Requirements for covering a football field according to FIFA standards and lawn care rules

There are a number of requirements for the quality of football surfaces for competitions, approved by the International Football Association. First of all, the field must be flat, with synthetic or natural grass; neither crumbly polyurethane nor rolled smooth surfaces are suitable for competitions. In the case of natural surfaces, irrigation, drainage systems (to remove excess moisture and prevent slipping), ventilation and built-in heating are also required (especially important for open stadiums in winter at extremely low temperatures).

Dimensions of the football field and support area according to FIFA standards

In accordance with international standards, the dimensions of the playing field should be 105 by 68 meters (unified size for international, national and regional competitions, as well as for World Cup matches and confederation championships). The rules also strictly regulate the size of the auxiliary area behind the football goal and along the field (used for warming up players and moving personnel). The setback to the auxiliary zone along the edges of the field must be at least 8.5 meters, along the goal line - at least 10. Thus, the final size of the standardized football field is at least 125 by 85 meters.

The nuances of caring for natural and artificial turf

• Natural lawn. Even at the planning stage of a football field with natural grass, it is necessary to invite a specialist who will assess the climatic conditions and soil of the site and select the optimal variety of grass and turf for the fastest possible rooting of the lawn. In the future, when caring for the field, you will need an aerator for oxygenating and loosening the soil, a seeder for quickly sowing fresh grass, as well as a specialized cultivator for removing withered grass and trimming rhizomes.
• Artificial turf. When laying artificial turf, it is important to ensure proper drainage, since the accumulation of moisture leads to increased slipperiness, which can lead to injuries to athletes. To care for the surface, you will need a sander - at least once a week you need to process and, as necessary, backfill the lawn to evenly distribute the material and raise the pile. Artificial grass should also be swept and combed periodically to remove debris and weeds. The optimal set of equipment for artificial lawn care would be: a sander, a leaf vacuum cleaner and a verticutter.