Since soccer is probably the most popular team ball game in the world, one would think that all the rules and regulations for this sport would have been formed and known from the beginning, or at least that there would be some definite, universally accepted rules. and applied. This is partially true, as when it comes to terms like out, goal kick, foul, etc., we all understand exactly the same thing. However, there is an interesting detail when it comes to the length and size of the field.
The size of the field, when soccer was first introduced, was not defined and even the design could be different even within the same country, which practically meant that someone could play on an 80-yard field and another person on a of 100 yards. This fact was not only strange but also unfair to the players, which is why the first Football Association, founded by the British in the 19th century, introduced the first guidelines for the proper length, and years later FIFA established the rules. and currently exist.
Although the existing rules now allow some variation in size: the field has to be rectangular (this rule cannot be changed and does not imply any variation), the length cannot be less than 100 yards (90 m). ), and not more than 130 yards (120 m) and its beam cannot be less than 50 yards (45 m), nor more than 100 yards (90 m). For international games this is a bit more limited: the length cannot be more than 120 yards (110 m) nor less than 110 yards (100 m), and the width cannot be more than 80 yards (75 m) nor less than 70 yards. (64 meters).
In any case, however, the length must always exceed the width. However, in modern football, rarely can anyone see big variations, so more or less all the fields are approximately the same size without reaching the maximum suggested and allowed. However, the size must be reduced when it comes to women’s football or pitches allocated for players under 16 or disabled.
Except for the size of the outside lines, there are rules that apply to the inside lines of the soccer field as well. According to them, the field is separated by a center line, which is exactly the same distance from each of the wide ends. There is always a circle, located in the middle of this line and its diameter must be 10 yards.
The goal posts are placed in the middle of the width of each field and must be 24 feet wide and 8 feet high and are surrounded by two rectangular boxes: the largest, called the penalty area because each foul in this area results in at penalty kick, it is 18 yards wide and 44 long.
The small box, called the buffer zone, is 6 yards wide and 6 yards long. Another interesting rule about the size of the inside lines of the field is that around the ends of the corners there is a flag placed in a circle 1 yard (0.914 m) in diameter: this is where the corner kick is taken.
There is a lot of research and analysis on the length of the soccer field; most of them converge to the point that the larger pitches are better suited to players with better stamina and those speedy ones who tend to kick the ball forward and run, making things difficult for defenders, while the smaller ones are. are and allow more touches and more fun. (That’s why recreational and non-professionals are usually smaller).
In a bigger field, players have to run more which can affect their game as they can get worn out easily and end up playing with long kicks and make the game boring and degenerate. Longer and bigger pitches demand better coordination and coverage between the teams’ lines, otherwise opponents have a better chance of organizing their game and reaching the goal posts becoming dangerous.