| Most soccer fans have an idea about the primary | | | | and 18 yards from either upright. The penalty area is |
| areas of the field. The details of the soccer pitch are | | | | often mentioned in commentary. It is the critical area |
| addressed in the 1st law of soccer - The Field of | | | | for determining whether an infringement punishable |
| Play. Even for the avid soccer fan, it is pretty useful | | | | by a direct free kick results in a penalty if it's in the |
| to know what the different markings on the field are | | | | area or free kick if just outside. The penalty area is |
| for and what areas they define. Most fans would be | | | | also the goalkeeper's domain. He can generally handle |
| away of the importance of symmetry and | | | | the ball anywhere in the penalty area, save in |
| measurement for the soccer pitch. | | | | exceptional circumstances. |
| The soccer pitch | | | | The penalty arc |
| The soccer pitch must be rectangular and within | | | | Only a real soccer fan would know the purpose of |
| specified measurements. The measurements are | | | | the arc drawn at the top of the penalty box is. It is |
| different for normal association matches and | | | | really to ensure that opposing players remain at least |
| international matches. The minimum length of a | | | | 10 yards aware from the ball when it is placed on the |
| soccer pitch is 90m, with the maximum being 120m. | | | | penalty mark during a penalty kick. It is just an arc |
| Its width must fall between 45m and 90m. The | | | | since all players are mandated to remain outside of |
| standard for international matches falls within the | | | | the penalty area in any event before a penalty kick |
| aforementioned ranges. The soccer pitch is defined | | | | is taken. The penalty mark is a spot twelve yards |
| by two touch lines and goal lines. These boundary | | | | from the goal line and equal distance from the |
| lines must be clearly visible and not wider than five | | | | uprights. It is used to spot the ball in a penalty kick or |
| inches. | | | | kick from the penalty mark. |
| The goals | | | | The centre circle |
| These must be place at the precise centre of either | | | | The centre circle is 10 yards in diameter at the |
| goal line. The distance of each upright from the | | | | centre of the field, straddling both halves. The centre |
| corner flag must be the same distance on either side. | | | | point of the centre circle is the centre mark, used to |
| The goal is not required to have a net, but it usually | | | | spot the ball at kick-off. The purpose of the centre |
| has one (thankfully). The uprights must be exactly | | | | circle is to ensure that opponents remain 10 yards |
| eight feet high with the crossbar eight yards across. | | | | from the ball at kick-off. |
| The uprights and crossbar must be white and the | | | | The corner arc |
| same width as the goal line. This fact can be very | | | | The corner arc is used for placing the ball when a |
| important when determining if a goal is scored or not. | | | | corner kick is taken. The ball must be placed on or |
| The two halves | | | | within the corner arc and remain stationary before it |
| The soccer pitch is split symmetrically with two | | | | is kicked. The corner arc must be marked with a |
| halves that mirror each other in every way. The | | | | corner flag where the touch line meets the goal line. |
| halfway line splits the field into two equal halves. Flags | | | | Optional marks outside the field, indicating the |
| can be placed a yard away from each touchline in line | | | | ten-yard distance from the corner arc are used to |
| with the halfway line, but this is optional. | | | | guide referees in establishing how close the opponent |
| The goal area | | | | can get to the corner when a corner kick is being |
| The goal area is 20 yards long (six yards from either | | | | taken. |
| upright) and extends six yards from either goal line. | | | | Markings on the soccer field are not done to have |
| The goal area is critical for ball placement in goal | | | | the field look pretty (even though it helps). Each |
| kicks, indirect free kicks in the penalty area or | | | | mark or area on the soccer pitch has an important |
| dropped balls in the penalty area. | | | | function. The absence or ill-definition of some of |
| The penalty area | | | | these crucial areas can be grounds for a match to be |
| The penalty area surrounds the goal area and goal | | | | called off- such is their importance. |
| symmetrically. It extends 18 yards from the goal line | | | | |