How Big is a Soccer Field?
Size and dimensions of a soccer field
The size and dimensions of the soccer field are a heavily regulated part of soccer. This is to ensure that the game remains fair for teams playing at home and away matches.
Whilst not all soccer fields are the same size, they need to retain certain dimensions to be allowed by regulators.
Even though some soccer pitches can differ in sizes, FIFA stipulates that a soccer field must be between 100 and 130 yards long by 50 to 100 yards wide.
Dimensions for a soccer field in international games
Internationally, regulations state that a soccer field needs to be 110-120 yards by 70-80 yards. These regulations are stricter than national games of soccer, since they are optimized for player’s performance.
Penalty Area
The penalty area’s lines also must abide by stipulations and rules set in place by organisations like FIFA if the pitch is to be used in a game of soccer. If the dimensions of the penalty box are off, it can wildly affect penalty kicks and the offside rule.
The penalty box consists of three lines surrounding the goal area, which is where penalties take place (hence the name). As a result of its importance, the penalty box needs to be an appropriate and consistent size on soccer pitches.
The penalty area should be 18 yards wide to ensure that there is enough space for players and for the penalty mark. The penalty mark should be located 12 yards from the midpoint between the goalposts. Outside of the penalty box, there is also an arc of a circle with a radius of 10 yards.
The Goal
The goal area is located inside the penalty area and should be 6 yards long. The goalposts themselves should be 8ft tall and 8 yards wide.
How tall is a soccer goal?
A soccer goal is 8ft tall.
Even the goal itself has its own stipulations and rules that must be followed. For instance, the material used for the goalposts must be approved by the governing body, and the goalposts must be circular, square, rectangular or elliptical in shape. They should also be secured to the floor, regardless of whether the goal is portable or not. The goalpost should also be 6 yards from the nearest goal area line, whilst also being 18 yards from the closest penalty line.
The net is also regulated, and should be attached to the goals and the ground located behind the goal, to ensure it doesn’t interfere with the goalkeeper.
The Center Circle
The center circle is where kick-off takes place and is at the exact center of the soccer field. The center circle should have a radius of 10 yards and have equal parts on the left and right side of the pitch. The center line must pass through the exact middle of the center circle.
The Corner Arc
The Corner Arc refers to the arched markings present in each of the pitch’s four corners. The flagposts are also stationed on each of these four corners, and are where corner kicks take place. Each corner arc has a 1 yard radius. The ball must be inside the corner arc when a player takes a corner kick.
Flagposts
The flagposts in soccer are located on each corner of the pitch, and should be at least 5ft high, and have a flat top. These flagposts also typically have a square flag, but can be permitted to use a triangular one if the home team has won the FA Cup.
Flagposts can also be placed at each end of the halfway line, providing they’re 1 yard outside the touchline. However, this isn’t a requirement.
Field surface in soccer
The field surface refers to the whole area covered by the soccer pitch. There are multiple elements at play which are used to ensure the field is safe to play on, durable, and consistent when compared to other soccer fields.
For instance, the grass on a soccer field needs to be round 25-30 millimeters in height. This grass can either be completely natural or artificial, providing it is the correct height and green.
The lines on the pitch must also be the same size, but no thicker than 12cm.
Are All Soccer Fields The Same Size?
Under the current regulations, there is some wiggle room for soccer fields so they aren’t required to be the exact same size as one another.
For example, the Avaya Stadium is 74 yards wide and 115 yards long, whilst the Stubhub Center is 75 Yards wide and 120 yards long.
There are different regulations and suggestions for different types of soccer fields, however, there are leagues for youth soccer, high school soccer and college soccer. All of which have different dimensions and guidelines.
Youth Soccer Field Dimensions
Youth soccer fields can differ in size as they accommodate any age range of youth players, but normally range from 15×30 yards to 60×100 yards. This is partly to ensure that the pitches can be made more available to youths, as they don’t require as much space, and to also ensure that the players have more fun.
| 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 |
The table above is calculated based on the size of the child’s average step in comparison to an adult’s step. The dimensions of the soccer pitch are then calculated based on how old the child playing is.
High School Soccer Field Dimensions
High School soccer is usually considered to be labeled as U-14 on the graph above, as the students are usually in that age bracket. As a result, the optimal size of a high school soccer field would be 60×100 yards. The size of high school soccer pitches can also depend entirely on the size of the high school, as smaller ones might not be able to accommodate a larger pitch.
College Soccer Field Dimensions
College soccer field dimensions are usually set to match the size of officially regulated pitches. Since a college-aged student is an adult, their soccer pitch should reflect that by being the size of a standard regulated field. This means that college soccer field dimensions are usually 120×75 yards.
What are the Soccer Pitch Dimensions in Meters?
The standard soccer pitch dimensions of 120×75 yards are equivalent to 110×67 meters.
