Soccer Field Size, Lines, And Dimensions Explained
Like many sports, soccer has a lot of requirements when it comes to the soccer field size and dimensions. You may be surprised to hear that not all soccer fields are the same size. However, all official soccer fields do adhere to certain criteria. In this guide, we will explain in the detail the standard soccer field size and dimensions, as well as the dimensions of 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 soccer fields.
How Big Is A Soccer Field?
11v11 Soccer Field Dimensions
A standard 11v11 soccer field must be between 100-130 yards long and 50-100 yards wide. For an international soccer pitch, however, the requirements are a little more strict. An international soccer field must be between 110-120 yards long and 70-80 yards wide.
9v9 Soccer Field Dimensions
The recommended dimensions for a 9v9 soccer field are between 70-80 yards long and 45-55 yards wide. These are not necessarily strict requirements and the dimensions may differ slightly in different states and different youth soccer associations.
7v7 Soccer Field Dimensions
The recommended dimensions for a 7v7 soccer field are between 55-65 yards long and 35-45 yards wide. These are not necessarily strict requirements and the dimensions may differ slightly in different states and different youth soccer associations. Learn more about 7v7 Soccer here.
6v6 Soccer Field Dimensions
The recommended dimensions for a 6v6 soccer field are between 45-60 yards long and 35-45 yards wide. These are not necessarily strict requirements and the dimensions may differ slightly in different states and different youth soccer associations.
5v5 Soccer Field Dimensions
5-a-side soccer is perhaps one of the most popular variations of the game. The recommended dimensions for a 5v5 (5-a-side) soccer field are 40 yards long and 30 yards wide. Again, the exact dimension requirements are different with different soccer associations. The FA in England, for example, says a 5-aside pitch should be 36.6 meters long and 27.5 meters wide.
4v4 Soccer Field Dimensions
The recommended dimensions for a 4v4 soccer field are between 25-35 yards long and 15-25 yards wide. These are not necessarily strict requirements and the dimensions may differ slightly in different states and different youth soccer associations.
Soccer Field Lines And Dimensions
Here are the names of the soccer field lines and the area dimensions as is standard on a 11v11 soccer field. If you’re not sure where on a soccer field these lines and areas are, you can refer to the image above.
Center Circle
The center circle is in the center of the soccer field and has a radius of 10 yards when measured from the center spot. The purpose of the center circle is to facilitate kickoffs. During a kickoff, all players on the team not kicking off must be outside the center circle and in their own half.
Penalty Area / Penalty Box
The penalty area is a rectangular area measuring 18 yards long and 44 yards wide. The penalty area is also known as the penalty box or the 18-yard box as it is 18 yards deep when measured from the Endline. Inside the penalty area, the defending goalkeeper can touch the ball with their hands and arms, but outside this area, they may not. This area is called the penalty area because if the attacking team is fouled in this area, they are awarded a penalty.
Penalty Arc
At the top of the penalty area is the penalty arc, which is also known as the D. This arc ensures that when a penalty is being taken, all players are at least 10 yards from the penalty spot.
Penalty Spot
The penalty spot is the spot from which a penalty is taken. It is 12 yards away from the goal and 10 yards away from the peak of the penalty arc.
Goal Area
The goal area is also known as the 6-yard box and is the small box within the penalty area. The dimensions of the goal area are 6 yards by 20 yards. The main purpose of the goal area is to mark out the rectangle where goal kicks can be taken. Goal kicks can be taken anywhere inside this box, or on the lines.
Corner Mark
The corner mark is the small area in each of the four corners of the pitch where a corner kick is taken. The corner mark is a 1-yard semi-circle measured from the corner post.
Sideline
The sidelines are the lines marking the long side of the field. When the ball goes over the sideline, a throw-in restarts the game.
Endline
The end lines are the lines marking the two short sides of a pitch. When the ball goes over the endlines, a goal kick is awarded if the attacking team touches the ball out, and a corner is awarded if the defending team kicks the ball out.
Halfway Line
The halfway line marks the halfway point on a soccer pitch and divides the pitch into two sides. This is important for kickoffs as each team needs to be on their respective sides, and for offsides because a player can only be offside in their opponent’s half.
More Useful Resources
Thanks for reading. I hope you found this guide to soccer field dimensions and areas useful. Before you go, be sure to check out our other Soccer FAQ posts for more useful guides, and if you’re a soccer coach, then check out our huge library of free soccer drills and games.