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@ しん Shinn
2024-05-24 02:13:34Markings and Their Meanings
In the first post of FMS, we covered the expected dimensions of a football field. Let's continue with the markings on a football pitch. Below is a football pitch labeled with the particular markings that are required according to the laws of the game.
Halfway Line, Center Circle, and Center Mark
- Halfway Line:
- Self-explanatory, but this line is drawn across the field representing the halfway point. Any substitution is normally conducted where the halfway line meets the touchline.
- Center Circle and Center Mark:
- The center circle is drawn in the middle of the field. During kickoff, the ball is placed on the center mark by the team that is attacking first. The attacking team can have players within the center circle on their defensive side when kicking off. However, all opposing players must be positioned on their respective defensive side and cannot be inside the center circle until the ball is kicked and in play.
Goal Line, Goal Area, Corner Area, and Touchline
- Goal Line, Goal Area, and Corner Area:
- The goal line is the boundary line on both ends of the field that form the width. The goal is set up in the middle of the goal line, with goal posts placed on top of it. For a shot to be considered a goal, the entire ball must cross the whole of the goal line. If the ball crosses the goal line without going into the goal, the play will result in a kicked restart. If the ball was kicked over the goal line by an attacker, the restart is called a goal kick for the defending team, taken from anywhere within the defending team's goal area. If the last player to kick the ball out of bounds over the goal line is a defender, the restart will be a corner kick for the attacking team, taken from within the corner area closer to where the ball went out of play. Optional markings 9.15 m from the corner flag indicate how far a defending player must stand away from the attacking player taking the corner kick, ensuring fair play and allowing for corner kick plays, like a short corner, without defenders being too close.
- Touchline:
- The touchline forms the boundaries along the length of the pitch. If the ball goes out of bounds over the touchline, the restart is done with a throw-in.
Penalty Area, Penalty Arc, and Penalty Mark
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Penalty Area:
- The penalty area is significant for two main reasons. First, it is the only area where the goalkeeper is allowed to use their hands (with one particular exception). The keeper can only use their hands within the penalty area on the side they are defending. Second, if an attacking player is fouled within the penalty area, the resulting play is a penalty kick.
- Here is an epic example of what is not allowed within the penalty area, featuring Oliver Kahn handballing it into the goal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iigJsLnd_xw
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Penalty Arc and Penalty Mark:
- When an attacking player is fouled within the penalty area, the penalty kick taker must place the ball on the penalty mark. The penalty arc is significant because it represents the area in which only the penalty kick taker is allowed (although the kicker doesn’t have to enter it). All other players, both attacking and defending, must stay outside of the penalty area and the penalty arc to ensure fairness of play.
TLDR
- Goal lines (width) and touchlines (length) make up the boundaries of the field.
- The center circle which includes the center mark at the center is where the game kicks off.
- The penalty area includes the penalty arc, penalty mark, and goal area, and is the only area where the goal keeper can use his/her hands, and the attacking team can win a penalty kick.
Resources:
- https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-field-of-play/#field-markings
- Halfway Line: