How Long is a Football Pitch?

Football pitches can vary in length and width, depending on what size pitch you are playing on. From when you start playing football when you are young, to when you are playing between the ages of 16-18.

The answer to this question is more complex than you may first think, as there are a number of different sized football pitches, and in this piece, we will take you through them and how this changes the length and width of the pitch.

How Many Different Sized Football Pitches Are There?

In football, as you grow up and go through the ranks at your local club, you will find yourself playing on 5, 7, 9, and 11-a-side football pitches. As the number of players on the pitch increases, so do the dimensions around the pitch.

So, how long is each sized football pitch?

How Long is a 5-a-side Football Pitch?

The smallest pitch on this list, the recommended dimensions of a 5-a-side football pitch comes in at 40 yards long x 30 yards wide, or 36.5 metres x 27.5 metres. This pitch is primarily used in U7 or U8 football, and can also be used for midweek, adult leagues.

In 5-a-side football, the penalty area tends to come in the shape of a semi-circle. The length between the middle of the goal and the far edge of the penalty area should be 6.5 yards, or 6 metres. The goal also tends to be much smaller, and it is recommended that it should be 3 yards wide.

How Long is a 7-a-side Football Pitch?

Next, we have the 7-a-side football pitch. The recommended dimensions for a 7-a-side pitch are 60 yards long and 40 yards wide, or 54.9 metres x 36.6 metres. The 7-a-side pitch is used mainly by U9 and U10 teams.

7-a-side pitches are big enough to include more regular rectangular penalty areas. These penalty areas are 18 yards long, while being 10 yards from the goal line, or 16.5 metres by 9 metres. The penalty spot is slightly closer than the standard and should always be 8 yards away from the goal.

How Long is a 9-a-side Football Pitch?

The 9-a-side football pitch is mainly used by U11/U12 youth sides and is a smaller pitch to only the 11-a-side football pitch. The 9-a-side pitch’s dimensions are recommended to be 80 yards long and 50 yards wide, or 73.15 metres long, x 45.72 metres.

The penalty areas are larger than that of the 7-a-side pitch, measuring 32 yards x 13 yards. The 9-a-side pitch is also when a size 4 football is used. The goal area is recommended to measure 4 yards high, and 14 yards from post to post. As for the goals themselves, they should be 16 feet x 7 feet.

How Long is a Youth 11-a-side Football Pitch?

This category of an 11-a-side football pitch will be 100 yards long and 60 yards wide, or 91.44 metres x 54.86 metres. This pitch is mainly used by the U15 and U16 age groups. In an 11-a-side game, it is also when size 5 balls are used.

The goals are now full size, measuring at 24 feet x 8 feet, and the penalty spot is also its maximum 12 yards from the goal line. As for the area of the goal, it is 6 yards x 20 yards.

How Long is a Standard 11-a-side Football Pitch?

The FA recommends that the professional/standard dimensions of an 11-a-side football pitch should be 115 yards x 75 yards, or 105 metres x 68.5 metres. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) states that any 11-a-side pitch should measure between 100 yards and 130 yards long and 50 yards to 100 yards wide.

Top-level teams tend to implement the larger variations of the 11-a-side pitches. The penalty spot remains 12 yards out from the goal line. As for the penalty areas, they are the full standard 18 yards x 44 yards, with the goal areas standing at 6 yards x 20 yards. Lastly, the goals measure 24 feet x 8 feet.