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Pitch (sports field)

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A pitch or a sports ground is an outdoor playing area for various sports. The term pitch is most commonly used in British English, while the comparable term in Australian, American and Canadian English is playing field or sports field.

For most sports the official term is field of play, although this is not regularly used by those outside refereeing/umpiring circles.[1] The field of play generally includes out-of-bounds areas that a player is likely to enter while playing a match, such as the area beyond the touchlines in association football and rugby or the sidelines in American and Canadian football, or the "foul territory" in baseball.

The surface of a pitch is most commonly composed of sod (grass), but may also be artificial turf, sand, clay, gravel, concrete, or other materials. A playing field on ice may be referred to as a rink, for example an ice hockey rink, although rink may also refer to the entire building or, in the sport of curling, to either the building or a particular team. In the sport of cricket, the cricket pitch refers not to the entire field of play, but to the section of the field on which batting and bowling take place in the centre of the field. The pitch is prepared differently from the rest of the field, to provide a harder surface for bowling.

A pitch is often a regulation space, as in an association football pitch. The term level playing field is also used metaphorically to mean fairness in non-sporting human activities such as business where there are notional winners and losers.[2]

Fields of play in various sports

[edit]
Pitches

Field sizes

[edit]
Sport Regulated by Shape Field
length		 Total
length		 Width Total
width 		Depth/height Surface Diagram
Bowling IBF Oblong rectangle 754.1875 inches (19.15636 m) 41–42 inches (1.0–1.1 m) wood or synthetic material
Canoe polo ICF Oblong rectangle 35 meters 23 meters water
Dodgeball WDA Oblong rectangle 17 meters - 8 meters - -
Goalball IBSA Oblong rectangle 18 meters - 9 meters - wood, plastic or synthetic
Inline speed skating World Skate Stadium[3]
  • 50 meters (100 m lap)
  • 60 meters (125-200 m lap)
  • 25 meters (100 m lap)
  • 30 meters (125-200 m lap)
International game CIJB Oblong rectangle 70 meters - 20 meters - - Concrete or asphalt
One-wall handball 10.6 meters - 6.1 meters - 4.9 meters
Netball World Netball Oblong rectangle 100 feet (30 m) - 50 feet (15 m) - wood
Sepak takraw ISTAF Oblong rectangle 44 feet (13 m) 19.4 meters 20 feet (6.1 m) 12.1 meters
Shinty Camanachd Association Oblong rectangle 140–170 yards (130–160 m) - 70–80 yards (64–73 m) -
Weightlifting IWF Square 4 meters 4 meters hardwood
Wheelchair rugby WWR Oblong rectangle 28 meters - 15 meters -
Aquatics
Artistic World Aquatics Cuboid 30 meters 20 meters 3 meters
Diving 20 meters 25 meters 5 meters
Swimming (Olympic) 50 meters - 25 meters - 2-3 meters
Swimming (short course) 25 meters - 20 meters - 2-2.5 meters
Waterpolo 25 meters - 20 meters - 1.8 meters
Basketball
3x3 FIBA Oblong rectangle 11 meters - 15 meters -
Basketball 28 meters - -
NBA 94 feet (29 m) - 50 feet (15 m) -
Basque pelota
Jai alai FIPV Rectangular cuboid 54 meters - 10 meters - 10 meters
Mur à gauche 30 meters
36 meters
Trinquete 28.5 meters 9.3 meters 8.5 meters
Bat and ball sports
Baseball MLB Non standardized[4][5] 250–400 feet (76–122 m)[1] (distance from home plate apex to nearest center field fence) - 446.9–492.9 feet (136.2–150.2 m)[6] - grass and dirt
WBSC 400 feet (120 m) (distance from home plate apex to center field fence)[7] - Distance between foul poles (each one are 275 feet (84 m) or more from home plate apex) -
Softball[8] Circular quadrant 220–250 feet (67–76 m) (radius) - 220–250 feet (67–76 m) (radius) -
Baseball5[9] Square 18 metres (59 ft) 21 metres (69 ft) 18 metres (59 ft) 21 metres (69 ft) 1 metre (3.3 ft) (fence)
Vitilla[10] Circular sextant 100 feet (30 m) (radius) - 100 feet (30 m) -
Pesapallo Finnish Pesäpallo Association[11] Irregular hexagon 315 feet (96 m) - 138 feet (42 m) - -
Rounders GAA[12] Square 70 meters - 70 meters - .
Cricket ICC[13] Oval 130–180 yards (120–160 m) - 130–180 yards (120–160 m) - -
Indoor cricket WICF[14] Rectangular cuboid 28-30 meters - 10.5-12 meters - 4-4.5 meters
Stoolball Stoolball England[15] Circle 90 yards (82 m) (diameter) - 90 yards (82 m) (diameter) -
Lapta Russian Lapta Federation[16][17] Oblong rectangle 40-55 meters - 25-40 meters -
Oină Romanian Oină Federation[18] Oblong rectangle 70 meters 32 meters grass
Schlagball[19][20] Oblong rectangle + trapezium 70 meters plus an area between divergent diagonals of 140 meters behing rear flags 25 meters plus an area between divergent diagonals of 140 meters behing rear flags
Boules
Boccia BISFed Oblong rectangle 12.5 meters - 6 meters - - polished concrete, wooden, natural or synthetic rubber.
Bocce volo WPBF Oblong rectangle 27.5 meters - 2.5-4 meters -
Petanque 15 meters - 4 meters -
Raffa 6.5 meters - 4-4.5 meters - natural ground or synthetic material
Combat sports
Amateur boxing World boxing Rectangular cuboid 6.1 meters 6.1 meters 1.3 meters canvas, rubber
Amateur wrestling and International grappling[21] UWW Circle 9 meters (diameter) - 9 meters (diameter) - -
Fencing FIE Oblong rectangle 14 meters 17–18 meters 1.5 meters - -
Karate WKF Square 8 meters 8 meters
Kickboxing (ring) WAKO Rectangular cuboid 5.2 meters 5.2 meters 1.32 meters felt, rubber
Kickboxing (tatami) Square 7 meters 7 meters foam
Mixed Martial Arts UFC[22] Octagonal prism 30 feet (9.1 m) - 30 feet (9.1 m) - 69 inches (1.8 m)
Taekwondo WT Octagon 8 meters - 8 meters - -
Cue sports
Carom[23] WCBS Oblong rectangle 2.79-2.89 meters 3.065-3.115 meters 1.37-1.47 meters 1.6245-1.695 meters 0.787-0.837 meters
Pool[24] Rounded rectangle
  • 100–100.125 inches (2.5400–2.5432 m) (9 feet)
  • 92–92.125 inches (2.3368–2.3400 m) (8 feet)
  • 107.875–115.125 inches (2.7400–2.9242 m) (9 feet)
  • 98.875–107.125 inches (2.5114–2.7210 m) (8 feet)
  • 50–50.125 inches (1.2700–1.2732 m) (9 feet)
  • 46–46.125 inches (1.1684–1.1716 m) (8 feet)
  • 57.875–65.125 inches (1.4700–1.6542 m) (9 feet)
  • 53.875–61.125 inches (1.3684–1.5526 m) (8 feet)
 29.25–31 inches (0.743–0.787 m)
Snooker[25] Oblong rectangle 140–141 inches (3.6–3.6 m) 69.5–70.5 inches (1.77–1.79 m) 33.5–34.5 inches (0.85–0.88 m)
Cycling
Artistic UCI[26] Oblong rectangle 12-14 meters - 9-11 meters - -
Cycle ball wood, parquet, chipboard, triplex, synthetic
Equestrian
Dressage FEI Oblong rectangle 60 meters - 20 meters - sand
Polo FIP Oblong rectangle 250–300 yards (230–270 m) - 160–200 yards (150–180 m) - grass
Snow polo 170 yards (160 m) - 80 yards (73 m) - snow
Football codes
Soccer[27] FIFA Oblong rectangle
  • 100–130 yards (91–119 m)
  • 110–120 yards (100–110 m) (international)
 -
  • 50–100 yards (46–91 m)
  • 70–80 yards (64–73 m) (international)
 - grass, artificial
Beach soccer[28] 35–37 meters - 26–28 meters - sand
Futsal[29]
  • 25-42 meters
  • 38-42 meters (international)
 -
  • 16-25 meters
  • 20-25 meters (international)
 - wood, artificial
American[30] IFAF Oblong rectangle 100 yards (91 m) 120 yards (110 m) 160 feet (49 m) - grass, artificial
Flag[31] (standard) 50 yards (46 m) 70 yards (64 m) 25 yards (23 m) - - solid, sand
Arena[32][33] Rounded rectangle 50 yards (46 m) 66 yards (60 m) 28 yards (26 m) - artificial
Canadian Football Canada[34] Oblong rectangle 110 yards (100 m) 150 yards (140 m) 65 yards (59 m) - grass, artificial
Rugby union World Rugby[35] Oblong rectangle 94-100 meters 106-144 meters 68-70 meters - grass, sand, clay, snow, artificial
Rugby league IRL[36] 100 meters 112-122 meters 68 meters - grass
Australian rules (professional) AFL Commission[37] Oval 135-185 meters - 110-155 meters - grass
International rules AFL Commission and GAA[38] Oblong rectangle 145 meters - 90 meters -
Gaelic GAA[39] 130–145 meters - 80–90 meters -
Gymnastics
Artistic (floor) FIG Square 11.97-12.03 meters 11.97-12.03 meters
Artistic (vault) Oblong rectangle 32.2 meters 2.5 meters
Rhythmic Square 12.97-13.03 meters 12.97-13.03 meters
Handball
Indoor and wheelchair IHF Oblong rectangle 40 meters - 20 meters -
Beach 27 meters - 12 meters - sand
Hockey
Ball hockey ISBHF[40] Rounded cuboid 56-61 meters - 26-30 meters - Boards (1.02-1.22 meters height) + protective glass (1.6-4 meters height) + protective end zone net asphalt
Bandy FIB[41] Oblong rectangle 100-110 meters - 60-65 meters - ice
Rink bandy 45-60 meters - 26-31 meters - Boards: 15-122 centimeters height
Field[42] FIH Oblong rectangle 100 yards (91 m) - 60 yards (55 m) -
Indoor[43] 36-44 meters - 18-22 meters -
Beach[44] 30-35 meters - 20-25 meters - sand
Floorball IFF[45] Rounded cuboid 36-40 meters - 18-20 meters -
Ice IIHF[46] Rounded cuboid 61 meters - 30 meters - Boards (1.07-2.4 meters height) + protective glass (1.8-4 meters height) + protective net ice
NHL[47] 200 feet (61 m) - 85 feet (26 m) -
Inline[48] World Skate Rounded cuboid 131–197 feet (40–60 m) - 66–98 feet (20–30 m) - Boards: 40–48 inches (1.0–1.2 m) height sport tile, wood, asphalt or cement
Quad[49] 34-44 meters - 17-22 meters - Boards: 1 meter height wood, cement
Unicycle IUF[50] Rounded rectangle 35-45 meters - 20-25 meters -
Underwater CMAS Rectangular cuboid 21-25 meters - 12-15 meters - 2-3.65 meters
Ice skating
Ice dance ISU Oblong rectangle 50-60 meters - 26-30 meters - ice
Speed skating (Short track) Stadium 60 meters - 30 meters - -
Speed skating (Long track) 178 meters - 66 meters - -
Korfball
Korfball IKF Oblong rectangle 40 meters - 20 meters -
Beach 20 meters - 10 meters - sand
Lacrosse
Field[51] World Lacrosse Oblong rectangle 110 meters - 60 meters -
Women[52] 100 meters - 50-60 meters -
Box[53] 55-61 meters - 24-28 meters - artificial turf, concrete
Sixes[54] 70 meters - 36 meters -
Intercrosse[55] Oblong rectangle 40 meters - 20 meters - wood
Racquet sports
Badminton BWF[56] Oblong rectangle 44 feet (13 m) 17.4 meters
  • 17 feet (5.2 m)
  • 20 feet (6.1 m) (doubles)
  • 8.18 meters
  • 9.1 meters (doubles)
Padel FIP Rectangular cuboid 19.9-20.1 meters - 9.95-10.05 meters - 4 meters
Squash (singles) World Squash[57] Cuboid 9.75 meters - 6.40 meters - 4.57 meters
Squash (doubles) 9.75 meters - 8.42 meters - 4.57 meters
Table tennis ITTF Oblong rectangle 2.74 meters 14 meters (playing space) 1.525 meters 7 meters (playing space) 76 centimeters

91.25 centimeters (including net)

Tennis ITF Oblong rectangle 78 feet (24 m) 37 meters
  • 27 feet (8.2 m)
  • 36 feet (11 m) (doubles)
 18 meters clay, grass, hard
Beach tennis 16 meters
  • 4.5 meters
  • 8 meters (doubles)
 sand
Tag games
Kabaddi (standard)[58] IKF Oblong rectangle 13 meters - 10 meters - -
Kabaddi (circle-style)[59] Circle 44 meters - 44 meters - -
Kho kho IKKF Oblong rectangle 27 meters 30 meters 16 meters 19 meters -
Kho kho (Ultimate)[60] 22 meters 26 meters 16 meters 20 meters -
Tchoukball
Tchoukball FITB Oblong rectangle 26-29 meters - 15-17 meters -
Beach 21-23 meters - 11-13 m - sand
Track and field
Indoor World Athletics Stadium 90.03 meters - 45.78 meters - -
Outdoor 176.91 meters - 92.52 meters - -
Ultimate
Ultimate WFDF Oblong rectangle 64 meters 100 meters 37 meters - -
Beach 49 yards (45 m) 82 yards (75 m) 27 yards (25 m) - - sand
Volleyball
Volleyball[61] FIVB Oblong rectangle 18 meters 24-31 m 9 meters 15-19 meters wooden, synthetic
Beach[62] and Beach 4x4[63] 16 meters 20-28m 8 meters 18-20 meters sand
Snow[64] 16 meters 22 meters 8 meters 14 meters snow
Sitting WPV[65] Oblong rectangle 10 meters 16 meters 6 meters 12 meters wooden, synthetic
Different sports
Basketball
Football codes
Association football
Soccer and Polo
Ice hockey
Field size comparisons


Game court

[edit]

Game court is one of the names for a multi-sport athletic space, typically constructed outdoors, where such games as basketball, volleyball, paddle tennis and other racquet sports, and up to a dozen more games and activities can be played. They are usually smaller than a regulation tennis (120' x 60')or basketball (84'x50')court, although there is no set dimensions or size for a game court. The game-court concept was popularized by Sport Court in the 1970s, and some generic references are made to game courts as 'sport courts', although that is a trademark of Connor Sport Court International, LLC. Game courts are often found in residential backyards, giving families and children opportunities for healthy recreation close to home. Game courts are usually constructed using a rectangular sub-base made from concrete or asphalt, then covered with an open-grid modular polypropylene (or similar) sports surface to improve safety. Most feature athletic equipment such as basketball goals, net systems for racquet sports, volleyball and badminton, lights for nighttime play, fencing or ball containment netting, hockey/soccer goals, lines or markings for various sports, and practice or training components can also be incorporated into the design.

Surface

[edit]

The surface of a game court—as opposed to simply playing on concrete or asphalt—is designed for safe play and to reduce injury. Many people have started to use suspended athletic courts to cover old athletic courts like tennis courts and basketball courts. The surface should provide appropriate traction for various types of sports and activities, as well as shock or force reduction to minimize overuse and stress injuries. Game courts are typically custom-designed to the interests of the family or organization, and are versatile in enabling a wide variety of sports to be played in a relatively small space. Some activities played on a game court are enjoyable modifications of other sports (such as short-court tennis) that allow for similar skills to be developed as the 'regulation' game, but on a reduced-scale court size. A typical game court of 50 by 30 feet (15.2 m × 9.1 m) might include a basketball key and 3-point line arranged around a hoop, overlaid by short-court tennis or pickleball lines (which can also be used for volleyball or badminton) along the longer dimension.

Ball containment

[edit]

Game courts for private use will frequently be built with a high fence surrounding the surface to allow for containment of the ball used in play, and, if required, to prevent people from entering. Any of several materials have been used, including chain-link fencing, welded wire mesh fence, and fabric mesh or netting.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES - 2025 Edition" (PDF).
  2. ^ Kapstein, Ethan B (16 Dec 2010). Economic Justice in an Unfair World: Toward a Level Playing Field. Princeton University Press.
  3. ^ Weisstein, Eric W. "Stadium". mathworld.wolfram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  4. ^ MLB (2020-04-13). Why do all MLB ballparks have different dimensions? | Quick Question (MLB Originals). Retrieved 2025-10-29 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Voice to Victory (2025-05-04). Why Baseball Refused to Standardize Its Fields. Retrieved 2025-10-29 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ http://web.mit.edu/~xsdg/Public/papers/himcm-2003.pdf "The width is the distance between foul poles... the Twins’ field width (473.9 ft) and the Braves’ field width (470.2 ft) is not significant. However, the difference between the Rockies’ and Yankees’ field widths (492.9 ft and 446.9 ft, respectively) is very significant."
  7. ^ "OFFICIAL RULES OF BASEBALL, 2025-2026" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Official rules of Softball - Fast pitch" (PDF).
  9. ^ "OFFICIAL WBSC BASEBALL5 RULEBOOK 2025" (PDF).
  10. ^ "El juego de vitilla" (PDF). MLB.
  11. ^ "PELISÄÄNNÖT, PESÄPALLON PERUSTEOS" (PDF).
  12. ^ "THE RULES OF GAA ROUNDERS" (PDF).
  13. ^ "ICC MEN'S TEST MATCH PLAYING CONDITIONS" (PDF).
  14. ^ "OFFICIAL RULES OF INTERNATIONAL INDOOR CRICKET" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Rules of stoolball – Stoolball England". www.stoolball.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  16. ^ "The rules of competitions".
  17. ^ "Правила для открытых площадок".
  18. ^ "Regulamente – FEDERATIA ROMANA DE OINA" (in Romanian). Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  19. ^ "Regeln – Aktuell".
  20. ^ "Modern rules of Schlagball - Protoball". protoball.org. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
  21. ^ "INTERNATIONAL GRAPPLING RULES, GRAPPLING, GRAPPLING GI" (PDF).
  22. ^ "The Octagon | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  23. ^ "WORLD RULES OF CAROM BILLIARD" (PDF).
  24. ^ "RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS" (PDF).
  25. ^ "OFFICIAL RULES OF THE GAMES OF SNOOKER AND ENGLISH BILLIARDS" (PDF).
  26. ^ "PART 8 INDOOR CYCLING" (PDF).
  27. ^ "Laws of the Game 25/26".
  28. ^ "Beach Soccer Laws of the Game 2024-25" (PDF).
  29. ^ "Futsal LAWS OF THE GAME 2025-26" (PDF).
  30. ^ "FOOTBALL RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS 2023 EDITION" (PDF).
  31. ^ "International Flag Football - Rules 2023" (PDF).
  32. ^ "2025 Rule Book". goifl.com. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  33. ^ "Rules - Arena Football One | The Official Home of Arena Football". www.theaf1.com. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  34. ^ "The Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Tackle Football 2025-2026" (PDF).
  35. ^ "Laws of the game Rugby Union 2025" (PDF).
  36. ^ "2024 INTERNATIONAL LAWS OF THE GAME" (PDF).
  37. ^ "LAWS OF AUSTRALIAN O F FOOTBALL" (PDF).
  38. ^ "The Laws of INTERNATIONAL RULES FOOTBALL 2014" (PDF).
  39. ^ "OFFICIAL GUIDE - PART 2" (PDF).
  40. ^ "INTERNATIONAL STREET & BALL HOCKEY FEDERATION, RULEBOOK 2025 VERSION" (PDF).
  41. ^ "BANDY PLAYING RULES" (PDF).
  42. ^ "Rules of Hockey, Effective from 1 January 2022" (PDF).
  43. ^ "Rules of Indoor Hockey, Effective from 1 December 2023" (PDF).
  44. ^ "Rules of Beach Hockey, Effective from 1 June 2024" (PDF).
  45. ^ "Rules of the Game, Rules and Interpretations, Valid from 1st July 2022" (PDF).
  46. ^ "IIHF OFFICIAL, RULEBOOK 2025/26" (PDF).
  47. ^ "NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, Official Rules 2025-2026" (PDF).
  48. ^ "Worldskate - Skateboarding & Roller Sports - Regulations - Regulation". www.worldskate.org. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  49. ^ "Worldskate - Skateboarding & Roller Sports - Regulations - Regulation". www.worldskate.org. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  50. ^ "Publications – International Unicycling Federation". Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  51. ^ "2025-2027, Men's Field Lacrosse, Official Playing Rules, January 2025 – Version 1.0" (PDF).
  52. ^ "2025-2026 WOMEN'S FIELD LACROSSE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES, VERSION 1.1 // JANUARY 2025" (PDF).
  53. ^ "2024 BOX LACROSSE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES" (PDF).
  54. ^ "2024-2025 SIXES OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES" (PDF).
  55. ^ "Tips & Tricks - Rules". intercrosse.net. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  56. ^ "BWF Statutes, Section 4.1: LAWS OF BADMINTON" (PDF).
  57. ^ "Courts".
  58. ^ "Kabaddi: Origin, rules and the Pro Kabaddi League". Khel Now. Retrieved 2021-09-27. The dimensions of the playing area vary for men and women. It is 33ft x 43ft for the former
  59. ^ "Standard style and circle style - the two variants of Kabaddi". SportsAdda. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-07. In the circle style format, the field is a circle with a radius of 22 meters [i.e. diameter of 44 meters] which is divided into two equal halves by a mid-line.
  60. ^ "rules-season1.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  61. ^ "OFFICIAL VOLLEYBALL RULES 2025-2028" (PDF).
  62. ^ "OFFICIAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL RULES 2025-2028" (PDF).
  63. ^ "OFFICIAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL RULES (VERSION 4 VS 4) 2023-2024" (PDF).
  64. ^ "OFFICIAL SNOW VOLLEYBALL RULES 2021-2024" (PDF).
  65. ^ "OFFICIAL SITTING VOLLEYBALL RULES 2025 – 2028" (PDF).
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