Soccer is known as the world’s most popular sport. In fact, soccer is played in over 200 different countries and includes several professional and amateur soccer leagues.
Depending on your location, the term soccer may also be called football. Soccer and football are interchangeable terms when it comes to naming the sport.
In North America, many people use the term soccer and in Great Britain, it is called football.
Both words refer to a sport played by 2 teams of 11 players where a round ball is kicked or headed into the opponent’s goal.
If you are a current soccer player or want to learn the game, it’s important to know the actual size and dimensions of the goal used during play.
Soccer goal dimensions
Soccer goal size and dimensions can vary based on the association and most youth soccer goals are smaller than standard or professional goal nets.
A soccer goal consists of 2 vertical goal posts joined together by 1 horizontal goal post.
According to the IFAB (International Football Association Board) laws of the game, a standard soccer goal must be 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall.
This means, the space between the vertical posts is 24 feet and the horizontal post must be 8 feet off the ground.
These regulation soccer goal dimensions are used by FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) around the world.
Youth soccer goal dimensions
As mentioned, not all soccer goal dimensions are the same. The goals used by youth players are generally not as wide and are much shorter.
In the USA, the official soccer goal size used by youth clubs is recommended by the US Youth Soccer Association. The size of the goal used can be different depending on the age of the player.
For example, U6, U7, U8 players use a soccer goal with the dimensions of 8 feet wide and 4 feet tall.
U9 and U10 players use a soccer goal with the dimensions of 18.5 feet wide and 6.5 feet tall.
U11 and U12 players use a soccer goal with the dimensions of 21 feet wide and 7 feet tall.
U13 to U19 players use a soccer goal with the dimensions of 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall.
The size of a soccer goal can be adjusted for the age of the youth or child playing. The recommended sizes are not law and they can be adjusted as needed for the child to play safe and learn the game.
High School and college soccer goal dimensions
The dimensions of a soccer goal used by high school and college leagues are similar to that of the FIFA standard size which is 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall.
Soccer goal post size
When calculating the dimensions of a soccer goal, you need to take into consideration the actual size of the goal posts.
The 3 goal posts used to form the goal are normally between 4 to 5 inches in diameter.
It’s important to know the goal post size as the measurements used for the goal dimensions is taken from the inside of the posts.
For example, the distance of 24 feet wide is measured from the inside of the post and the distance of 8 feet tall is measured from the bottom of the crossbar or horizontal post to the ground.
These measurements would be increased if taken from the outside edge of the posts.
Goal posts are often made out of steel and aluminum.
Indoor soccer goal dimensions
If you are playing indoors, many soccer goals will be smaller and have different dimensions than those used outdoors.
On average, an indoor soccer goal will measure 14 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Outdoor soccer goals can be 10 feet wider than indoor goals.