The Field of Play

I - The Field of Play

Dimensions
The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal line.
Length: minimum 90 m (100 yds), maximum 120 m (130 yds) Width: minimum 45 m (50 yds), maximum 90 m (100 yds)

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

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 more than 12 cm (5 ins) wide. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) 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, 5.5 m (6 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 5.5 m (6 yds) 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.

The Penalty Area
A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5 m (18 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 16.5 m (18 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area. Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) from each penalty mark.is drawn outside the penalty area.

Flagposts
A flagpost, not less than 1.5 m (5 ft) high, with a non-pointed top and a flag is placed at each corner. Flagposts may also be placed at each end of the halfway line, not less than 1m (1 yd) outside the touch line.

The Corner Arc
A quarter circle with a radius of 1 m (1 yd) from each corner flagpost is drawn inside the field of play.

Goals
Goals must be placed on the centre 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 7.32 m (8 yds) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m (8ft).

Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth which do not exceed 12 cm (5 ins). 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.

DECISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL F.A. BOARD

If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it has been repaired or replaced in position. If a repair is not possible, the match is abandoned. The use of a rope to replace the crossbar is not permitted. If the crossbar can be repaired, the match is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where the ball was located when play was stopped. *(see preface)
Goalposts and crossbars must be made of wood, metal or other approved material. Their shape may be square, rectangular, round or elliptical and they must not be dangerous to players.
No kind of commercial advertising, whether real or virtual, is permitted on the field of play and field equipment (including the goal nets and the areas they enclose) from the time the teams enter the field of play until they have left it at half-time and from the time the teams re-enter the field of play until the end of the match. In particular, no advertising material of any kind may be displayed on goals, nets, flagposts or their flags. No extraneous equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.) may be attached to these items.
There shall be no advertising of any kind within the technical area or within one metre from the touch line and outside the field of play on the ground. Further, no advertising shall be allowed in the area between the goal line and the goal nets.
The reproduction, whether real or virtual, of representative logos or emblems of FIFA, confederations, national associations, leagues, clubs or other bodies, is forbidden on the field of play and field equipment (including the goal nets and the areas they enclose) during playing time, as described in Decision 3.
A mark may be made off the field of play, 9.15 metres (10 yds) from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal line to ensure that this distance is observed when a corner kick is being taken

The Ball - The ball is: spherical made of leather or other suitable material of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 6 8 cm (27 ins) not more than 450 g (16 oz) in weight and not less than 410 g (14 oz) at the start of the match of a pressure equal to 0.6 - 1.1 atmosphere (600 - 1100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in 15.6 lbs/sq in). Looking for other technical Information?

The Number of Players - A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players. Looking for more information?

The Players' Equipment - Safety: A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery). Want to get more information?

The Referee - The Authority of the Referee: Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed. Want to read more about the Refree Rules?

The Assistant Referees - Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate: when the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in, when a player may be penalised for being in an offside position etc. Do you look for more information?

Duration of the Match - The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Any agreement to alter the periods of play (for example to reduce each half to 40 minutes because of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules. Do you want to read more about official soccer rules? That is the right adress!

The Start and Restart of Play - A coin is tossed and the team which wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. Need some more information?

The Ball In and Out of Play - The ball is out of play when: it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air play has been stopped by the referee. For more Information...

The Method of Scoring - A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal. Want some more information?

Offside Rule - Offside Position: It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if: he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. Looking for more information?

Fouls and Misconduct - A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: kicks or attempts to kick an opponent ,trips or attempts to trip an opponent etc. For more information...

Free Kicks - For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. For more information...

The Penalty Kick - A penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. Are you still looking for more information?

The Throw-In - A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. Are you lookinf gor more information about this Rule?

The Goal Kick - A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team. For more information...

The Corner Kick - A corner kick is awarded when: the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10. Looking for more Information?

Determine the Winner of a Match - The Golden Goal and taking kicks from the penalty mark are methods of determining the winning team where competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn. Are you looking for more information?