| Back in the day when soccer was in its infancy, | | | | goalkeeper facing off. This is usually a sure goal, so |
| soccer field layout was rather irregular in its | | | | you might not want to be so aggressive around the |
| dimensions and this created several problems for the | | | | penalty box. |
| players. One player from, say, York would play on a | | | | Let's take a look at some of the other soccer field |
| field that was 60 yards long, while the guys in | | | | dimensions that aren't usually that important, but can |
| Liverpool would play on one that was 140 yards. | | | | still regulate the game a bit further. The corner circle |
| Obviously, when either team played on the | | | | is set around the corner flag and is 1 yard in |
| competitor's field, they were at a loss. | | | | diameter. Basically, when a player takes a corner, he |
| That is why, over time, soccer field dimensions were | | | | can place the ball anywhere inside this circle so he |
| regulated, first by the Football Association, the first | | | | can more comfortably hit the ball and give it a swirl. |
| soccer organization in history, created by the English | | | | Otherwise, it's very difficult to keep the ball inside |
| in the late 19th century, then by FIFA. | | | | the soccer field dimensions if you're striking the |
| Today's dimensions of soccer fields still offer some | | | | corner from right, but with your left leg, or vice |
| room for variation, because not all pitches can be | | | | versa. |
| made on a same exact perimeter. So, the width of | | | | The penalty box circle is one of the soccer field |
| the field can range from 50 to 100 yards officially, | | | | dimensions that are used mostly for orientation by |
| but it's rarely the case with modern soccer fields that | | | | the referee. It's situated around the penalty spot, 10 |
| they hit these extremes. The length can range from | | | | yards around it and it's sole purpose is to allow the |
| 100 yards to 130, but you can't have a pitch that | | | | referee to figure out the correct wall distance in case |
| would be 100 yards wide and 100 yards long, | | | | of a free kick that's near the box. For example, if |
| obviously. | | | | the attacking team gets a free kick outside the edge |
| The field is split in half by a center line, which has a | | | | of the penalty area, the referee will automatically |
| symmetrical distance towards each of the widths and | | | | know that the defending team's wall should be placed |
| there is a center circle at the middle of this line, which | | | | at the penalty spot, which is 10 yards away, the |
| is always 10 yards in diameter. This circle ensures | | | | correct distance the wall should stay in. |
| that opposing players are kept at a safe distance | | | | These soccer field dimensions are standardized for all |
| when the team in possession kicks off. | | | | of the modern pitches, but the game will play |
| The goal must be 24 feet wide and 8 feet high and | | | | differently on various sized fields. For example, on a |
| it must be placed exactly on the middle of the pitch's | | | | very wide pitch, wing game play is bound to be more |
| width. The goal is surrounded by two boxes. The | | | | efficient, because your wingers will have a lot more |
| first one, called the protection box or the goalkeeper | | | | room to maneuver in. Short fields benefit players |
| box is 6 yards wide and long and in this area, the | | | | with great speed and technique that can solve a |
| keeper is said to be protected: any contact with the | | | | one-on-one duel in close quarters. |
| goalkeeper in this area will produce a foul for the | | | | Long fields benefit speedy players, that love to hit |
| defending team. | | | | the ball forward and make a run for it and they're a |
| The bigger box, also called the penalty box or | | | | nightmare for defenders that lack the speed to cope |
| penalty area is 18 yards wide and 44 long and in this | | | | with them. Longer fields also require more |
| area, every foul from the defending team will | | | | coordination between lines, otherwise a team might |
| produce a penalty kick, which is taken from 12 yards | | | | allow the opponent far more spaces than they would |
| from the goal, with just the attacker and the | | | | like to. |