Soccer field vs football field – What is the difference?
Soccer field vs football field: Soccer is played using a round soccer ball and is sometimes referred to as football depending on where you are. Football is a distinct sport that is played with a sphere-shaped ball in North America.
Despite the fact that soccer and American football are two separate sports, they are played on similar-shaped fields. But as you will see in this article, there are some notable differences between the 2 fields, including size, shape, markings, and goalposts.
Comparison of American Football vs Soccer
Soccer Field vs American Football Field: Comparison Chart
| Soccer Field | American Football Field | |
| Shape | Rectangle | Rectangle |
| Length | Max: 130 yards (120m) Min: 100 yards (90m) | 100 yards(91.5m) between goal lines 120 yards (109.7m), including end zones |
| Width | Max: 100 yards (90m) Min: 50 yards (45m) | 160 feet/ 53 1⁄3 yards (48.8 m) |
| Surface | Natural grass and artificial turf or both | Natural grass and artificial turf |
| Markings | 2 penalty areas 2 goal areas a halfway line a center circle 4 corner arcs a penalty spot and a center spot | 10-yard intervals 2 end zones 1-yard hash marks 5-yard yard lines 1-yard long scrimmage line Numerals in multiples of 10 |
| Goalposts | Located at the center of the goal line Crossbar: 8 ft (2.44 m) above ground Vertical posts: 8 yards (7.32 m) between posts | Located at the center of the goal line Crossbar: 10 feet (3m) above ground Vertical uprights: – 18 feet 6 inches (5.6m) apart – 35 feet (10.7m) long |
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The Field Shape and Surface
The soccer field vs football field has the same shape. Both fields are rectangular and have ends that are shorter than their lengths.
The touchline, or sideline, must always be longer than the goal line at either end of a soccer field, even if a soccer field’s length and width might vary slightly.
The width of a soccer field is about two times that of a football field, making it larger than a football field. Despite the fact that the two fields’ lengths are comparable, a soccer field has a wider playing surface than a football field, making it larger overall. Additionally, the dimensions of soccer fields might differ from one location to another and are not all the same.
We can play A football game or soccer match on similar surfaces. Either natural grass or synthetic turf can be used to play either game. But MLS teams don’t play on artificial grass nearly as frequently as NFL teams do.
Particular players prefer natural grass to turf because it is more forgiving and less likely to injure them, yet turf is sometimes preferred because natural grass is difficult to maintain in some areas.
Since playing on turf puts 45% more stress on the ACL and other joints, many soccer and football players generally prefer natural grass. Playing on turf often comes with an increased risk of injury, extreme heat, an unusual bounce and ball movement, and an accelerated tempo to the ball.
It’s also noteworthy that the MLS is moving toward playing on natural grass, whilst the NFL is moving toward playing on more artificial grounds. This is mostly because both sports have different requirements.
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Soccer Field vs Football Field Markings
The only significant difference between a soccer field and a football field is in the markings. And this makes sense given that they are two distinct games with distinct goals. Both have white markings, which is one thing they have in common.
- The markings on a soccer field include 2 penalty areas, 2 goal areas, a halfway line, a center circle, 4 corner arcs, a penalty spot, and a center spot.
- The markings on a football field include 10-yard intervals, 2 end zones, 1-yard hash marks, 5-yard yard lines, and a 1-yard long scrimmage line.
In addition, there are significant differences between the goalposts in football and soccer.
In soccer, the goalposts must be placed in the middle of the goal line at both ends of the field. At its lowest point, the crossbar must be 8 feet (2.44 meters) above the surface of the ground. Additionally, the vertical posts, which are located below the crossbar, must be spaced apart by 8 yards (7.32 m).
Goalposts in football must be placed in the middle of the goal line at each end of the field. The height of the crossbar must be 10 feet (3 meters). Finally, the crossbar’s vertical uprights, which are spaced apart by 18 feet 6 inches (5.6 meters), must be 35 feet (10.7 meters) long.
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Final Thought
It is possible to play soccer on a football pitch. In fact, high schools and colleges across the country have created their sports grounds precisely so that they can do this. This works because a football field and a soccer field are of equal length. Football fields must be 120 yards long, therefore they can be inside soccer fields.
Moreover, the team sections that would be used in a football game are typically employed to provide this extra width on sports fields that combine two fields. In this manner, a football field can fit inside a soccer field, allowing soccer to be played on a football field.
Thank you for reading and please let us know if you have any concerns about the comparison between the soccer field vs football field! Follow our website Sporting difference for more information!
