Section 3: Playing Area
Field of play (Rule 1.1-1.10). The field is rectangular, 91.40 metres long and 55.00 metres wide. Side-lines mark the longer perimeters; back-lines mark the shorter perimeters, with the goal-lines forming the portion of each back-line between the goal-posts. A centre-line is marked across the middle of the field, and 23-metres lines are marked across the field 22.90 metres from each back-line. Circles are marked in front of each goal, enclosed by two quarter-circles and the lines joining them, opposite the centre of the back-lines. Penalty spots, 150 mm in diameter, are marked in front of the centre of each goal with their centre 6.40 metres from the inner edge of the goal-line. All lines are 75 mm wide and are considered part of the field of play. Flag-posts, between 1.20 and 1.50 metres in height and carrying flags no larger than 300 mm, are placed at each corner of the field.
Goal (Rule 1.10; Field and Equipment Specifications, Figure 2). Goals are positioned outside the field of play, centred on and touching each back-line. The distance between the inner edges of the goal-posts is 3.66 metres, and the distance from the lower edge of the cross-bar to the ground is 2.14 metres. Goal-posts and the cross-bar are white and rectangular in cross-section, 50 mm wide and between 50 mm and 75 mm deep; the posts must not extend vertically beyond the cross-bar, and the cross-bar must not extend horizontally beyond the posts.
Side-boards, back-boards, and nets (Section 1.6-1.7). Side-boards are 460 mm high and at least 1.20 metres long, fixed at right angles to the back-line without increasing the goal's width. Back-boards are 460 mm high and 3.66 metres long, fixed parallel to the back-line at the end of the side-boards; both are dark-coloured on the inside. The enclosed space behind the goal-posts must be at least 0.90 metres deep at the cross-bar and at least 1.20 metres deep at ground level. Nets have a maximum mesh size of 45 mm, are attached to the goal-posts, cross-bar, side-boards and back-board at intervals of no more than 150 mm, and are fitted loosely so a ball cannot rebound back into play.