This article is about the standardized, tournament-accepted layout and dimensions of the soccer field. Of course, pick-up games and other variations won’t necessarily meet all of these “standards”nor should they. The beauty of soccer is that it can be played anywhere you’ve got some friends and a ball.The first Laws of the Game, approved by the Football Association in 1863, stated that:”The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yards (180 m), the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards (91 m), the length and breadth shall be marked off with flags; and the goal shall be defined by two upright posts, eight yards (7 m) apart, without any tape or bar across them.”Obviously, there have been some changes to this law since then. For one thing, the soccer net was invented in 1889 by British civil engineer John Alexander Brodie. According to Brodie, this was his proudest accomplishment, although he also worked with the use of pre-cast reinforced concrete slabs which would lead to pre-fabricated housing.Interesting, the Laws do not require the net. They do, however, now require a horizontal crossbar placed between the two goalposts. According to Wikipedia, the “inner edges of the posts must be 7.32 metres (8 yds) apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar must be 2.44 metres (8 feet) above the ground. Nets are usually placed behind the goal, though are not required by the LawsGoalposts and crossbars must be white, and made of wood, metal or other approved material.”The area in front of the goals is marked out by two boxes. The first is the goal area, also known as the “six-yard box.” True to its name, two lines run from the goal-line 6 yards out, and are joined by another line. Goal kicks and free kicks are taken from within this area. The penalty area, also known as either “the 18-yard box” or “the box,” extends 18 yards into the field from the goal-line. Within this area, it is legal for the goalkeeper to handle the ball. In addition, if a defender commits a foul in this area, it is punishable by a penalty kick rather than a direct free kick.Goal-lines (the two shorter boundary lines on the outside of the field) must be equal in length and measure between 45 m (49 yards) and 90 m (98 yards). International matches require lines between 64 m (70 yards) and 75 m (82 yards). The International Football Association Board states that the goal-lines should be 68 m, and the length of the lines connecting them should be 105 m.

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