"I just want to get out
there and play and have fun. After all, when I'm on a soccer
field, that's when I'm at my happiest." - Freddy
Adu
Standard Soccer Field Layout
While watching several soccer matches either
live or on TV, you might
have noticed the fact that the game sometimes seems loose, whereas
other times it feels like the players are all chunked in with little
distances between them.
This is due to the fact that
the stadiums the matches were played on, all had different
soccer field layouts as FIFA doesn't restrict them to a
particular size (although official rules state the at the soccer field
dimensions must be contained in some standard limits).
Different soccer field sizes
can affect a lot of factors, including entertainment value, stadium
capacity and most importantly, the tactics and the formation a team
will choose. Before seeing exactly how these elements are affected by
the soccer field layout, let me start by giving you the exact rules and
soccer field dimensions that are set as standard by FIFA.
The standard soccer field
measurement limits changed over time, adapting to the particular period
of time they applied to. With the rise in popularity of soccer and the
increasing number of live spectators to each match, the upper width and
length limits were also raised, allowing for bigger stadiums and better
entertainment. In 2007, the minimum and maximum values for soccer field
sizes are:
Although these sizes apply for
local matches, there is a slight adjustment in the field layout when it
comes to international matches:
International match minimum
length: 110 yards (100 meters)
International match maximum length: 120 yards (110 meters)
International match minimum width: 70 yards (64 meters)
International match maximum width: 80 yards (75 meters)
As you can see, in a local match, the minimum length is the same as the
maximum width (100 yards). This is a bit contradictory, as FIFA clearly
states that the soccer field must be of rectangular shape, however it's
not really a problem, since no one ever tried to test these limits by
creating a square field layout (that would be silly at best). But let's
move on to see how the soccer field measurements affect the
game itself:
Soccer
Field Layout and Size related to Stadium Capacity Obviously, the bigger the soccer field, the
larger the stadium surrounding it. Visibility is
also a factor, as you don't want your spectators to be too far away
from the pitch (if they wanted to watch the game from a distance, they
would have stayed home and watched TV) so if you have a smaller soccer
field, you'll need to build the stands even closer.
Soccer
Field Layout and Size Related to Entertainment Value This factor really depends on what you believe
to be "entertaining". Some fans prefer a smaller layout which would
allow for a faster game, potentially more opportunities and it would
give the more technical players an advantage over
fast runners. On the other hand, some will prefer a longer and wider
soccer field in order to fully allow the game to stretch out. This
favors fast and enduring players that can make
their move in the big chunks of empty field behind the opposing team.
Soccer
Field Layout and Size Related to Tactics and Formation The main element of a soccer field that
affects tactics and formation is its width. Obviously, if the field is
wider, wing gameplay can be emphasized. This leads to formations that
are heavily reliant on their wingers, with tactics
that require a lot of crosses in favor to direct center plays and heavy
workload from those playing on the sides.
