Appendix D Field Diagrams

Goal post detail

Pylon detail

Yard line detail

End zone detail

Important note: Although the diagram above shows the limit lines at 12', IFAF limit lines should normally be 18' from the sidelines/end lines (Rule 1-2-3-a).

Field diagram

Free-blocking zone and tackle box

Pregame procedures (L-shaped configuration)

Pregame procedures (buffer zone configuration)

Notes for the groundsperson

These notes accompany the field diagram as a summary of requirements for the marking of the field. For full details see Rule 1-2.

  1. There is no such thing as a metric American football field. All measurements are in yards, feet and inches.
    1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches = 91.44cm 1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48cm 1 inch = 2.54cm 1 yard = 36 inches (91.44cm), but may be shortened to no less than 34.12 inches (86.67cm) only if necessary to fit a 100-yard field of play plus two 10-yard end zones within the available playing surface. If the length of the field is reduced in this way, all other field dimensions and markings stated in the rules must be reduced commensurately (except for the length of the 2ft short yard-line extensions and the 4in width of lines).
  2. A full sized field is 360ft long and 160ft wide, consisting of two 10yd end zones and twenty 5yd grid segments.
  3. Note that the width of the field is significantly less than for sports such as soccer, rugby or hockey and that it cannot be varied (except where reduced commensurately by use of IFAF yards).
  4. Measurements are made from the inside edge of the boundary lines. The entire width of the goal line shall be in the end zone.
  5. Yard lines across the field at 5yd intervals between the goal lines (i.e. NOT in the end zones) are essential: they are relied upon for accurate measurement of the distance the ball is advanced. These lines should stop 4in away from each sideline. Only the goal lines and end lines touch the sidelines.
  6. The short yard-line extensions (sometimes inaccurately called "hash marks") are 60ft from each sideline. (N.B. Some field diagrams show these to be 53ft 4in or 70ft 9in from the sidelines - those are not correct for IFAF games.) Each short yard-line extension should be 2ft long (i.e. from a point 60ft from the sideline to a point 58ft from the sideline) on each side of the field. The short yard-line extensions do NOT extend into the end zones.
  7. Similar 2ft long lines must be marked starting 4in inside each sideline (between the goal lines). These should line up with the ones in the middle of the field to give a series of consistent reference points for aligning the ball. Similarly to the yard lines, these lines should stop 4in away from each sideline.
  8. There must either be numbers or marks 27ft from each sideline on every 10yd line (but not the 5yd lines). If numbers then it is the top of each number that is 27ft from the sideline. The proper size of the numbers is 6ft x 4ft but they can be smaller if necessary. If not numbers, a 1ft long mark should be made 27ft in from each sideline on each 10yd line.
  9. There should be two (adjacent) boxes drawn outside each sideline, stretching from a point 20yds from each goal line. Stretching from 6ft to 12ft outside the sideline is the coaching box. Stretching from 12ft as far as there is room for it is the team area. These are the areas in which coaches and substitutes must stay during play.
  10. Outside the sidelines and end lines, there should be a set of dashed limit lines drawn, if possible, 18ft away from the field of play. This marks the boundary of the field, and all spectators, photographers, cheerleaders, etc. should be outside it.
  11. If spectators are not confined to a particular area (e.g. the stands), then for reasons of safety there should be a rope or something similar that keeps them well behind the limit lines.
  12. For safety reasons goal posts may not be inside the field. They must be on the end lines or, failing that, outside them. If the goal posts cannot be moved, the length of the field must be reduced.
  13. The top of the crossbar should be 10ft from the ground. The uprights should be 18ft 6in apart - measured between the insides of the uprights. The uprights should be at least 30ft high. (N.B. A standard rugby goal that has a 3m crossbar and uprights 5.6m apart is acceptable.) The posts must be padded with resilient material from the ground to a height of at least 6ft.
  14. Soft flexible four-sided pylons 4in x 4in with an overall height of 18 inches, which may include a 2in space between the bottom of the pylon and the ground, are recommended. They should be red or orange in colour and placed at the inside corners of the eight intersections of the sidelines with the goal lines and end lines. The pylons marking the intersections of the end lines and hash marks extended should be placed 3ft outside the end lines.
  15. All field dimension lines should be 4in in width, marked with a white non-toxic material (Exception: sidelines and end lines may exceed 4in). If white is unsuitable, choose another contrasting colour.
  16. Advertising or decorative markings on the field are permissible. In the end zone, they must not be closer than 4ft to any line unless in a contrasting colour. In the field of play, they must not obliterate any line.

    Field dimensions metric converter

    The following table lists field dimensions with their metric conversions. Columns 5 and 6 refer to the minimum dimensions when using IFAF yards (Rule 1-2-1-a).

    Dimension Feet Yards Metres (1 yd = 0.9144m) Min IFAF yds (1 Iyd >= 0.9478yds) Min IFAF yds as metres (1 Iyd >= 0.8666m)
    Length between goal lines 300.0 100.00 91.440 94.78 86.665
    Length between end lines 360.0 120.00 109.728 113.73 103.998
    Length between limit lines (6ft minimum around) 372.0 124.00 113.386 117.52 107.464
    Length between limit lines (12ft around) 384.0 128.00 117.043 121.32 110.931
    Length between limit lines (18ft recommended around) 396.0 132.00 120.701 125.11 114.398
    Length of shortened field (90yds) between goal lines 270.0 90.00 82.296
    Length of shortened field (90yds) between end lines 330.0 110.00 100.584
    Length of shortened field (90yds) between limit lines (6ft minimum around) 342.0 114.00 104.242
    Length of shortened field (90yds) between limit lines (12ft around) 354.0 118.00 107.899
    Length of shortened field (90yds) between limit lines (18ft recommended around) 366.0 122.00 111.557
    Length of shortened field (90yds) with minimum end zones (7yds) between goal lines 270.0 90.00 82.296
    Length of shortened field (90yds) with minimum end zones (7yds) between end lines 312.0 104.00 95.098
    Length of shortened field (90yds) with minimum end zones (7yds) between limit lines (6ft around) 324.0 108.00 98.755
    Length of shortened field (90yds) with minimum end zones (7yds) between limit lines (12ft around) 336.0 112.00 102.413
    Width between sidelines 160.0 53.33 48.768 50.55 46.221
    Width between coaching box lines (6ft outside each sideline) 172.0 57.33 52.426 54.34 49.688
    Width between team area lines (12ft outside each sideline) 184.0 61.33 56.083 58.13 53.154
    Width between limit lines (18ft recommended around) 196.0 65.33 59.741 61.92 56.621
    Width between team area back lines (if at 24ft outside each sideline) 208.0 69.33 63.398 65.71 60.088
    Distance between 5 yard lines 15.0 5.00 4.572 4.74 4.333
    Distance between sideline and coaching box line 6.0 2.00 1.829 1.90 1.733
    Distance between coaching box line and team area line 6.0 2.00 1.829 1.90 1.733
    Normal size of end zone 30.0 10.00 9.144 9.48 8.666
    Minimum depth of end zone 21.0 7.00 6.401 6.63 6.067
    Distance from sideline to hash marks 60.0 20.00 18.288 18.96 17.333
    Distance from sideline to 9yd marks 27.0 9.00 8.230 8.53 7.800
    Height of number 6.0 2.00 1.829 1.90 1.733
    Width of number 4.0 1.33 1.219 1.26 1.156
    Height of crossbar 10.0 3.33 3.048 3.16 2.889
    Width between goal uprights 18.5 6.17 5.639 5.84 5.344
    Minimum height of uprights above crossbar 20.0 6.67 6.096 6.32 5.778
    Width of line markings (4 inches) 0.33 0.11 0.102
    Space between yard lines and sideline (4 inches) 0.33 0.11 0.102 0.11 0.096
    Length of short yard line extensions (hashmarks) 2.0 0.67 0.610
    1 yard 3.0 1.00 0.914 0.95 0.867
    1 foot 1.0 0.33 0.305 0.32 0.289
    1 inch 0.0833 0.0278 0.025 0.03 0.024

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