Youth soccer can be an incredibly exciting sport to watch. If you’re new to the sport or have a growing interest, you may be interested in knowing a youth soccer field’s dimensions. In this article, I’m going to give you all the details you need to know.
A youth soccer field’s dimensions are a maximum of 80 yards x 55 yards (73m x 50m) and a minimum of 25 yards x 15 yards (23m x 14m). The size of a youth soccer field varies depending on the age range of the players and the size of the playing surface available.
The rules of youth soccer advise that the size of a youth soccer field should be within a recommended range of measurements. There isn’t a specific length or width that the dimensions of the field must comply with.
In this article, I’ll show you the recommended measurements for each age range from U6 to U12. We’ll look at how long and wide a youth soccer field should be, and then I’ll give you an overview of the different dimensions and measurements of the other areas of the field, including:
- The goal
- the penalty area
- and the center circle.
Let’s get started!
How Big Is a Youth Soccer Field?
You don’t need me to tell you the dynamics of a soccer game change substantially between a game involving kids under the age of 6 and kids that are almost 13.
In the space of time between the ages of 6 and 13, a child’s skill, technique, and ability to play soccer develop dramatically. This progress is reflected in the size and dimensions of the field.
Kids playing soccer in the U6 category are still learning about the game and what is involved. They are also very young in their physical development. Because of this, a U6 soccer field is kept relatively small.
At the other end of the youth soccer age range are the Under 12s.
By the time children get to this stage, they have been playing for several years, have a better understanding of what’s involved, and are able to run more considerable distances over a longer period of time.
A U12 soccer field reflects this by being much bigger than a U6 field.
After playing at the U12 level, children are usually about to start high school. You can find the details on high school soccer fields in my article – High School Vs. Professional Soccer Fields: How the two compare.
US Youth Soccer Field Size Recommendations
US Youth Soccer is the largest youth sports organization in the country. Because of this, they are the best-placed organization to provide recommendations on what size a youth soccer field should be. Most soccer organizations around the US follow their guidance.
Based on the age range of the players involved, the US Youth Soccer Association recommends specific sizes for youth soccer fields.
The dimensions of a youth soccer field by age range:
| Age Range | Length of field (min to max) | Width of Field (min to max) |
|---|---|---|
| U6 | 25-35 yards (23-32 meters) | 15-25 yards (14-23 meters) |
| U7 | 25-35 yards (23-32 meters) | 15-25 yards (14-23 meters) |
| U8 | 25-35 yards (23-32 meters) | 15-25 yards (14-23 meters) |
| U9 | 55-65 yards (50-59 meters) | 35-45 yards (32-41 meters) |
| U10 | 55-65 yards (50-59 meters) | 35-45 yards (32-41 meters) |
| U11 | 70-80 yards (64-73 meters) | 45-55 yards (41-50 meters) |
| U12 | 70-80 yards (64-73 meters) | 45-55 yards (41-50 meters) |
As you can see, the recommendations come in a range of sizes, unlike a football field, for example, which must be a specific length and width. (See my article – Soccer Vs. Football Field – for more info about that.)
There are several ways you can look at the dimensions of the field.
The length of a youth soccer field:
The length of a youth soccer field is between 25 and 80 yards (23m – 73m) long. The length of the field increases as the age of the players increases.
The width of a youth soccer field:
A youth soccer field is between 15 yards and 55 yards (14m – 50m) wide. The width of the field increases as the age of the players increases.
Or even the square feet of a youth soccer field:
A youth soccer field is between 3,375 and 39,600 square feet. The specific size is dependent on the age of the players involved and the space available.
The length and width of a soccer field are important, but there are other equally important dimensions and measurements of a field that we should look at.
Let’s break these down into the three main field sizes I’ve shown in the recommendations above:
- The field dimensions from U6 to U8
- The field dimensions from U9 to U10
- and the field dimensions from U11 to U12
Check out my article – Why Soccer Fields are Different Sizes – for more info on this topic.
Under 6, U7, and U8 Soccer Field Dimensions
A soccer game at U6, U7, or U8 level is relatively basic.
The US Youth Soccer Association recommends that at this age range teams play with no more than four players on each team, and the teams don’t use a goalkeeper.
Due to the small team size, the field (or pitch, as it’s also known) is relatively small at somewhere between 25-35 yards (23-32 meters) long and 15-25 yards (14-23 meters) wide.
A field this small doesn’t require any extra markings and is essentially just a small rectangle with a goal at either end. You can see an example of this in the image below.
Because there are no goalies, there is no need for a penalty area or goal area either.
Soccer games at the U6, U7, and U8 levels use a size 3 ball, and there is no expectation of using the offside rule.
Under 9 and Under 10 Soccer Field Dimensions (7v7)
Youth soccer games at the U9 and U10 levels are where the games begin to feel more similar to a regulation soccer game. The fields are set up to reflect this.
Most games played at the U9 and U10 levels are played with teams of 7v7. These numbers include a goalie on each team.
You can find out more about how a 7v7 youth soccer team is set up in my article – Youth Soccer Positions.
Soccer games at the U9 and U10 level use a size 4 ball, and they are expected to use the offside rule.
The fact that there is a goalie and more players in general on each team at this level means there is a requirement for a penalty area, goal area, and other markings regularly seen on a soccer field.
Each of these markings should comply with the recommended dimensions.
The recommended soccer field dimensions for U9 and U10 are:
| Area of the Field | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Width of Penalty Box | 24 yards (22m) |
| Depth of Penalty Box | 12 yards (11m) |
| Width of Goal Area | 8 yards (7.3m) |
| Depth of Goal Area | 4 yards (3.6m) |
| Radius of Center Circle | 8 yards (7.3m) |
| Goal line to Penalty Spot | 10 yards (9m) |
| Penalty Spot to Penalty D | 8 yards (7.3m) |
| Width of Field | 35-45 yards (32-41 meters) |
| Length of Field | 55-65 yards (50-59 meters) |
You can see how these markings look in the image below.
7v7 soccer field dimensions are a maximum of 65 yards (59 meters) long and 45 yards (41 meters) wide, and a minimum of 55 yards (50 meters) long and 35 yards (32 meters) wide. The penalty area is 24 yards (22 meters) wide and 12 yards (11 meters) deep.
Under 11 and Under 12 Soccer Field Dimensions
Once you start getting involved with youth soccer games at the U11 and U12 levels, things are beginning to feel more serious. The players are more competitive, the skill level is higher, and the play requires a bigger space. The fields are set up to reflect this.
Most games played at the U11 and U12 levels are played with teams of 9v9. These numbers include a goalie on each team. You can find more out about 9v9 soccer formations in my article – Soccer Formations: A Complete Guide.
Soccer games at U11 and U12 levels use a size 4 ball, and they are also expected to use the offside rule.
The fact that there is a goalie and more players in general on each team at this level means there is a requirement for a penalty area, goal area, and other markings regularly seen on a soccer field.
All of the markings should comply with the recommended dimensions.
The recommended soccer field dimensions for U11 and U12 are:
| Area of the Field | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Width of Penalty Box | 36 yards (33m) |
| Depth of Penalty Box | 14 yards (13m) |
| Width of Goal Area | 16 yards (14.6m) |
| Depth of Goal Area | 5 yards (4.6m) |
| Radius of Center Circle | 8 yards (7.3m) |
| Goal line to Penalty Spot | 10 yards (9m) |
| Penalty Spot to Penalty D | 8 yards (7.3m) |
| Width of Field | 45-55 yards (41-50 meters) |
| Length of Field | 70-80 yards (64-73 meters) |
Have a look at the image below to see the dimensions displayed on a soccer field.
9v9 soccer field dimensions are a maximum of 80 yards (73 meters) long and 55 yards (50 meters) wide, and a minimum of 70 yards (64 meters) long and 45 yards (41 meters) wide. The penalty area is 24 yards (22 meters) wide and 12 yards (11 meters) deep.
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The Size of a Youth Soccer Goal
Having covered the dimensions of a field, including:
- The length
- Width
- Goal area
- Penalty Area
- and center circle
The only area left to look at is the size of the goal.
A youth soccer goal is a maximum of 7×21 feet (2.1×6.4 meters) and a minimum of 4×6 feet (1.2×1.8 meters). The size of the goal varies depending on the age range of the players involved in the game.
The size of the goals at youth soccer level can vary considerably. This size variation is due to the different average heights of the players at different age ranges.
You know as well as I do that a U6 player will be significantly shorter than the average U12 player.
The recommendations suggest smaller goals for younger teams and larger goals for older teams to accommodate this range in height.
Have a look at the recommendations in the table below.
The recommended height and width for a soccer goal in youth soccer:
| Age Range | Height Of Goal (Max) | Width of Goal (Max) |
|---|---|---|
| U6 | 4 Feet (1.2 Meters) | 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) |
| U7 | 4 Feet (1.2 Meters) | 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) |
| U8 | 4 Feet (1.2 Meters) | 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) |
| U9 | 6.5 Feet (2 Meters) | 18.5 Feet (5.6 Meters) |
| U10 | 6.5 Feet (2 Meters) | 18.5 Feet (5.6 Meters) |
| U11 | 7 Feet (2.1 Meters) | 21 Feet (6.4 Meters) |
| U12 | 7 Feet (2.1 Meters) | 21 Feet (6.4 Meters) |
Moving Forward
Having understood the dimensions of a youth soccer field there are a number of options to find out more about soccer.
I recommend you check out one of these related articles:
- How Big Is a Full-Size Soccer Field?
- What Are High School Soccer Tryouts ACTUALLY Like?
- How To Be a GREAT Soccer Parent
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