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Soccer-New Soccer Parents Listen Up

By: Thomas K Click author's name for more of his/her articles

In a another article, we talked about the soccer positions that soccer parents should understand. In this article, we will discuss the soccer field. A regulation size field is 100 yards long, and 60 yards wide. The same length as an American Football field, but slightly wider. Indoor soccer fields vary greatly in size, the field areas we will discuss below remain consistent.
We will start in the center of the field. In the middle of the field is the Center Circle. The center circle is area where the referee will start or restart the game. It has a ten yard radius, which players need to stay out of as the ball is started into play. In the center of the center circle is the center spot, which is the exact location of where the center kicks occur. There is also a line across the field at it's center. This is the center line, the center line is both the starting point, and also is used to determine offsides. We're not going to get into that penalty for now.
Then we have the sidelines, marking the side boundaries of the field, but for us soccer parents, it is technically called the touch line. At the two ends of the field we have the end lines, also known as the goal lines.
At each end is also the penalty area, a rectangle around the goal where the goalie can use his hands. It also in an area that provides safety to offensive players from excessive roughness from defenders. If an excessive foul happens within this area, it results in a penalty kick. There is also a smaller box within the penalty area called the goal area, this is the area where penalty kicks are taken. This is the area soccer parents need to dread, many games are won and lost by penalty kicks.
A few other areas soccer parents should know about. We have the corner arcs, which are found at the four corners of the playing field. These arcs are the locations where corner kicks are taken. Corner kicks happen after a team kicks the ball over the end line. There is a penalty arc, which designates the area near the goal, where all other players except the goalkeeper and the penalty kicker, must remain out of, while a penalty kick is in progress. Then within the penalty arc, there is the penalty spot or mark, which is the location the ball is laid for the penalty kick.
One note I'd like to mention for all of you soccer parents, indoor soccer usually results in a much smaller field, and results in shrinking the dimensions of many of the areas. But normally all of these key areas of the soccer field remain intact. Indoor soccer play is often quite different than outdoor soccer due to the smaller size fields.
I hope understanding a little more about the field, and all of the markings on the field, will help new soccer parents to enjoy this wonderful game. With a clear understanding of the field, you can also help coaches in teaching your young soccer player. Let's hit the field, time for soccer parents to cheer our kids, and have some fun!

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

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