WFA Law – Pitch Rules Explained

The WFA Pitch Law explains how a walking football pitch must be set up to ensure matches are played safely, fairly and consistently. These guidelines help referees and organisers decide whether a venue is suitable for competitive play.

This guide explains the main pitch requirements in simple terms.

Pitch Shape and Markings

A walking football pitch must be rectangular. The longer sides are called touchlines, and the shorter sides are the goal lines. The pitch may also be divided into two halves by a halfway line.

All boundary lines must be clearly marked.

Pitch Size for Competitive Matches

For standard competitive matches (such as 6-a-side), the recommended pitch dimensions are:

Some venues may fall slightly outside these guidelines. In such cases, the referee has the final decision on whether a match can go ahead.

Goal Sizes

The standard competition goal size should fall between:

The WFA recommends mini-soccer style goals measuring 12ft x 6ft. As with pitch size, referees may allow alternative goal sizes where facilities differ.

Goal Areas and Penalty Marks

A semi-circular goal area must be marked at each end of the pitch. This should extend between 4 and 6 metres from the goal line.

A penalty mark may also be placed centrally, between 6 and 7 metres from the goal line. If the goal area extends to 6 metres, the penalty mark should be positioned at 7 metres.

Ball Position Rules

The ball is considered out of play only when it has fully crossed a line. If the ball is on the goal-area line, it is treated as being inside the area and may only be played by the goalkeeper.

Use of Barriers

Pitches with barriers are allowed for club games. However, for tournament and cup competitions, barriers are not normally permitted for safety reasons.

If the ball hits a barrier, it is classed as out of play and restarted as appropriate (kick-in, corner or goal kick).

Part of the official WFA Walking Football Rules Hub:
👉 /walking-football-rules/