 meters along the goal line.
On futsal fields, the safety zone is reduced to 1.5 meters along the sideline and to 3 meters behind the goal line.
The layout of the football field is also subject to international standards. The marking is done with oil or glue paint, which is applied directly to natural grass. This manipulation is performed using a special machine or stencils. Or it is laid out with artificial grass in accordance with the rules. The width of the lines should be no more than 12 centimeters.
Football pitch can be either natural or artificial. In an open area, it can be natural or artificial grass or soil. An artificial sports surface is used on the covered area.
A goal with a net is installed on the field, the distance between which is 7 meters 32 cm. The height of the goal is 2 meters 44 cm. On the fields for mini-football, the size of the goal is reduced to 2 meters.
A high-quality football field also includes a training ground where football players warm up and perform a set of exercises.The presence of an additional field allows you to keep the sports surface on the main field for a longer time. The dimensions of the training area are approximately 30 x 60 meters.
Training ground cover is most often a soil or lawless surface.
90,000 Inspection and certification of football fields
STANDARD No. ______
ARTBALL FOOTBALL FIELDS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND TEST METHODS.
Moscow
2011
Contents:
1. Purpose and scope.
2. Normative references.
3. Terms and definitions.
4. Requirements for the characteristics of the artificial turf of a football field. Coverage identification.
5. Field dimensions and markings.
6. Equipment of the football field
7.Requirements for the characteristics of the finished football field. Field trials.
8. Requirements for the preservation of the characteristics of the football field.
9. Summary table of criteria, standard values and test methods.
Appendix 1. Football field marking scheme.
Appendix 1-A. Gate structure
Appendix 2. Test points for testing the characteristics of a football field.
Appendix 3. Control points for measuring the level of backfill material.
This standard cannot be fully or partially used, published, replicated without the permission of ANO “Center for the Promotion of the Development of Physical Culture and Sports”
1. Purpose and scope.
1.1. This International Standard specifies a list of criteria for assessing the performance of artificial turf pitches, test methods and acceptable values for these criteria.
1.2. The standard will be used to evaluate:
90 011 90 012 football fields intended for specialized sports schools;
90,012 football fields supplied under the federal target program “Development of physical culture and sports in the Russian Federation for 2006-2015”;
2. Normative references.
2.1. Federal Law of December 27, 2002 No. 184-FZ “On Technical Regulation”.
2.2. Federal Law of 04.12.2007 No. 329-FZ “On Physical Culture and Sports in the Russian Federation”.
2.3. GOST R 52024-2003 “Fitness, health and sports services. General requirements”.
2.4. GOST R 52025-2003 “Fitness, health and sports services. Safety requirements”.
2.5. GOST R 1.0-2004 “Standardization in the Russian Federation. Basic Provisions “.
2.6. GOST R 1.4-2004 “Standardization in the Russian Federation. Organization standards. General Provisions “.
2.7. The rules of the game of football approved by the IFAB International Council.
FIFA Standard is a list of requirements for the performance of artificial turf for playing football, adopted by FIFA as part of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf.
3. Terms and definitions.
4.1. Football field – a field specially designed for playing football, the size corresponding to the rules for playing football, approved by the IFAB International Council.
4.2. Artificial football pitch – carpets made using synthetic thread (fiber), fixed in a frame fabric and covered with filler.
5. Requirements for the characteristics of the artificial turf of a football field.Coverage identification.
5.1. Artificial turf (artificial ground) made of polyethylene fiber with a pile height of at least 60 mm (from 40 mm to 60 mm using an elastic backing), filled with sand and crumb rubber should be used as an artificial turf. Coating color – green. The filling height of the filler is set by the coating manufacturer (the filler is applied in such a way as to leave 15-20mm of the pile height free).
5.2. The standard establishes requirements for the technical and playing characteristics of the coating, its durability, as well as installation and laying.
5.3. Requirements for technical characteristics for football pitches supplied under the federal target program “Development of physical culture and sports in the Russian Federation for 2006-2015” are established by the documents in accordance with which the coating is purchased (tender documentation, contracts, etc. .).
5.4. To determine the conformity of the technical characteristics of the coating to the established requirements, the identification of the coating is carried out. The following mandatory pavement characteristics and pavement identification procedures are established:
5.4.1. Checking the total weight of fiber in a specified volume of artificial turf. Permissible deviation from the established requirements is not more than 10%. Verification is carried out in accordance with the EN 8543 methodology.
5.4.2. Checking the fiber height of the artificial turf.Permissible deviation from the established requirements is not more than 10%. Verification is carried out in accordance with the EN 8543 methodology.
5.4.3. Cover construction (pitch and stitch size of synthetic thread in the frame fabric). Permissible deviation from the established requirements is not more than 10%. Verification is carried out in accordance with the methodology ISO 1763.
5.4.4. Checking the thickness of the synthetic thread. Permissible deviation from the established requirements is not more than 10%.
5.4.5. Checking the width of the synthetic thread. Permissible deviation from the established requirements is not more than 10%.
5.4.6. Dtex test of synthetic yarn (fiber). Permissible deviation from the established requirements is not more than 10%. Dtex is calculated from the average weight (measured to the nearest 0.001 g) and the average length (measured to 1 mm) of fibers extracted from 10 (minimum) synthetic fiber bundles of the artificial turf.
6. Field dimensions and markings.
6.1. The dimensions of the football field include the playing area and the free area behind the side lines at least 1 meter wide, and beyond the goal line at least 1.8 meters. The base of the football field must be rectangular. The size of the playing area of the football field must be:
Length: 105 m, (minimum 90 m, maximum 120 m)
Width: 68 m (minimum 45 m, maximum 90 m)
6.2. The lines are made of the same material used to cover the football field, but with a different fiber color (white, yellow or red).The width of the marking lines is at least 10 cm. The marking area is included in the field area.
6.3. The football field is divided into two halves by a center line. The center of the field is marked in the center of the center line. A circle with an outer radius of 9.15 cm is drawn around it.
6.4. The goal area is a rectangular area of the playing field with a size of 18.32m. in length and 5.5 m in width, limited by marking lines.
6.5. The penalty area is a rectangular area of the playing field with a size of 40.32 by 16.5 m, limited by marking lines. One of the lines of the long sides of the penalty area coincides with the marking line. A penalty mark is made inside the penalty area from a point located in the center of the goal line. Outside the penalty area, an arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 meters is drawn, the center of which is the eleven meter mark.
6.6. Corner sector. The corner sector is an arc of a circle at the corners of the football field with an outer radius of 1 m, the center of the circle is the corner of the field.
6.7. The schematic marking of the football field is presented in Appendix 1.
7. Football field equipment
7.1. Football goal. The gate consists of two vertical posts, equidistant from the corner flags and connected at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The distance between the goal posts is 7.32 m, the distance from the lower contour of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m. The width and height of the cross section of both posts and the crossbar must be the same and must not exceed 12 cm.The width of the goal line must be equal to the width of the posts and the crossbar. The goalposts and crossbars must be white. Nets are attached to the goal and the ground behind the goal. The design of the gate must be injury-proof and comply with the design specified in Appendix 1-A.
7.2. Flags. In each corner of the football field and at the ends of the center line, flags are installed, which are attached to flagpoles that do not have a pointed top tip, at least 1.5 m high.
8.Requirements for the characteristics of the finished football field. Field trials.
8.1. Verification of the performance of a football field with artificial turf is carried out through field tests (tests carried out directly on the football field). During the tests, the compliance (or non-compliance) of the football field with the requirements set out below in this section is determined.
8.2. The following requirements are established for football fields with artificial turf:
8.2.1. Shock absorption: At any point where the test is carried out, the shock absorption shall be between 55% and 70%. Tests are carried out in accordance with the EN 14808 methodology. Test locations (points) are determined in accordance with Appendix 2.
8.2.2. Vertical deformation: At any point where the test is carried out, the vertical deformation shall be between 4 mm and 9 mm. The tests are carried out in accordance with the EN 14809 methodology. Test locations (points) are determined in accordance with Appendix 2.
8.2.3. Evenness of the coating: the presence of irregularities exceeding 10 mm is not allowed. Tests are carried out in accordance with EN 13036
8.2.4. Distribution of backfill material: at any of the measurement points, a deviation of the height of the level of backfill materials by more than 7% from the arithmetic mean value of measurements at all measurement points is not allowed. The measurements are carried out in accordance with the EN 1969 methodology. The locations (points) of the measurements are determined in accordance with Appendix 3.
8.2.5. No visible surface defects: An external inspection of the field must be carried out to ensure that there are no significant defects that could be dangerous to the players. In particular, should be absent:
torn seams or seams more than 3 mm wide;
fiber loops;
· unprotected sprinklers of the irrigation system inside the play area;
· unprotected (protruding) glasses of the gate installation.
8.2.6.Drainage capacity: not less than 180 mm / h. The tests are carried out in accordance with the EN 12616 methodology.
8.2.7. The marking of the football field must comply with the requirements of this standard and the rules of the game of football approved by the IFAB International Council.
8.2.8. The dimensions of the goals must comply with the requirements of this standard and the rules of the game of football approved by the IFAB International Council.
9. Requirements for the preservation of the characteristics of the football field.
9.1. During operation, the field must be properly maintained, including cleaning debris from the surface of the field, combing the fibers, loosening and cleaning the backfill material, and other measures provided for by the operating rules.
9.2. The performance of the football field can be verified by field testing the surface of the football field. The check is carried out during the validity period of the documents confirming the conformity of the football field, but not earlier than one year after the confirmation of such conformity.
9.3. The following criteria are established for the preservation of the characteristics of the football field
9.3.1. Roll of the ball: at any of the points of the test, the length of the roll of the ball must be between 4 and 10 meters. The tests are carried out in accordance with the EN 12234 method.
9.3.2. The football field must maintain compliance with the requirements of section 7 of this standard in terms of evenness and absence of external defects.
9.3.3. Backfill level measurements should be consistent with those measured in the initial field assessment. A deviation of no more than 5% is allowed. Measurements are carried out in accordance with the EN 1969
method.