Football pitch

Overview

A Football pitch or football field is the playing surface for the game of Association football. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play". The surface can be either natural or artificial, but it must be green in color. The field is rectangular and marked with lines called boundary lines, which include the touchlines and the goal lines.

Dimensions

The touchline must be longer than the goal line. The length of the touchline must be between 100 yards (90m) and 130 yards (120m) and the length of the goal line must be between 50 yards (45m) and 100 yards (90m). For international matches, the touchline length is between 110 yards (100m) and 120 yards (110m) and the goal line length is between 70 yards (64m) and 80 yards (75m). All lines must be equally wide, not to exceed 5 inches (12 cm).

A well-maintained, green football pitch with white boundary lines and goal posts at each end.

Markings

The field is divided into two halves by the halfway line, with a center circle of 10 yards (9.15m) radius. The penalty area, goal area, corners, and technical area are all marked according to the Laws of the Game. The penalty mark is 12 yards (11m) from the goal line and the penalty arc is a further 10 yards (9.15m) radius from the penalty mark. The corners are marked by quarter circles with a radius of 1 yard (1m) from the corner flag post.

Goalposts and crossbar

The goalposts and crossbar must be white and have the same width and depth, which is between 4 inches (10cm) and 5 inches (12cm). The goalposts are placed at the center of each goal line. The distance between the inside of the posts is 8 yards (7.32m) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 8 feet (2.44m).

Technical area

The technical area pertains to the space where the coaching staff and substitutes sit. It extends 1 yard (1m) on either side of the designated seated area and extends forward up to a distance of 1 yard (1m) from the touchline. It is marked by a semi-circle.

Surface

The surface must be green and can be either natural or artificial. The Laws of the Game specify that the color must be green, but do not specify any particular shade. The surface must meet the requirements of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Maintenance

The maintenance of a football pitch is crucial to ensure a high-quality playing surface. This includes regular mowing, watering, and treatment of the pitch to prevent diseases and pests. The pitch must also be inspected regularly to ensure it meets the required standards.