Forget about some who are new to the sport, even many of those who have been playing soccer for years don't know the dimensions of the field that they play on. Read ahead, and you'll know...
If you want to be an expert in any field, you have to be absolutely thorough with the basics. Those concepts should be crystal clear in your mind. The same thing goes with sports. If you are pursuing a sport, let's say soccer, and aim to be a la Beckham, knowing how far the 2 goal posts are from each other for instance, is necessary.
Total Playing Area
The total area of a soccer pitch is 100 meters long and 64 meters wide. Now, let's divide the pitch into different zones, and see the dimensions. The International Football Association Board has recently laid down the overall measurements of the soccer field as 105 meters in length and 68 meters in width. Earlier, this was somewhat flexible―the length was somewhere between 100 and 110 meters, and the width, at the most, was between 64 and 75 meters.
Center Circle
A 10-yard circle in the center of the field indicates the area where defenders are not allowed at the time of kick-off. They have to stay outside this circle till the game is started by the team who has first possession.
Goal Area
The goal area is a small rectangle inside the area marked as the 'penalty area'. It is centered on the goal. This box measures 20 yards in width and 6 yards in depth. A goal kick has to be placed from this box in case of a penalty.
Penalty Area
A rectangular box centered on the goal is the penalty area. This box measures 44 yards in width and 18 yards in depth. This penalty area also has an arc, which is at a distance of 10 yards from the penalty mark. The advantage of a penalty kick is enjoyed by a team if the players from the opposing team commit a foul in this area.
Penalty Mark
This mark is inside the penalty area. It is at a distance of 12 yards from the end line. The ball is placed in this zone for a penalty kick. This is the most sensitive area on the field, since a foul here results in a penalty, which is quite easy to score off.
Midfield Line
The line which divides the field lengthwise exactly in the middle of the field is called the midfield line. The area on either side is called a half.
Corner Kick
A quarter circle, measuring a yard, is made on each corner of the field for marking as to where a player has to keep the ball before taking a corner kick. This is a very crucial factor, as many extra time and sudden death goals are scored, thanks to these corner kicks.
Goal
The goal post measures 8 feet in height and 24 feet in width.
These are the soccer field dimensions for 'A' class and international matches. As the level goes down, the size of the field decreases. For instance, for kids around 7 years of age, the length of the field is between 25 to 30 yards, and the width is between 15 to 20 yards. For those under 11, the length of the field is around 80 yards, and the width ranges from 40 to 50 yards, at the most.
