The soccer field, the surface on which the game of soccer is played, is called the field of play but the name most commonly used is the football pitch.
The first law of soccer (the field of play) is the law that regulates the dimensions and markings off the football pitch (The soccer field).
Here is what the field of play is supposed to look like as per FIFA:
Here is a great Youtube video that will help you to understand more about the Soccer Field Layout
Since 2008, In order to standardize the size of the football pitch for A international matches, the IFAB has decided to set a fixed size of 105m long and 68m wide (instead of a minimum and maximum length - from 100m to 110m - and a minimum and a maximum width - from 64m to 75m - as mentioned in the present text).[1]
All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define. For example, a ball on or above the touchline is still on the field of play; a ball on the line of the goal area is in the goal area; and a foul committed over the 16.5 metres (18-yard) line has occurred in the penalty area.
Therefore a ball must completely cross the touchline to be out of play, and a ball must wholly cross the goal line (between the goal posts) before a goal is scored; if any part of the ball is still on or above the line, the ball is still in play [2]
References
- FIFA MEDIA Release (2008-03-08) Goal-line technology put on ice
- Wikipedia - Association football pitch
