As a ball sport, soccer is hard to understand.
In basketball, there’s a little basket-like hoop that requires the utmost precision to score points in.
In field hockey, there’s a small goal manned by a player who’s kitted up enough to block every route to the goal. The same is true for ice hockey.
In handball, the net is also small enough for the player manning it to stop every attempt to score.
All these sports still end up having double-figure scorelines every game.
But soccer has such large goals compared to the size of the players manning them and yet, at full-time, the scorelines are in single digits for both teams. Sometimes, teams don’t even get to score any goals.
In the coming sections, I will explain why this is so and explain the different goal sizes that exist at all levels of soccer, from youth (kiddies) soccer to professional soccer. This is a comprehensive guide to the various sizes and dimensions of a soccer goal.
Soccer Goal Sizes
Goalkeepers man soccer goals. They are the marshalls of a team’s defense and the only ones allowed to use their hands in a soccer game (this is regulated, however).
Many of them rarely get to see much action in a game. This could be because their teams have excellent defenses that they don’t have to work much.
When they do, however, most of them pull off acrobatic saves, or the opponent fails to hit the target. This is because of the immense pressure that players feel when shooting at a goal in a real-game scenario.
All the defenders of the opposing team are on the shooting player’s heels. The player also has to make sure that they get enough power and precision for the ball to travel the way they want.
This pressure is why, despite the large size of soccer goals compared to the size of the goalkeeper, the sport is a low-scoring one.
Below are the goal sizes used by soccer players at all levels and variations of the game. This is important for anyone who wants to buy a goal or is just interested in knowing why there exists a discrepancy between levels in terms of goal sizes.
Youth Soccer
Youth soccer rules come from already established FIFA rules that have been adopted by league associations around the world.
The goal post rules state that a goal must consist of “two upright posts that are joined together horizontally by a crossbar and are situated equidistant from the corner flags on each side of the pitch.”
The posts and the crossbar must be made of wood, metal, or other approved material, and the posts furthermore, must be either round, rectangular, square, or elliptical and must be painted white.
Bearing these in mind, here are the approved dimensions for goals in youth soccer.
- Under-15: 8 ft by 24 ft.
- Under-12 (down to 8 years old): Minimum 6 ft by 18 ft and maximum 7 ft by 21 ft.
- Under-8: Minimum 5 ft by 9 ft, Maximum 6 ft by 12 ft.
- Under-4: Minimum 4 ft by 6 ft, Maximum 5 ft by 10 ft.
- Under-3: Minimum 3 ft by 3 ft, Maximum 4 ft by 6 ft.
These goal sizes are not set in stone, however. They are only approved and recommended.
There is freedom to use slightly bigger goals in youth soccer but they need to be safe and appropriate enough to help them learn critical skills while enjoying the sport.
High School Soccer
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules book states this about the sizes of goals to be used in competitive high school soccer:
“The goals shall be placed on the goal line. They shall consist of two upright posts between 4 inches and 5 inches in projected diameter placed an equal distance from the corner flags and 8 yards apart (inside measurement). The rear of each goalpost shall be on the outer edge of the goal line. The tops of the posts shall be joined by a 4-inch, but not more than 5-inch horizontal crossbar, the lower edge of which shall be 8 feet from the ground. Soccer goals shall be white. No markings other than a single manufacturer’s identification/logo may appear on the goal posts or crossbar.
“Metal pipes of 3 to 4 inches in diameter may be used. If portable goals are used, they shall be adequately anchored, secured, or counterweighted to the ground.”
College Soccer
Collegiate soccer is soccer at a semi-pro level.
College soccer programs in America are a great way to get into the league football system, the top level of which is the MLS – Major League Soccer.
At the semi-pro (amateur) level, most of the full 11v11 rules apply as set by FIFA. This includes the soccer goal dimensions which the professionals use in training and games.
In college soccer, soccer goal manufacturers are allowed to brand their products. However, the regulations do not allow for any more than one marking to appear on posts or crossbars.
Professional Soccer (FIFA)
FIFA-standard goals are the recommended sizes for semi-pro and pro soccer players.
Some colleges use FIFA-standard soccer goals to give them an edge in inter-collegiate games and to help their players be prepared for the professional level of the sport.
FIFA-standard goalposts must be eight yards apart from each other and stand eight feet from the ground. A crossbar must be placed at the top of these posts.
Both the posts and the crossbar must be of the same measurement, not greater than 5 inches.
Soccer goal nets must be attached in a way that they do not interfere with the actions of the goalkeeper in any way. The depth of the goal net is left to the owner team to decide.
Futsal
When people hear “FUTSAL”, they think of soccer that’s played with a small team of five in a gym.
That’s just limited thinking.
Futsal fields can be set up anywhere, indoors or outdoors. The major element in futsal is the size of the field – the futsal field size is 200 inches by 85 inches (16.7 ft by 7 ft).
This field size also affects the size of the goal.
A futsal goal must be 9 ft 10 inches wide, 6 ft 7 inches high, and should have a depth of 3 ft 7 inches.
Indoor Soccer
The major thing that sets indoor soccer apart from futsal is the playing surface.
We’ve learned that futsal can be played anywhere, but the playing surface must be hard – usually hardwood (recommended) or smooth concrete. Indoor surfaces are turfs (artificial grass). The field sizes for both are different.
The common thing, however, is the size of their goals.
This is why both of them are confused about each other, even among long-term fans of the sport. The recommended indoor soccer goal size is also 9 ft 10 inches wide by 6 ft 7 inches high.
Final thoughts
Soccer goals are THE key soccer equipment.
Whether you’re playing a pickup game with your friends or playing an amateur local competition, your setup is incomplete without a goal.
They are more important than your boots and even the referee’s whistle and cards!
It is also important to reiterate that soccer goals have sizes to help the goalkeepers at all levels adjust to the game.
Once they do and get bigger or experienced enough to go pro, the training catches up and they are able to make the kind of amazing saves that make it to YouTube soccer compilation videos.
