Soccer, the world's most popular sport, is governed by very specific rules. For example, the size of an official soccer pitch is governed by the laws of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Such rules are of course essential if soccer is to be played universally. But how big is a soccer pitch? We give you the answer!

What are the dimensions of a soccer pitch?

For pros and amateurs alike

Soccer is the universal sport par excellence. In this sense, the surface area of soccer pitches is not proportional to the level of play of its players. Whether you're playing soccer at departmental level or in the biggest professional leagues, your playing field must respect official dimensions.

In other words, the dimensions of a soccer pitch in a small village in France are virtually the same as those of the most prestigious stadiums where professional players take part in international competitions (Barcelona's Camp Nou, London's Wembley Stadium, Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Milan's San Siro Stadium or Marseille's Stade Vélodrome).

For a soccer pitch, however, dimensions can vary by a few meters in length or width. This may be the case, for example, for the fields of honor or training grounds of amateur clubs, which are often adapted to the size of their sports complex.

On the other hand, the length and width of a soccer pitch change with the age of the players. The younger the players, the smaller the sports fields they play on. This enables each athlete to flourish on playing surfaces suited to his or her physical abilities. Similarly, the type of sport played has an impact on the size of the pitch. Playing surfaces for 5-a-side soccer are logically smaller than those required for 8-a-side or 11-a-side soccer.

How many meters long is a soccer pitch?

The size of a soccer pitch is governed by soccer law 1.

• For adult footballers (senior category), the playing surface can vary between 4,050 m2 and 10,800 m2. In concrete terms, the length of a soccer pitch must be between 90 and 120 meters. The width should be a minimum of 45 meters and a maximum of 90 meters.

• In terms of surfacing, outdoor pitches can be made of natural grass, artificial turf or earth. In addition to the length and width of a soccer pitch, the layout of the various elements that must be present on the surface is also governed by the laws of the game. This is the case, for example, for the center circle, the penalty spot, the penalty areas and the arcs located at the four corners of the pitch. Whether it's a synthetic or a grass pitch, goals also have regulation dimensions.

• For 11-a-side soccer pitches, goals must be 7.32 meters wide and 2.44 meters high.

How to equip soccer pitches?

Would you like to equip your adult sports fields with professional-quality goals? Resistant and long-lasting, Powershot's cast-in soccer cages and professional transportable soccer goals will meet the needs of amateur and professional clubs, as well as local authorities.

Laying out a soccer pitch: which equipment to choose?

In addition to the lines at the four corners (the sidelines along the length and the goal lines along the width), the surface of a soccer pitch has numerous ground markings. Soccer pitches are always divided into two parts of perfectly equal size (each team has its own side):

• The horizontal line delimiting these two zones is called the median line.

• This median line is crossed by a large circle (9.15-meter radius), the center circle. In soccer matches, kick-offs are taken from the center of this circle, whether to start the match or to follow a goal scored by the opposing team.

• Similarly, a penalty area must be marked out at each end of the soccer pitch. These penalty areas are essential in that they mark out the areas in which goalkeepers are allowed to grab the ball with their hands. Outside these areas, the penalty would be a free-kick for the opposing team (and probably a red card for the goalkeeper!).

• A penalty point is located 11 metres from the goal line within each area. When laying out a soccer pitch, it's also essential to define arcs in the four corners of the pitch. These areas determine where the ball will go when a player is about to take a corner kick.

What equipment is needed to mark out the pitches?

All these ground lines are necessary for soccer. They enable players to find their way around the pitch, and referees to enforce the rules in certain areas. Are you an association or local authority that needs to mark out its soccer pitches on a regular basis? Whether it's a new pitch or an old one, you'll need the right equipment, starting with :

• marking paint. Specially designed for natural grass pitches, this paint won't harm your fields and offers perfect hold. Available in different colors (white, blue, red and yellow), it is simply diluted with water for easy use.

• To mark out your soccer pitch, you can then opt for either a spray-on or a lime-on plotter. Easy to use, the spray plotter will enable you to obtain a pitch up to soccer competition standards by producing straight, uniform lines. The paint is applied to the grass using a pressure system, ensuring perfect line visibility in all playing conditions.

Playing surface dimensions for 11-a-side, 8-a-side and 5-a-side soccer

Now that you know the dimensions of an 11-a-side pitch, what about an 8-a-side or 5-a-side pitch?

5-a-side soccer is played in particular by our youngest members (categories U6 to U9). The pitch is adapted to their physical and technical abilities, measuring between 20 and 30 meters in width, and between 30 and 45 meters in length. For optimum conditions, you can equip your 5-a-side soccer pitches with soccer goals. Older children can play on soccer pitches equivalent to half a pitch for adults.

Offer your budding footballers playing conditions worthy of the greatest players by fitting your sports equipment with cast-in soccer cages or transportable soccer goals. For futsal or indoor soccer, the dimensions of the pitch must once again comply with FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) requirements. The length must be between 25 and 42 meters, while the width must not exceed 25 meters. To equip your futsal pitches with quality sports equipment, Netsportique offers you solid, durable futsal goals.

Size and surface area of official soccer pitches

In soccer, the size of the pitch is governed by the laws of the game. However, these allow for variations in both length and width.

As a reminder, the length must be between 90m and 120m, and the width between 45m and 90m. This rule is stricter for official soccer competitions at the highest level. Professional matches must be played on pitches measuring 105m by 68m.

This surface area is applied, for example, at all FIFA World Cup matches. The bodies responsible for organizing soccer around the world are urging local authorities and clubs at all levels to apply this 105 x 68 metre measure when building new pitches. Ultimately, their aim is for all 11-a-side soccer pitches to have the same surface area.

In conclusion, the dimensions of a soccer pitch are governed by the laws governing the game. Similarly, the ground layout must comply with certain rules imposed by the IFAB and FIFA. It is this framework that enables soccer to be a universal and popular sport played in every country in the world. And if you're looking for quality equipment to equip your soccer pitches or to make markings on the pitch, Netsportique offers you a wide range of equipment at the best prices!