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Soccer Field Dimensions: Pro – World Cup – High School – Youth

Soccer field image scaled e1576160472524

The size of a soccer field can vary and teams use different sizes to suit their style of play. A small field can restrict an opponent from playing their natural game. For instance, Barcelona has one of the largest fields, this is ideal for their passing game where they can open up the opposition with their precise passing.

What are the soccer field dimensions?

The dimension of a soccer field for an international game is 70-80 yards by 110 by 120 yards.

This article covers all the dimensions you need to know about all aspects of soccer. For the professional games and the youth, I have collected all of the information from the official sources to give them to you in one place.

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Table Of Contents
soccer field infographic
soccer basic field infographic

Soccer Field Surface

The soccer field can be either natural turf, artificial turf, or a combination of the two. The color needs to be green. The quality of the field for a FIFA competition match needs to be of the standard of FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf. This is unless it is given permission by the International Football Association Board.

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Field Markings

The field must be marked to show the sections in a continuous line. The lines must be of the same thickness. If a field is marked by a different game, those lines need to be a different color and you must be able to tell they are not a part of the game. The areas that are to be marked are;

  • Touchlines
  • halfway line
  • Center mark
  • Center circle
  • Corner arks
  • Goal lines same width as posts + crossbar
  • Lines less than 12 cm/5 inches
A player who makes unauthorised marks on the field of play must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour. If the referee notices this being done during the match, the player is cautioned when the ball next goes out of play.

11 vs 11 Soccer Field Dimensions

MetersYards
Length – Touch Line90-120100-130
Width – Goal Line45-9050-100

International Matches

For matches played at the World Cup and all national games.

MetersYards
Length – Touch Line100-110110-120
Width – Goal Line64-7570-80

Goal Area

The goal area, sometimes known as the 6-yard box is measured from the goalposts, 6 yards or 5.5 meters parallel to the goal line.

Penalty Area

The penalty mark is measured from the back of the goal line.

  • From inside of the post the penalty area is measured to 18 yards/16.5 meters
  • The penalty mark is measured from the middle of the goalposts to 12 yards/11 meters
  • Ark – Measured from the penalty mark at 10 yards/9.15 meters

FIFA Soccer Field Dimensions

Soccer field Dimensions - International Match
International soccer field dimensions – IFAB

Corner Flag

The corner flag is a quarter circle and 1 yard from the goal line and touchline. The flagpost should not be shorter than 5 feet/1.5 meters.

Corner flag area - soccer field dimensions
Corner flagpost area dimensions – IFAB

Technical Areas

The technical is for the coaches to give instructions. The measurement must be no wider than 1 yard/1 meter from the seating area and no closer than 1 yard/meter from the touchline. Only one person is allowed to give instructions from the area at ay given time.

Soccer Goal Post Dimensions

The height of a soccer goal is 8 feet/2.44 meters and the width is 8 yards/7.32 meters.

Soccer goal dimensions
Soccer goal dimensions – IFAB

The shape of the posts can vary from a square, rectangle, round or elliptical – professionals use round posts. The width of the goalposts must be the same thickness as the lines – no more than 12 cm/5 inches. Check-out these portable goals on Amazon, it only takes 3 minutes to set up!

Soccer goal dimensions - Goal post shapes
Soccer goal post shapes and measurements – IFAB

US Youth Soccer Field Size

Details for all US youth soccer, from under 6’s to under 19’s: US Youth Soccer

AgeGame MinutesBall SizePlayersGoal feetWidth yardsLength
yards
u17-u192 x 45#511 vs 118 x 2450-100100-130
u15-u162 x 40#511 vs 11 8 x 2450-100100-130
u13-u142 x 35#511 vs 11 8 x 2450-100100-130
u11-u122 x 30#49 vs 97 x 2145-7070-80
u9-u102 x 25#47 vs 76 x 18.535-4555-65
u6-u84 x 10#34 vs 44 x 615-2525-35

High School Soccer Field Dimensions

The dimensions for a soccer field for the United States high schools are the same as above for the center circle, penalty area, goal area, penalty spot, and corner arks. The only difference is the length of the touchline and the goal line.

Minimum YardsMaximum Yards
Length – Touchline100120
Width – Goal line5580

Indoor Soccer Field Dimensions

The recommended size of a US indoor soccer field is 67 yards long and 28 yards wide. The penalty mark is 8 yards from the goal. The goals are 8 feet by 14 feet. This is from the Ohio High School Soccer Association.

The goal area is not a standard international shape, so check against your local competition regulations.

Minimum YardsMaximum Yards
Length – Touchline5870
Width – Goal line2533

Futsal Field Dimensions

Futsal field dimensions for the United States from U.S. Futsal;

Minimum Maximum
Width – yards1627
Length – yards2745

International futsal field dimensions from Wikipedia;

Minimum Maximum
Width – yards21.927.3
Length – yards41.545.9

Soccer field vs NFL Football Field: Comparison

Soccer Field Football Field
Width – yards50-10053.33
Length – yards100-130100 (120 apexes)

For more useful guides, see the articles below or visit our home page.

Related Questions

How many acres are in the soccer field?

1.76 acres.

What is the difference between a soccer field and a soccer pitch?

In the United States, the playing areas are called a field, whereas in the UK they call it a pitch.
Read More…

Soccer Rules for Yellow Cards – Official

yellow card 4496844 1280 e1576159629491

The rules for a yellow card in soccer are very much debated and can be a matter of opinion. Let’s look at the rules, to see what they actually say.

When is a yellow card given? A yellow card is given as a caution when a player is “reckless”. For players, substitutes or substituted players.

When I play soccer or coach, there will always be times when you think there should be a yellow card given. Debates go on after soccer matches, to whether it should have been a red card that was shown or just a yellow.

In this article, I have researched the rules from the officials at FIFA, so that there is no debate, although some rules are at the discretion of the referee, so there will always be contentious decisions. Let go through each case and what is deserving of a yellow car.

To keep it simple, all of the examples here are about yellow cards. There are a number of other rules regarding non-caution offenses and more for red cards.

Table Of Contents
Soccer rules for red cards
Orange card: Sin bin
Green cards – Fact or theory?

Official Soccer Rules

First, the definition from FIFA about the types of fouls;

Carless – means that the player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making his challenge or that he/she acted without precaution: no further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is judged to be careless.

FIFA Law 12

Reckless – means that the player has acted with complete disregard of the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent: a player who plays in a reckless manner shall be cautioned.

FIFA Law 12

Using excessive force – means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring an on opponent: a player who uses excessive force shall be sent off

FIFA Law 12

For the following examples, we will need to use these three definitions – ‘carless’ ‘reckless’ and ‘using excessive force’. A yellow card is for;

  • Charging an opponent – caution if reckless.
  • Holding an opponent – When the ball is in play and the holding continues.
  • Handling the Ball – When a player handles the ball to break-up attacking play. If an attacker uses their hand to attempt to score a goal.
  • Dangerous play – If a player makes an action that can risk an injury to another player.
  • Impeding the progress of an opponent – If a player holds another player back or blocks a player on purpose, that prevents an attack.

Misconduct

Seven Offenses for a Player

  1. Unsporting behavior
  2. Dissent by word of action
  3. Persistent misconduct/fouls
  4. Delaying play
  5. Not moving away from a ‘dead-ball’ (eg. free kick)
  6. Comes in to play without the referee’s permission
  7. Leaves play without the referee’s permission

Three Offenses for a substitute or Substituted Player

  1. Unsporting behavior
  2. Dissent by word or action
  3. Delaying play

Fouls

Soccer players in a tackle
  • Breaking up an attack, where there is the possibility of creating a scoring chance.
  • Holding a player or their shirt to prevent the opponent from getting the ball.
  • Handling the ball when a player is in their own box to prevent the attacker from attacking.
  • Handling the ball in an attempt to score a goal even if the player does not score.
  • Simulation, where a player tries to con a referee into thinking that they are injured in order to punish the opponent. If a player tries to make-out that they have been fouled.

Unsporting Behaviour

Removing or partial adaption of Jersey;

  • A player removing a jersey when celebrating a goal
  • The jersey is pulled over the player’s head
  • A plyer covers their head with a jersey or mask

For clarification it is not a yellow card when a player lifts up their jersey just on their front – this could be done in a celebration of for wiping their face.

Other Offences for a Yellow Card

Referee deciding a yellow card
  • If a player changes positions with a goalkeeper during the game without notifying the referee.
  • A player kicks the ball when leaving the field, as an example a substitute or medication.
  • Verbally distracting a player during play or a set-piece.
  • Showing a lack of respect for the game, opponent and referee.
  • Marking the field of play, where there should be none officially.

Dissent – Action or Word

Protesting verbally or physically against the decision of a referee.

Delaying Restart in Play

  • Deliberately taking a free-kick from the wrong position
  • Pretending to take a throw-in, only to leave it for another player
  • Kicking or carrying the ball away when the referee has signaled to stop
  • Excessively delaying taking a throw-in or set -piece
  • Provoking an opponent by touching the ball to distract them
  • Obstructing a set piece from being taken by standing in the way of the ball and not retreating

Persistent Fouls

If a player commits a number of fouls throughout the game, regardless if they are the same. A player will be warned by the referee when they have committed a number of foul before being given a yellow card.

The discretion for this is for the referee to decide. If a player commits a number of fouls within a 15 minute period.

Denying a Goal Scoring Chance

If a player tries to stop a goal from being scored – this can also result in a yellow card if the play is allowed to be continued by the referee and a goal is scored. The referee can caution the player when the game is next stopped.

Two Yellow Cards

If two cards are given to a player during a match, it will result in a red card. When one yellow card is issued, a player may be fined or suspended, depending on the number of yellow cards, that the player has previously been given.

Goalkeepers

If a player tries to block the keeper when they are kicking it out of their hands.

Related Questions

How long is a player suspended for after two yellow cards?

A player who is shown two yellow cards during a match will be sent off during that game. The player will not be able to play the next match. Further suspensions can be given if the player has accumulated a number of cards.

Does a yellow card expire?

For league matches, yellow cards will be reset halfway through the season. Cup competitions each have different rules.

What happens if a soccer player gets two yellow cards?

A player who is shown two yellow cards during a match will be sent off during that game. The player will not be able to play the next match. Further suspensions can be given if the player has accumulated a number of cards.

Read More…

For more information regarding the rules for the MLS, you can click here.