Home» Soccer Rules» Soccer Law 1

Soccer Law 1
The Field of Play

Field surface

Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition.

Click on image for a close up view

Dimension

The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline (sideline) must be greater than the length of the goal line.

	Minimum	Maximum
Lenght:	90m (100 yds)	120m (130 yds)
Width:	45m (50 yds)	90m (100 yds)

International Matches

	Minimum	Maximum
Lenght:	100m (110 yds)	110m (120 yds)
Width:	64m (70 yds)	75m (80 yds)

Field Markings

The field of play is marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries.

The two longer boundary lines are called touchlines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines.

All lines are not more than 12 cm (5 ins) wide.

The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line.

The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line.

A circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) is marked around it.

The Goal Area

A goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows:

Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 5.5 m (6 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 5.5 m (6 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.

The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area.

The Penalty Area

A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows:
Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5 m (18 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 16.5 m (18 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area.

Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.

Flag post

A flag post, not less than 1.5 m (5 ft) high, with a non-pointed top and a flag is placed at each corner. Flag posts may also be placed at each end of the halfway line, not less than 1 m (1 yd) outside the touchline.

Click on image for a close up view

The Corner Arc

A quarter circle with a radius of 1 m (1 yd) from each corner flag post is drawn inside the field of play.

Goals

Goals must be placed on the center of each goal line. They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flag posts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The distance between the posts is 7.32 m (8 yds) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m (8 ft). Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth, which do not exceed 12 cm (5 in). The goal lines are the same width as that of the goalposts and the crossbar. Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper. The goalposts and crossbars must be white. Safety Goals must be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used if they satisfy this requirement.

Click on image for a close up view

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1
If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it has been repaired or replaced in position. If a repair is not possible, the match is abandoned. The use of a rope to replace the crossbar is not permitted. If the crossbar can be repaired, the match is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where the ball was located when play was stopped.

Decision 2
Goalposts and crossbars must be made of wood, metal or other approved material. Their shape may be square, rectangular, round or elliptical and they must not be dangerous to players.

Decision 3
No kind of commercial advertising, whether real or virtual, is permitted on the field of play and field equipment (including the goal nets and the areas they enclose) from the time the teams enter the field of play until they have left it at half-time and from the time the teams re-enter the field of play until the end of the match. In particular, no advertising material of any kind may be displayed on goals, nets, flag posts or their flags. No extraneous equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.) may be attached to these items.

Decision 4
There shall be no advertising of any kind within the technical area or within one meter of the touchline and outside the field of play on the ground. Further, no advertising shall be allowed in the area between the goal line and the goal nets.

Decision 5
The reproduction, whether real or virtual, of representative logos or emblems of FIFA, confederations, member associations, leagues, clubs or other bodies is forbidden on the field of play and field equipment (including the goal nets and the areas they enclose) during playing time, as described in Decision 3.

Decision 6
A mark may be made off the field of play, 9.15 meters (10 yds) from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal lines, to ensure that this distance is observed when a corner kick is being taken.

Decision 7
Where artificial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of member associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA.

Decision 8
Where a technical area exists, it must meet the requirements approved by the International F.A. Board, which are contained in this publication.

Go to the top of Soccer Law 1 page

Return to Youth Soccer Equipment home page