Soccer, the world's most popular sport, is governed by very specific rules. For example, the size of an official soccer pitch is governed by the laws of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Such rules are of course essential if soccer is to be played universally. But just how big is a soccer pitch? We've got the answer!

What are the dimensions of a soccer pitch?

For pros or amateurs

Soccer is the universal sport par excellence. In this sense, the surface area of soccer pitches is not proportional to the level of play of its players. Whether you're playing soccer at departmental level or in the biggest professional leagues, your pitch must respect official dimensions.

According to the IFAB (International Football Association Board), which is responsible for enforcing the laws of soccer, a pitch must be..:

• Length (touchline):
  minimum 90 m (100 yard)
  maximum 120 m (130 yard)
• Length (goal line):
  minimum 45 m (50 yard)
  maximum 90 m (100 yard)

In other words, the measurements of a soccer pitch located on the sports facilities of a small village in France are virtually the same as those of the most prestigious stadiums where professional players take part in international competitions (Barcelona's Camp Nou, London's Wembley Stadium, Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Milan's San Siro Stadium or Marseille's Stade Vélodrome).

For international matches, the FIFA soccer field dimensions must comply with more precise measurements:

• Length (touchline):
  minimum 100 m (110 yard)
  maximum 110 m (120 yard)
• Length (goal line):
  minimum 64 m (70 yard)
  maximum 75 m (80 yard)

For a soccer pitch, however, dimensions can vary by a few meters in length or width. This may be the case, for example, for amateur clubs' honorary or training pitches, which are often adapted to the size of their sports complex.

On the other hand, the length and width of a soccer pitch change with the age of the players. The younger the players, the smaller the sports fields they play on. This enables each athlete to flourish on playing surfaces suited to his or her physical abilities. Similarly, the type of sport played has an impact on the size of the pitch. Playing surfaces for 5-a-side soccer are logically smaller than those required for 8-a-side or 11-a-side soccer.

For 5-player teams in categories U6 to U9, the pitch must be between 20 and 30 metres wide and between 30 and 45 metres long. From U10 to U13, matches are generally played on a half-court. From the U14 category upwards, players move to a standard-size pitch.

How many meters long is a soccer pitch?

The size of a soccer pitch is governed by soccer law 1.

• For adult footballers (senior category), the playing surface can vary between 4,050 m2 and 10,800 m2. In concrete terms, the length of a soccer pitch must be between 90 and 120 meters. The width should be a minimum of 45 meters and a maximum of 90 meters.

In terms of surfacing, outdoor pitches can be made of natural grass, artificial turf or earth. In addition to the length and width of a soccer pitch, the layout of the various elements that must be present on the surface is also governed by the laws of the game.

This is the case, for example, for the center circle , which has a radius of 9.16m around the center of the pitch, the penalty spot is 11m from the goal, the penalty areas are 40.3m wide and 16.6m long, and the arcs at the four corners of the pitch measure 1m. This applies whether the pitch is synthetic or grass.

Goals are also required by law on 11-a-side soccer pitches, with a width of 7.32 meters and a height of 2.44 meters.

How to equip soccer pitches?

Would you like to equip your adult sports fields with professional-quality goals? Resistant and long-lasting, Powershot's cast-in soccer cages and professional transportable soccer goals will meet the needs of amateur and professional clubs, as well as local authorities.

In addition to the lines at the four corners (the sidelines along the length and the goal lines along the width), the surface of a soccer pitch has numerous ground markings. Soccer pitches are always divided into two parts of perfectly equal size (so that each team has its own side):

• The horizontal line which delimits these two zones is called the median line.
  This median line is crossed by a large circle (9.15 meters radius), the center circle. In soccer matches, kick-offs are taken from the center of this circle, whether to start the match or to follow a goal scored by the opposing team.
  
• Similarly, a penalty area must be marked out at each end of the soccer pitch. These penalty areas are essential in that they mark out the areas in which goalkeepers are allowed to grab the ball with their hands. Outside these areas, the penalty would be a free-kick for the opposing team (and probably a red card for the goalkeeper!).
  
• A penalty point is located 11 meters from the goal line inside each of the two areas. When laying out a soccer pitch, it's also essential to define arcs in the four corners of the pitch. These zones determine where the ball will be placed when a player is about to take a corner kick.

What equipment is needed for field marking?

All these ground lines are necessary for soccer. They enable footballers to find their way around the pitch, and referees to enforce the rules in certain areas. Are you an association or local authority that needs to mark out its soccer pitches on a regular basis? Whether it's a new pitch or an old one, you'll need the right equipment, starting with :

• Tracing paint. Specially designed for natural grass pitches, this paint won't harm your fields and offers perfect hold. Available in different colors (white, blue, red and yellow), it is simply diluted with water for easy use.
  
• To mark out your soccer pitch, you can then opt for a spray-on or lime-on plotter. Easy to use, the spray plotter will enable you to obtain a pitch that meets soccer competition standards by producing straight, uniform lines. The paint is applied to the grass using a pressure system, ensuring perfect line visibility in all playing conditions.

Playing surface dimensions for 11-a-side, 8-a-side and 5-a-side soccer

Now that you know the dimensions of an 11-a-side pitch, what about an 8-a-side or 5-a-side pitch?

5-a-side soccer is played in particular by the youngest licensees (categories U6 to U9). The pitch is adapted to their physical and technical abilities, measuring between 20 and 30 meters in width, and between 30 and 45 meters in length. For optimum playing conditions, you can equip your 5-a-side pitches with soccer goals.

U10s through to slightly older U13s play on soccer pitches equivalent to half a pitch for adults. These pitches are suitable for 8-a-side games in particular.

Beyond U13, youngsters play on classic 11-a-side pitches.

Offer your budding footballers playing conditions worthy of the greatest players by installing sealable soccer cages or transportable soccer goals on your sports equipment.

Older children can play on soccer pitches equivalent to a half-field for adults.

Offer your budding footballers playing conditions worthy of the greatest players by installing sealable soccer cages or transportable soccer goals on your sports equipment. For futsal or indoor soccer, the dimensions of the pitch must once again comply with FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) requirements. The length must be between 25 and 42 meters, while the width must not exceed 25 meters. To equip your futsal pitches with quality sports equipment, Netsportique offers you solid, durable futsal goals.

Size and surface of official soccer fields

The dimensions of a soccer pitch are governed by the laws of the game, but they do allow for variations: the length can range from 90 to 120 metres, and the width from 45 to 90 metres. However, for professional competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, pitches must respect precise dimensions of 105 by 68 metres.

Soccer authorities such as FIFA recommend these dimensions for the construction of new pitches, in order to standardize 11-a-side soccer. Ground markings must also comply with specific rules imposed by the IFAB.

Netsportique offers a wide range of quality equipment to equip your pitches and markings, so that they are perfectly suited to your game.

Netsportique also offers clubs a 10% discount on their purchases!