Soccer Field Dimensions

The size of a soccer field will vary, depending on the particular format of the game that is being played. The formats are defined by the age group that is playing and the number of players in each team. There are official rules and recommendations for each of these formats which we will explore in this article.

Measurement Units

The laws of the game have been written using meters since 1997. However, due to the influence of the British in the history of soccer, yards are most commonly used when talking about field dimensions.

How Big Is a Soccer Field?

The dimensions of a soccer field must be marked out so that they fall between the minimum and maximum lengths that have been defined by the International Football Association Board.

The rules state that the length (touchline or sideline) must be longer than the width (goal line or byline), and the dimensions must fall between the following ranges. One range for national games, and a second for International games.

As you can see in figure 1, there is a large range of acceptable sizes, and the field dimensions are often adapted to fit the available space in the surrounding area.

Run-off area

It is also important to take into consideration the run-off area that surrounds the field. The dimensions of the field should be small enough so that there is sufficient space surrounding the field that is free of obstacles, to ensure players and officials do not injure themselves.

Recommended Dimensions

Taking all of this into consideration, the English Football Association has provided their recommended dimensions for an ideal soccer field for senior players, in an 11 x 11 match.

Competition Variations

Individual competitions are permitted to determine their own rules on what are acceptable field dimensions, as long as they are within the ranges defined above. Most major European competitions state that all pitches must have exactly the same dimensions (115 yards x 74 yards). Although many teams can comply with this, there are allowances made for teams that cannot comply due to size restrictions in their stadium.

Field Dimensions per Age Group

The size of the field and the format of the game should be adjusted according to the age group that is playing. See below for the recommended field sizes and internal markings for each age group, along with the recommended number of players for each team.

Over 18 and adult soccer

Figure 2 shows the recommended internal and external dimensions of a full size soccer field for adults playing in an 11v11 game:

Under-15 and under-16 soccer (11 vs 11)

Figure 3 shows the recommended internal and external dimensions of an under-15 and under-16 field for an 11v11 game:

Under-13 and under-14 soccer (11 vs 11)

Figure 4 shows the recommended internal and external dimensions of an under-13 and under-14 field for an 11v11 game:

Under-11 and under-12 soccer (9 v 9)

Figure 5 shows the recommended internal and external dimensions of an under-11 and under-12 field for an 9v9 game:

Under-9 and under-10 soccer (7 v 7)

Figure 6 shows the recommended internal and external dimensions of an under-9 and under-10 field for an 7v7 game:

Under-7 and under-8 soccer (5 v 5)

Figure 7 shows the recommended internal and external dimensions of an under-7 and under-8 field for an 5v5 game:

Size Comparisons With Other Sports

Soccer / Football (NFL) field size comparison

Soccer / Basketball court size comparison

Soccer / Tennis court size comparison

Soccer / Cricket pitch size comparison

Does Size Really Matter?

The dimensions of a soccer field really do matter, as they will influence how the game can be played. A field with larger dimensions will allow players to better utilize the spaces, and faster players will have more room to take advantage of their pace. The larger field will also require running longer distances, and players could fatigue faster.

A wider field will favor those teams that play with wingers and focus their play down the sides of the field, whereas a narrower field will benefit the central players.

Fields with very small areas will benefit teams that like to sit deep and play compactly. There will be fewer spaces on the field and only players with exceptional passing skills will be able to break down defenses.

Real-world examples

In 1987, Glasgow Rangers were due to play Dynamo Kiev in a European Cup match. Kiev were well known for playing with two fantastic wingers who would be the main threat during the game. To counteract this threat, Graeme Souness, who was the manager of Rangers at the time, decided that he would alter the width of the field. He allowed the Kiev players to train on the normal size pitch the day before the match, but overnight, Souness instructed the groundsmen to reduce the width of the field to the minimum that was allowed within the rules. Rangers went on to win the game 2-0. This change would not be permitted in the modern day, as most competitions have a rule stating that dimensions cannot be altered once the season has begun.

A similar strategy was used by Stoke City manager, Tony Pulis. One of Stoke's main threats came from a player named Rory Delap, who was arguably an average player in the Premier League. However, Delap was considered a long-throw specialist and was able to throw the ball exceptional distances when taking a throw-in. For this reason, Pulis made the decision to make the field as small as possible, so that Delap could launch an attack into the opposition penalty area at every throw-in. Opposition teams became so afraid of conceding a throw-in, they would do anything possible to keep the ball in play, and even surrender a corner kick instead of a throw-in, which is usually considered far more difficult to defend against.

Smaller fields have also been blamed for increased disciplinary offenses. With less space on the field, collisions between players are more likely. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger used this excuse to explain his team's high number of yellow and red cards.

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