Football fields are huge pieces of land, but how big exactly? And what do all those markings on the field mean?
In this article we'll talk about the specific measurements of a regulation football field, the most important landmarks on the field, and how they help players, coaches and officials do their job.
How Big is a Football Field?
A regulation American football field is measured at 120 yards in total length and 53.3 yards in width. This translates to 360 feet long by 160 feet wide, covering approximately 1.32 acres of land.
Most of the actual play takes place between the end zones in the open field, an area exactly 100 yards long and 53.3 yards wide.
How Big Are the End Zones on a Football Field?
The end zones on a football field are 10 yards deep and 53.3 yards wide, which equals out to 4,860 square feet.
A ball carrier is required to "break the plane" of the end zone with the football before being tackled or touching down out of bounds in order to score. If the player is catching a pass in the end zone, he must demonstrate that he has control of the football and that at least one foot is down in bounds (or two feet in the NFL).
Field Markings and Lines
Now let's take a look at some of the different markings on a football field and how they might differ depending on the level of play, between high school and the NFL.
Goal Lines
The goal lines are located on each end of the field, and are 10 yards away from the end line at the back of the end zone. The two goal lines are exactly 100 yards away from one another.
The goal lines span from sideline to sideline and a ballcarrier must break the plane of the goal line with at least part of the ball in order to score a touchdown.
Goal lines traditionally do not differ in size across levels of play.
Yard Lines
The yard lines are marked out at every yard with a short white line close to the sideline that marks each individual yard and makes it easier for officials to spot the ball in the correct place for the next play.
Every five yards, there is a solid line that spans the width of the field, with numbers generally appearing every ten yards. These help the officials, teams, and fans track the progress an offense is making on each play.
Hash Marks
Hash marks are essential reference points that help determine ball placement, and are aligned with the yard lines discussed in the previous section.
The hash marks are closer to the middle of the field, and they not only help keep track of where the ball should be spotted, but they also serve as a boundary of a different kind.
The ball cannot be spotted wider than the hash marks, so depending on what level the game is played (NFL, college, etc) the different hash marks determine what kind of space the offense has to play with, and the wider they are, the more drastic the difference.
Let's take a look at exactly what that difference is.
- NFL: Hash marks are 18 feet, 6 inches apart
- College: Hash marks are 40 feet apart
- High School: Hash marks are 53 feet, 4 inches apart
Numbers
The field numbers painted along the sidelines are positioned differently depending on the level of play. While the numbers don't serve as an official boundary, and are more useful as a guide for where the football is, most coaches use the numbers as a way to help get their players lined up correctly.
For example, most receivers in college and the NFL have rules about where they should line up in relation to the numbers for each play, whether it's a run or pass. So the position of the numbers serves as an aiming point for offenses and the defense in turn will keep an eye on whether the receiver lines up inside, outside, or on the numbers and determine if there is any sort of tendency there.
Let's take a look at exactly where the numbers are located at each level.
- NFL: The numbers must be placed with their bottom edge exactly 12 yards from the sideline.
- College: The numbers are typically positioned 9 yards from the sideline.
- High School: The numbers are usually placed 6 yards from the sideline (These can vary based on the rules in each state).
Sidelines and Boundaries
The typical white sidelines with full boundaries are 6 feet wide and run the length of the entire perimeter around the field. The boundaries are extra wide to not only define the edge of the playing field, but also to keep any one standing on the sideline far away enough to avoid any accidental collisions with players or officials.
Also, it is very common for coaches to be restricted to between the 25 yard lines on the sideline. This means that when the ball is past the 25 yard line and closer to the goal line, the coaches can't go any further than the 25 and have to stand at that point to watch.
This rule helps keep the sideline orderly and leaves the end zones clear of potential interference for the officials so that they don't have a coach screaming in their ear when they're trying to judge whether or not a ball crossed the goal line for a touchdown.
Conclusion
A football field is an incredible large piece of land with a lot of specific lines and measurements. Each of these markings on the field serves a specific purpose and helps put together a field that lets teams play at their best.
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