How Big Is a Professional Soccer Field: All About Fields

There is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the size of a soccer field (also called a soccer pitch), which is valid around the world. Many changes have taken place since humans played the first soccer game about 2000 years ago to the modern form we know today.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the official sizes of amateur and professional soccer pitches on which the game is played. We will investigate the width and length of a soccer field and all the other marks found on a standard pitch.

Read on if you want to know the exact sizes of a soccer field for the recreational and professional versions of the game.

The Size Of a Professional Soccer Field

According to regulation rules, a professional soccer field dimensions should be 110 to 120 Yards (100-110m) long and 70 to 82 yards wide (64-73m). According to FIFA rules, these sizes are standard for all international soccer fields when professional-level games are played on them.

So, the maximum size of a professional soccer field is 120 yards(110m) long and an optimum width of 75 yards(69m). The borders at each end of the field are the goal lines. The lines on the side of the pitch are the touchlines.

Touchlines runs along the field’s length on both sides, and goal lines run the width of the field at each end. A corner flag marks the two corners at the end of the field to indicate the end of the playing field.

The goal line is the complete length of the line at the end of the pitch and not just the part between the goalposts. The touchline runs from corner to corner, and the goal line ends at the corner flag.

According to FIFA rules, all lines drawn on the soccer field must be the same size and may not exceed 5 inches (12cm).

Marks On the Field

As already mentioned, the outer borders of the field are the goal lines and touchlines, which end at the corner flag. But there are also other lines drawn on the pitch that indicate the different positions on the field of play.

Half Line and Center Circle

The half-line runs across the width of the field and separates the two halves of the football field into two equal sizes. In the center of the field, a circle is drawn to indicate the exact middle point of the playing field.

The circle in the middle of the field is where the game begins. After hearing the referee blow a whistle, kick-off occurs, indicating the match has begun. 

Penalty Box

The penalty box is a rectangular-shaped box that surrounds the goalposts at each end of the playfield. This box starts at precisely 18 yards(16.5m) from the goal post on each side and runs that same measure into the field.

The size of this penalty box is then 18 yards(16.5m) wide and 44 yards(40.3m) long to form a rectangular. A penalty mark is placed precisely 12 yards (11m) from the goal in the center of the penalty box.

This penalty spot is where a penalty is kicked from at the soccer goals when a team commits an accidental or deliberate foul. This place is also the only area where the goalkeeper can touch the ball with his hands to prevent a goal from being scored.

The Goal Area

The goal area is located exactly in the center of the penalty box and the center of the field along the goal line. The football goalposts are 6 yards(5.5m) apart and are connected with a crossbar at the top end of the posts.

In professional matches, the goal is indicated by a net on each side of the opposing halves of the field. So if the opposite side manages to kick the ball into the net, it automatically crosses the goal line, and a point is awarded.

Corner Box

The corner box where the corner flag is placed is indicated with a quarter circle of 1 yard(914mm) diameter. The quarter-circle that is drawn in each corner of the field is also the place where the ball is placed for corner kicks.

Other Marks

In the case of a corner kick, the opposing team must be located 10 yards(9.5m) away from the corner. This spot is sometimes indicated with a line drawn on the field to show the necessary distances.

A Closer Look At The Field

Before we talk about measurements, let’s look at the field itself, including the layout and material it is made from. Firstly, different types of surfaces are used to prepare a soccer field to get it ready for playing on it.

Types Of Fields

There are typically three types of surfaces commonly used when soccer matches are played.

Grass Turf

Green grass is, in most cases, the surface on which professional games are played, and that includes all major league soccer matches. Professional soccer fields are well planned and looked after to keep the surface in the best possible condition for all games.

Artificial Turf

This type of playing surface is primarily used in areas where it is difficult to maintain a grass surface, such as heavy rainfall and snow. Dry areas where the grass may die quickly and turn brown are also contributing factors to artificial grass on soccer fields.

Many top-tier fields in Europe and other parts of the world are made from artificial green grass to play on.

Dirt

A hard surface is also used to play soccer but is primarily used on fields where school level or amateur games are played. School soccer fields consist mostly of dirt with no grass on them, and they are pretty dusty when heavy winds are blowing.

Summary

The measurements and soccer field dimensions mentioned here are the official sizes and distances found in the FIFA rule book for professional games. Other recreational and local games may vary slightly from these, but they all are very close to those indicated for all international matches. Not every soccer pitch is the same, as you can see now.