Soccer Field Markings Explained

The soccer field or football pitch is flexible in size.

Soccer field markings explained.

The field of play. All levels of organized soccer use the same types of markings on field sizes of varying sizes. A foul in the small inner box the goal area won t affect penalties but will change the way that play is restarted in the area. A soccer field sometimes referred to as the pitch is at least 100 yards long 50 yards wide and has a goal centered at both ends.

Soccer fields feature two distinct boxes in front of the net. Within the field are markings including those for the penalty area and spot the center spot for kick offs and of course the corners without which corner kicks would just be kicks. A soccer pitch also known as a football field is the playing surface for the game of association football its dimensions and markings are defined by law 1 of the laws of the game the field of play. Soccer field dimensions are anything but straightforward.

Major league soccer ncaa nfhs major indoor soccer league us soccer federation american youth soccer association us youth soccer. Regulations also stipulate the dimensions of the goal post and field markings. Once you know what all those straight and curved lines mean you can map the field visually and use the rules to your. In international play the field dimensions are a bit stricter in that the length must be 110 to 120 yards 100 110m long and 70 to 80 yards 64 75m wide.

Markings on the field tell the players and referees when the ball is in bounds or out and where the goalie can use her hands. The length and width of the pitch needs to follow the fifa laws of the game and the lines for the penalty area six yard box and halfway line all need to be correctly marked. There are very few fixed dimensions for soccer fields even at the highest level. It is 100 to 130 yards 90 120m long and 50 to 100 yards 45 90m wide.

Official matches and league games have specific soccer field dimensions that must be used to mark out the pitch before playing. Fifa only stipulates that for professional 11 versus 11 competition the length must be between 100 yards and 130 yards and the width between 50 and 100 yards. Indoor soccer field diagram. The pitch is typically made of natural turf or artificial turf although amateur and recreational teams often play on dirt fields artificial surfaces must be green in colour.

The large box is the penalty area a critical area where the defending team can be penalized with a penalty kick for certain fouls.