The field of play shall be rectangular, its length being
not more than 130 yards nor less than 100 yards and its
breadth not more than 100 yards nor less than 50 yards.
(In international matches the length shall be not more
than 120 yards nor less than 110 yards and the breadth
not more than 80 yards nor less than 70 yards.) The
length shall in all cases exceed the breadth.
(2) Marking.
The field of play shall be marked with distinctive lines,
not more than 5 inches in width (not by a V-shaped rut)
in accordance with the plan, the longer boundary lines
being called the touch-lines and the shorter the
goal-lines. A flag on a post not less than 5 ft. high and
having a non-pointed top, shall be placed at each corner;
a similar flag-post may be placed opposite the half-way
line on each side of the field of play, not less than 1
yard outside the touchline. A halfway-line shall be
marked out across the field of play. The center of the
field of play shall be indicated by a suitable mark and a
circle with a 10 yards radius shall be marked round it.
(3) The Goal-Area.
At each end of the field of play two lines shall be drawn
at right-angles to the goal-line, 6 yards from each
goal-post. These shall extend into the field of play for
a distance of 6 yards and shall be joined by a line drawn
parallel with the goal-line. Each of the spaces enclosed
by these lines and the goal-line shall be called a
goal-area.
(4) The Penalty-Area.
At each end of the field of play two lines shall be drawn
at right-angles to the goal-line, 18 yards from each
goal-post. These shall extend into the field of play for
a distance of 18 yards and shall be joined by a line
drawn parallel with the goal-line. Each of the spaces
enclosed by these lines and the goal-line shall be called
a penalty-area. A suitable mark shall be made within each
penalty-area, 12 yards from the mid-point of the
goal-line, measured along an un-drawn line at
right-angles thereto. These shall be the penalty-kick
marks. From each penalty-kick mark an arc of a circle,
having a radius of 10 yards, shall be drawn outside the
penalty-area.
(5) The Corner-Area.
From each corner-flag post a quarter circle, having a
radius of 1 yard, shall be drawn inside the field of
play.
(6) The Goals.
The goals shall be placed on the center of each goal-line
and shall consist of two upright posts, equidistant from
the corner-flags and 8 yards apart (inside measurement),
joined by a horizontal cross-bar the lower edge of which
shall be 8 ft. from the ground. The width and depth of
the cross-bars shall not exceed 5 inches (12 cm). The
goal-posts and the cross- bars shall have the same width.
Nets may be attached to the posts, cross-bars and ground
behind the goals. They should be appropriately supported
and be so placed as to allow the goalkeeper ample room.
(Footnote) Goal nets. The use of nets made of hemp, jute
or nylon is permitted. The nylon strings may, however,
not be thinner than those made of hemp or jute.
(Decisions of the International F.A. Board)
In international matches the dimensions of the field of
play shall be: maximum 110 x 75 meters; minimum 100 x 64
meters.
National Associations must adhere strictly to these
dimensions. Each National Association organizing an
international match must advise the visiting Association,
before the match, of the place and the dimensions of the
field of play.
The Board has approved this table of measurements for the
Laws of the Game:
The goal-line shall be marked the same width as the depth
of the goal-posts and the cross-bar, so that the
goal-line and goal- posts will conform to the same
interior and exterior edges.
The 6 yards (for the outline of the goal-area) and the 18
yards (for the outline of the penalty-area) which have to
be measured along the goal-line, must start from the
inner sides of the goal-posts.
The space within the inside areas of the field of play
includes the width of the lines marking these areas.
All Associations shall provide standard equipment,
particularly in international matches, when the Laws of
the Game must be complied with in every respect and
especially with regard to the size of the ball and other
equipment which must conform to the regulations. All
cases of failure to provide standard equipment must be
reported to FIFA.
In a match played under the rules of a competition if the
cross-bar becomes displaced or broken, play shall be
stopped and the match abandoned unless the cross-bar has
been repaired and replaced in position or a new one
provided without such being a danger to the players. A
rope is not considered to be a satisfactory substitute
for a cross-bar.
National Associations may specify such maximum and
minimum dimensions for the cross-bars and goal-posts,
within the limits laid down in Law 1, as they consider
appropriate.
Goal-posts and cross-bars must be made of wood, metal or
other approved material as decided from time to time by
the International F.A. Board. They may be square,
rectangular, round, half-round or elliptical in shape.
'Curtain-raisers' to international matches should only be
played following agreement on the day of the match, and
taking into account the condition of the field of play,
between representatives of the two Associations and the
referee (of the international match).
National Associations, particularly in international
matches, should
restrict the number of photographers around the
field of play.
have a line (photographers' line) marked behind
the goal-lines at least two meters from the
corner flag going through a point situated at
least 3.5 meters behind the intersection of the
goal- line with the line marking the goal-area to
a point situated at least six meters behind the
goal-posts.
prohibit photographers from passing over these
lines,
forbid the use of artificial lighting in the form
of "flashlights".
The ball shall be spherical; the outer casing shall be of
leather or other approved materials. No material shall be used in
its construction which might prove dangerous to the players.
The circumference of the ball shall not be more than 28 inches
and not less than 27 inches. The weight of the ball at the start
of the game shall not be more than 16 ounces nor less than 14
ounces. The pressure shall be equal to 0.6 - 1.1 atmosphere
(==600 - 1,100 gr/cm(sq)) at sea level. The ball shall not be
changed during the game unless authorized by the referee.
(Decisions of the International F.A. Board)
The ball used in any match shall be considered the
property of the Association or Club on whose ground the
match is played, and at the close of play it must be
returned to the referee.
The International Board, from time to time, shall decide
what constitutes approved materials. Any approved
material shall be certified as such by the International
Board.
The Board has approved these equivalents of the weights
specified in the Law: 14 to 16 ounces == 396 to 453
grams.
If the ball bursts or becomes deflated during the course
of a match, the game shall be stopped and restarted by
dropping the new ball at the place where the first ball
became defective, unless it was within the goal-area at
that time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part
of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the
goal-line, at the point nearest to where the ball was
when play was stopped.
If this happens during a stoppage of the game
(place-kick, goal-kick, corner-kick, free-kick,
penalty-kick or throw-in), the game shall be restarted
accordingly.
A match shall be played by two teams, each consisting of
not more than eleven players, one of whom shall be the
goalkeeper.
Substitutes may be used in any match played under the
rules of an official competition under the jurisdiction
of FIFA, confederations or National Associations, subject
to the following con