BAFA Rules Committee

Field markings

Everything you need to know about marking out a field for American football can be found here:

Field diagrams and Notes for Groundsmen (Rulebook Appendix D)
Rule 1 in full
Converter from feet/yards to metres (Microsoft Excel XLSX)

Field markings for small sided football

9-on-9 football is played on a full-sized field
8-on-8 diagram showing how to fit an 8-on-8 field inside a standard field
7-on-7 diagram
5-on-5 diagram^{18th April 2023}
Flag football diagram

Minimum field markings ( ^{1st March 2023}):

IMPORTANT

Under no circumstances may the game commence, nor proceed if suspended. BAFA may impose sanctions for the following breaches: (2023 additions marked as )

In 2023, Field length less than 80 yards or more than 100 yards.
In 2024:
- (NL Premier only), Field length less than 90 yards or more than 100 yards.
- (other divisions), Field length less than 80 yards or more than 100 yards.
In 2025:
- (all NL divisions), Field length less than 90 yards or more than 100 yards.
- (other divisions), Field length less than 80 yards or more than 100 yards.
In 2026 (all adult football, including BUCS league):
- Field length less than 90 yards or more than 100 yards.
Field width less than 144 feet or more than 176 feet.
End zone depth less than 7 yards or more than 13 yards.
End zones not of equal size.
Either sideline incomplete.
Any goal line or end line incomplete.
Any yard line across the field every 5 yards incomplete.
Short yard-line extensions at the hash marks incomplete.
Short yard-line extensions at the sideline incomplete.
Goal posts inbounds.
Padding on goal posts absent or less than six feet in height (exception: if the goal post is more than 12 feet outside the end line, or there is a non-hazardous barrier between the end line and the goal post that would prevent players from running into the goal post.) .
2G or earlier artificial surface.
Trip hazard(s).

Field and game management audits

In even-numbered years, BAFRA officials conduct an audit of field markings at every game:

Field audit form [release 8, 2022]
Letter to teams explaining the audit

In odd-numbered years, BAFRA officials conduct a similar audit of game management:

Game management audit form [release 3, 2009]

Teams are encouraged to self-assess themselves using the forms above in order to highlight problem areas that they may be able to address.

Advice for groundsmen

Removable field markings
Choosing colour-blind-friendly colours for multi-sport pitches
- Colour blindness is one of the world’s most common inherited, genetic disorders and affects about 8% (1 in 12) of males and 0.5% of females. This guide discusses field markings.
- This video from the FA talks about colour-blindness in sport.
- This guide talks about how to choose colours that are friendly to colour-blind people.
Robot lining
Field markings on top of rugby union markings