Section 3: Playing Area
Court Dimensions
- Length: 30.5 m (100 ft) measured between the goal lines
- Width: 15.25 m (50 ft) measured between the sidelines
- Court is divided lengthwise into three equal thirds by two transverse lines: defensive third, centre third, attacking third (orientations relative to each team)
- Centre circle: 0.9 m diameter at the centre of the court
- Goal circle (shooting circle): semi-circle of 4.9 m radius at each end, struck from the centre of the goal line
Surface and Surrounding Area
The court must be a firm, even surface. International matches are played on a sprung wooden floor or an approved synthetic indoor surface. A clear runoff area of at least 3.05 m around the perimeter is required for safety; spectators, benches, and scoring tables are positioned outside the runoff.
Court Markings
- Goal lines (end lines) at each end of the court
- Sidelines along each long edge
- Two transverse third-lines dividing the court into three equal thirds
- Centre circle (0.9 m diameter)
- Two goal circles (4.9 m radius semicircles)
- All lines are 50 mm wide and form part of the area they bound
Position-Restricted Areas
Each of the seven playing positions has a defined permitted area. A player who enters an area not permitted to that position commits an "offside" infringement and is penalized (Section 7).