What are the dimensions of a soccer field?
If you or your child has played soccer at a few different ages, you know that not all soccer field dimensions are the same. Just like you should know what size soccer ball you need for training, it’s also important to understand the size of the field that’s appropriate for your target age group. Knowing the size of the field will help you set up a great training area for working on your dribbling skills with the DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball.
How do soccer field dimensions vary?
You probably assumed soccer fields get bigger as players age, and that’s true. But even at the highest soccer levels, governing bodies like the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and International Football Association Board (IFAB) issue windows of measurement for soccer field dimensions, not exact numbers. That’s part of what makes home-field advantage so unique in soccer!
US Soccer, however, does have more specific guidelines, with three different youth soccer field dimensions guidelines before yielding to FIFA and IFAB guidelines for older players.
US Soccer Youth field dimensions
US Soccer breaks down youth soccer into three age brackets: U6-U8, U9-U10, and U11-U12. (The “U” represents players who are under that age on a certain date.)
U6-U8 (4v4) soccer field dimensions:
Length: 25-35 yards
Width: 15-25 yards
Goal Size (Height x Width): 4 x 6 ft.
Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard
U9-U10 (7v7) soccer field dimensions:
Length: 55-65 yards
Width: 35-45 yards
Center Circle Diameter: 16 yards
Goal Area Dimensions: 4 x 8 yards
Penalty Area Dimensions: 12 x 24 yards
Penalty Spot: 10 yards out from goal
Penalty Arc: Apex of the arc is 8 yards from the Penalty Spot.
Goal Size (Height x Width): 6.5 x 18.5 ft.
Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard
Youth soccer leagues may also have variations on goal size, ball size, number of players on the field, game time, and enforcement of the offside rule. With so much variance, a great way to practice at home is to use the goal or penalty area measurements, which are standardized across soccer fields at different levels.
FIFA and IFAB soccer field dimensions
Players in U13-U19 leagues play on full-size fields with 11 players per side under the guidelines provided by FIFA and IFAB. These are the recommended soccer field dimensions, according to FIFA and IFAB:
Length: 100-130 yards (110-120 yards for international competition)
Width: 50-100 yards (70-80 yards for international competition)
Center Circle Diameter: 20 yards
Goal Area Dimensions: 6 x 20 yards
Penalty Area Dimensions: 18 x 44 yards
Penalty Spot: 12 yards out from goal
Penalty Arc: Apex of the arc is 10 yards from the Penalty Spot.
Goal Size (Height x Width): 8 x 24 ft.
Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard
For comparison, American football fields are 53 yards wide, so the typical international competition soccer field is nearly 20 yards wider or more! But while there’s a lot of variance in the overall dimensions of a soccer field, note that the field lines for the penalty and goal areas remain the same on all fields. So, if you’re working on your touch inside the penalty box, it’s easy to set up the correct size of your training field.
Improve your footwork with the Smart Soccer Ball
With the Dribbleup Smart Soccer Ball and accompanying Dribbleup app, your kids will have plenty of drills and challenges to boost their dribbling skills and maximize their touches on the ball in as little as 15 minutes each day.
Plus, this soccer ball has 5,000+ reviews and a 4.6/5 star rating (as of 4/4/23), so your child will love practicing at home with this training tool. Don't wait, grab the Smart Soccer Ball and join the Dribbleup family today!
Membership separate (auto-renews monthly at the applicable fee) and gives you full access to all training content on the app for up to 6 members of your household. Access to limited app content only without the Membership.