What is the radius of the centre circle?
Why
Law 1 sets the centre circle radius at 9.15 m (10 yds) — the same distance opponents must keep from the ball at a kick-off, free kick or corner kick.
IFAB Laws of the Game · Law 1
Law 1: The Field of Play
Dimensions, markings, goals and the technical area. Covers what makes a field playable and who may alter its markings.
How big is a football pitch?
The field is a rectangle, and the touchline must always be longer than the goal line. For domestic matches the touchline runs 90–120 m (100–130 yds) and the goal line 45–90 m (50–100 yds). International matches use a tighter range: 100–110 m by 64–75 m.
Competitions may fix a single size within those ranges, which is why professional pitches vary less than the Laws allow. The goal itself does not vary: 7.32 m (8 yds) between the posts and 2.44 m (8 ft) from the ground to the underside of the crossbar.
The markings, and who they belong to
All lines are part of the areas they bound. A ball on the line is still inside the penalty area; a foul on the penalty-area line is a foul inside it. This single principle decides a surprising number of penalty-versus-free-kick arguments.
The centre circle has a 9.15 m (10 yds) radius, the penalty mark sits 11 m (12 yds) from the goal line, and the penalty arc marks the same 9.15 m distance from that mark. The corner arc has a 1 m radius.
The technical area and pitch condition
The technical area is where team officials may stand and give instruction. Only one person at a time may convey tactical instruction, and everyone in it must behave responsibly — the referee's authority extends there.
The referee decides whether a field is playable. Markings must not be altered during the match, and unauthorised marks on the field are an offence a player can be cautioned for.
Written against the published IFAB Laws of the Game. For the official text, see IFAB's own Laws documents.
Law 1 practice questions
6 questions on The Field of Play, each with the correct answer and an explanation of the reasoning. These are drawn from the free question bank.
What are the official goal dimensions, measured between the inner edges of the posts and to the lower edge of the crossbar?
Why
Law 1: the distance between the inner edges of 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 (8 ft).
During play the crossbar is displaced and broken. It cannot be repaired and no replacement is available. What must the referee do?
Why
Law 1 is explicit: if the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it is repaired or replaced. A rope or any flexible material is not permitted, so with no replacement the match is abandoned.
For a standard (non-international) match, what is the permitted range for the length of the goal line?
Why
Law 1 sets the goal line (the field's width) at 45–90 m for a standard match, and the touchline (the length) at 90–120 m. International matches use the narrower 64–75 m by 100–110 m range.
What is the radius of the penalty arc, measured from the penalty mark?
Why
Law 1 draws the penalty arc as a 9.15 m radius from the penalty mark — the same distance defenders must keep from the ball at a penalty kick, so a wall can't form just outside the box.
What does Law 1 require of goals, including portable goals, for safety reasons?
Why
Law 1 requires all goals, portable ones included, to be firmly anchored to the ground — a response to serious injuries caused by goals toppling over.
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