Soccer Field Marking and Layout Specifications
2002 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules
[ISSN 0735-0368]

Soccer Field Dimensions

The field of play shall be rectangular, the width of which shall not exceed the length.
The width shall not be more than 80 yards (73.15M) nor less than 65 yards (59.44m) and the length shall not be more than 120 yards (109.72m) nor less than 110 yards (100.58m); however, fields of less than minimal dimensions may be used by prior written mutual consent of the competing institutions. The optimum size is 75 yards (68.58m) by 120 yards (109.73m).
Click on following links for an image: Soccer Field Dimension, Soccer Field Layout, and
Indoor Soccer Field Dimensions.

Soccer Field Dimensions

***SOCCER FIELD DIMENSIONS - BY AGE****

AGE  FIELD WIDTH   FIELD LENGTH

Age   (MIN   to  MAX)  (MIN - to -MAX)

U-6/7 (15yds TO 20yds)   (25yds TO 30yds)
U-8   (20yds TO 25yds)   (30yds TO 40yds)
U-9   (30yds TO 35yds)   (40yds TO 50yds)
U-10  (40yds TO 50yds)   (60yds TO 70yds)
U-11  (40yds TO 50yds)   (70yds TO 80yds)
U-12  (40yds TO 55yds)   (100yds TO 105yds)
U-13 (50yds TO 60yds)    (100yds TO 110yds)
INT'L (70yds TO 80yds)    (110yds TO 120yds)

****SOCCER GOAL DIMENSIONS - BY AGE****

Age  Goal Size  MIN  TO  MAX

U-6/U-7 (4.5'H X 9'W)    (6.5'H X 12'W)
U-8      (4.5'H X 9'W)     (6.5'H X 12'W)
U-9      (6.5'H X 12'W)    (6.5'H X 18.5'W)
U-10    (6.5'H X 18.5W)   (7'H X 21')
U-11    (6.5'H X 18.5W)   (8'H X 24'W)
U-12    (7'H X 21'W)       (8'H X 24'W)
U-13    (8'H X 24'W)       (8'H X 24'W)
INT'L    (8'H X 24'W)       (8'H X 24'W)

****PLAYERS PER TEAM & BALL SIZE - BY AGE****

Age   Players per Team   BALL SIZE

U-6/U-7  (3-V-3)     (3)
U-8       (4-V-4)(     (3)
U-9       (6-V-6)(     (4)
U-10     (8-V-8)(     (4)
U-11     (9-V-9)(     (4)
U-12     (11-V-11)   (4)
U-13     (11-V-11)   (5)
INT'L    (11-V-11)   (5)

INTERNATIONAL

Official Soccer Field Dimensions

The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line.

Length: minimum 100 yds (90 m), maximum 130 yds (120 m)
Width: minimum 50 yds (45 m), maximum 100 yds (90 m)

International Matches

Length: minimum 110 yds (100 m), maximum 120 yds (110 m)
Width: minimum 70 yds (64 m), maximum 80 yds (75 m)

Goals

Goals must be placed on the center of each goal line. They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The distance between the posts is 8 yds (7.32 m) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 8 ft (2.44 m). Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth, which do not exceed 5 ins (12 cm). The goal lines are the same width as that of the goalposts and the crossbar. Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper. The goalposts and crossbars must be white.

Safety

Goals must be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used if they satisfy this requirement.

Field Markings

The field of play is marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines. All lines are not less than 4 inches (10.16cm) in width nor more than 5 inches (12 cm) wide. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 10 yds (9.15m) is marked around it.

The Goal Area

A goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 6 yds (5.5 m) from the inside of each goal post. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 6 yds (5.5 m) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area.

Penalty area

Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 18 yards (16.46m) from the inside of each goal post. The lines will extend into the field of play for a distance fo 18 yards (16.46m) and joined by line parallel with the goal line.

At each end of the field, a two-foot (60.96cm) line or a nine-inch (22.86cm) spot will be placed at a point 12 yards (10.97m) from the midpoint of, and parallel to, to the goal line. The line will be draw with 12 inches on both sides of the center line. The spot will extend 4.5 inches on either side of the center line.

Corner Area, Hash Mark

From each corner, a quarter circle, having a radius of one yard (.914m) will be drawn. A hash mark one yard (.914m) situated six inches beyond the field of play and 11 yards (10.05m) from the touch line will be marked perpendicular to the goal line at each corner of the field.

Corner Flags

A flag on a post not less five feet (1.53m) high and having a non-pointed top will be placed at each corner. A similar flag pole may be placed opposite the halfway line on each side of the field of play at least one yard (.914m) outside the touch line.

The staff or post will be approximately 1.5 inches (3.81cm) thick and either round or square. The flag will be a bright color, about two feet (60.96cm) long by one foot (30.48) wide and secured to the staff or post. The base of the pylon or flag post will not be more than 8 inches (20.32cm) across.


Coaching and Team Areas

Team benches will be separated by a 10-yard neutral zone, and will be at least 10 feet (3.05m) from the touch line. The area will be marked parallel to the touch line and situated 10 feet from the touch line and extending 20 yards (18.29m) from the five-yard neutral zone measured from the halfway line in both directions.

Soccer Field Layout Tool
Automated Desktop Tool for Field Staking and Striping Dimensions
Soccer Equipment Solution From the Desktop to the Field
MS Excel Spreadsheet

Fast and Simple Tool for Generating Soccer Field Dimensions and Layout

The Tru Mark Soccer Field Layout Tool is designed for soccer organizations and field striping personnel needing a simple yet accurate tool to help in laying out and striping their sports fields. No matter what you requirements you can generate symmetric dimensions for any age group or space restrictions.

The desktop tool uses the MS Excel spreadsheet application with functions that generate staking locations based on user supplied dimensions and the center line of the field between the opposite goal lines.

The spreadsheet layout tool allows the user to plug in a value (in feet) into a cell below each listed soccer field dimension. The orientation of the layout tool is based on staking out the full length of field down the center line of pitch/field intersecting the goalie boxes. The actual field staking procedure requires the use of two measuring tapes. One tape is staked or held at the Center Line Point at the middle of the field and pulled to the associated intersection points. The other tape is staked or held at the Center Point on the Goal Line (between the goal posts). The layout tool calculates the intersections for the two tape measurements listed in feet and inches or just feet. The Soccer Layout Tool reflects the stake intersections for 1/4 of the soccer field.

The Soccer Field Layout Tool has gone through several updates as the result of users improving the overall layout and calculations. We are looking for someone to use this technique and integrate it into a GPS receiver (and possibly a PDA) so that the user doesn't need to use the tape measures. The idea would be to enter the dimensions, pull a straight line between the goal posts, locate the two end points and center point, then mark these respective positions in the GPS (or PDA).

Tru Mark has tested the field layout tool on a BlackBerry Curve 8900 series smartphone with good results. Now if you need to make changes out on the field of play you can input the updated dimensions and the smartphone spreadsheet application will automatically update the measurements for the staking positions. Read more what about the application used and the process to install the field layout tool template.

The next step in tool development will be to use this technique along with GPS technology (possibly laser technology) on a field striper with a line guidance system such as a light bar or laser pointer to guide the field marking staff during the paint striping. Thus minimal staking and no string pulling between stakes. Please contact us if you have a proposed solution as we would look forward to a teaming arrangement to get this manufactured and marketed.

Send us an email on the Soccer Field Layout Tool and we'll reply FREE of Charge by sending an email with the attached MS Excel spreadsheet template.