Field markings
Everything you need to know about marking out a field for American football can be found here:
Field markings for small sided football
Minimum field markings ( 1st March 2024):
IMPORTANT
Under no circumstances may the game commence, nor proceed if suspended. BAFA may impose sanctions for the following breaches: (2024 changes in blue)
- In 2024:
- (NL Premier only), Field length less than 90 yards or more than 100 yards.
- (other divisions), Field length less than 80 yards or more than 100 yards.
- In 2025:
- (all NL divisions), Field length less than 90 yards or more than 100 yards.
- (other divisions), Field length less than 80 yards or more than 100 yards.
- In 2026 (all adult football, including BUCS league):
- Field length less than 90 yards or more than 100 yards.
- Field width less than 144 feet or more than 176 feet.
- End zone depth less than 7 yards or more than 13 yards.
- End zones not of equal size.
- Either sideline incomplete.
- Any goal line or end line incomplete.
- Any yard line across the field every 5 yards incomplete.
- Short yard-line extensions at the hash marks incomplete.
- Short yard-line extensions at the sideline incomplete.
- Goal posts inbounds.
- Padding on goal posts absent or less than six feet in height (exception: if the goal post is more than 12 feet outside the end line, or there is a non-hazardous barrier between the end line and the goal post that would prevent players from running into the goal post.) .
- 2G or earlier artificial surface.
- Trip hazard(s).
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Field and game management audits
In even-numbered years, BAFRA officials conduct an audit of field markings at every game:
In odd-numbered years, BAFRA officials conduct a similar audit of game management:
Teams are encouraged to self-assess themselves using the forms above in order to highlight problem areas that they may be able to address.
Advice for groundsmen
- Removable field markings
- Choosing colour-blind-friendly colours for multi-sport pitches
- Colour blindness is one of the world’s most common inherited, genetic disorders and affects about 8% (1 in 12) of males and 0.5% of females. This guide discusses field markings.
- This video from the FA talks about colour-blindness in sport.
- This guide talks about how to choose colours that are friendly to colour-blind people.
- Robot lining
- Field markings on top of rugby union markings
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