Rugby Field vs Lacrosse Field: Size Comparison Guide

Last updated on February 25th, 2023 at 10:02 am

Rugby and lacrosse are two very different games, but because they’re both played outside on a large field, it makes sense to think that their fields of play might be similar.

In fact, these two fields are quite similar, but they do have some key differences.

What are the dimensions of a rugby field?

Rugby fields can all be slightly different sizes, but they need to fit within certain dimensions. The entire playing area must be between 106 meters or 347.8 feet and 120 meters or about 393.7 feet long.

It should also have a width between 68 meters or 223.1 feet and 70 meters or 229.7 feet.

Fields can measure almost anywhere within these distances, however, and differences in field length can be caused by different playing area or in-goal area lengths.

The playing area, not counting the in-goal areas, can be a maximum of 100 meters or 328.1 feet long, but it can be as short as 94 meters or about 308.4 feet long.

The in-goal areas, located at each end of the field, can be between 6 meters or 19.7 feet and 22 meters or 72.2 feet long.

Most fields are 70 meters wide and 120 meters long, so they have a total size of about 8,400 square meters or 90,416.85 square feet.

Most rugby fields also have a border around the edge that gives players more room to maneuver and provides space to go out-of-bounds if they need to avoid a collision or catch the ball.

This border is usually about 5 meters or 16.4 feet wide all around.

How is a rugby field set up?

Rugby fields are large rectangles. At each end are shallow areas after the goalposts. These are called the in-goal areas. Just before each of these areas is a line called the goal or try line.

At the end of these areas, a line called the dead-ball line marks the field’s out-of-bounds points.

A typical rugby field also has a halfway line. This line runs parallel to the try and dead-ball lines, and if you’re looking at the field so that the longest edges stretch out ahead of you, each line is horizontal.

At either side of the halfway line are two 10-meter lines and then two 22-meter lines, marking the distance from the halfway line.

The 10-meter lines are dashed, but the halfway and 22-meter lines are solid. There are also two dashed lines marked 5 meters in front of the try lines, just before the goals.

Rugby fields are also marked with crosses at the edges of the field. The crosses closest to the center of the field are marked at 15 meters from the field’s vertical boundary on either side of the field.

Another cross, closer to the boundary, is marked 5 meters from the vertical boundary line. These areas are also marked on the 10-meter, 22-meter, and try lines.

A cross is also marked on the center of the halfway line. This is where the kick-off occurs.

What are the dimensions of a lacrosse field?

Unlike rugby fields, most lacrosse fields share the same or very similar dimensions. In general, a standard lacrosse field is 110 yards or about 100.6 meters long and 60 yards or 54.9 meters wide.

This makes for a total size of 6,600 square yards, 59,400 square feet, or 5,518.4 square meters.

It’s important to remember that although most lacrosse fields share these dimensions, not every field is exactly the same size.

Lacrosse rules allow for the central playing area, located from the back edge of one goal to the back end of the other goal, to be between 90 and 100 yards, and the area behind each goal can be between 10 and 20 yards.

The field can also be as wide as 70 yards.

How is a lacrosse field set up?

Like a rugby field, a lacrosse field is a long rectangle. In the center of the rectangle, a circle is marked. This circle should have a diameter of 20 feet.

At either side of this circle are two parallel lines that mark the center of the playing field, which is also known as the wing area.

If you’re looking at the field so that the longest edges stretch ahead of you, these lines will run horizontally.

Each line is located 40 yards from the center of the field. The center of each goal circle is placed 20 yards from these lines or 60 yards from the center of the field.

Each goal has a large, marked fan area in front of it. This area should have a radius of about 12 meters or 39.4 feet. A smaller fan inside this larger fan is also marked.

This fan should have a radius of 8 meters or 26.2 feet. Dots are also often used to mark the back edges of the goals.

There are usually two dots near the back of each goal, and they are 5 yards or 15 feet from the goal.

In professional lacrosse games, coaches’, sub, and penalty areas are also marked along the longest edges of the field, usually near the center of the field.

Coaches’ areas are usually about 20 yards wide and 6 yards deep. The combined penalty and sub-area usually have a depth of about 4 meters or 13.1 feet and are divided in half for both penalized and available players. A table with timers is kept behind this area.

Benches for each team to sit on are also placed either behind or next to each coach’s area, depending on how exactly the field has been set up.