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6 min read

There are few better ways that a football parent can support their young athlete than giving them the space they need to practice.

If you want to take things to the next level, you could even build a backyard football field for them with turf, football rebounders, lines, and lighting. 

In this guide, we want to appeal to the DIY moms and dads out there who are planning to design a football field in their backyard. 

Things to Consider When Making a Backyard Football Field

If you’re planning to build a football field backyard, there’s likely a million different things running through your mind. 

Here are some of the initial factors you’ll want to plan out as you design a home football field.

Size and Layout

The size and layout of your backyard will determine the size and dimensions of the football field you can build. The average football field is 75 yards by 120 yards long. For the typical homeowner, this is out of the question.

So, you’ll need to develop a design using the dimensions you have to recreate the proper shape of a football field on a smaller scale. 

For example, if you have four kids that play football, you’ll want to make sure it’s at least big enough to accommodate them plus a couple of friends. A 30-50 yard football field would be optimal for this. 

Lighting

If you’re building a small football field in your backyard and you intend on letting the kids play at night, you’ll need to have some form of lighting installed. This is quite an undertaking depending on the size of the field and how bright you intend on making the field. 

For a backyard football field, you should use LED sports lighting. LED lights provide bright, energy-efficient lighting that is ideal for outdoor sports fields. They also have a longer lifespan compared to traditional lighting options, which means they will require less maintenance and replacement over time. 

Additionally, LED lights can be directed to specific areas of the field, allowing you to control the amount of light in certain areas and minimizing light pollution.

Fencing

To make your backyard football field legit, you need to make sure the football stays on the field and doesn’t go into neighboring yards, roadways, or wooded areas. 

One of the best ways to ensure this is with theOpen Goaaal 3-in-1 Football Trainer and Rebounder. The rebounder will return missed shots and vary in size from a 6x4 football goal to a24x8 football goal

The goal and rebounder allows your kids and young football players to practice shots and miss without having to worry about chasing the ball down after each shot. 

Keep in mind, this only applies to thegoal - you need to keep the rest of the field in mind as well. If your mini football field dimensions are only enough to squeeze into your suburban neighborhood, you may need to fence in the entire field.

The type of fencing you should use for a backyard football field will depend on the size and layout of your field, as well as your budget and personal preferences. 

Some popular options include chain link fencing, which is durable and relatively inexpensive, or vinyl fencing, which is low maintenance and comes in a variety of colors and styles. If you want a more natural look, wooden fencing is another option.

Maintaining The Field

It sounds wonderful to build a backyard football field but who is going to take care of it? If you’re using natural grass there will be quite a bit of maintenance involved.

If you’re starting from scratch, you may even have to grow the grass yourself.

To grow grass for a backyard football field, you should first prepare the soil by removing any existing grass or weeds and leveling the ground. Next, add a topsoil or compost to the soil to improve its fertility. 

After that, you should choose a grass seed that is suitable for your climate and spread it evenly over the soil. 

Then, water the soil regularly and keep it moist until the grass has established itself. Once the grass has grown to a suitable height, it should be mowed regularly to maintain its length. Additionally, fertilizing the grass periodically will help it to grow stronger and healthier.

Permits and Zoning 

In general, you may need to obtain permits for building a football field in your backyard, especially if the field will be a permanent structure or if it will involve changes to the grading or drainage on your property.

You should check with your local government or zoning board to find out what specific permits are required in your area.

Another factor to consider is your localhomeowners association (HOA) if you have one. 

Chances are, if your community has an HOA, you will not be able to build a backyard football field in the traditional sense. Usually HOAs prefer most properties in the neighborhood to follow a set of guidelines that ensures that all look relatively similar. 

Should My Home Football Field Have Artificial Turf or Natural Grass?

Building a backyard turf football field might seem like quite the undertaking because it feels more permanent and involves making dramatic changes to your backyard. Natural grass sod only costs approximately $.48 per square foot whereas artificial turf can cost as much as $8 per square foot. 

Both artificial turf and natural grass have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Artificial turf is a popular choice for backyard football fields because it requires less maintenance and is more durable than natural grass. Artificial grass is also a good option if you live in an area with limited rainfall or if you have difficulty growing natural grass. But, turf does not provide the same playing experience as grass. 

Natural grass provides a more authentic playing experience, with a softer surface that is easier on the joints. It also has a natural look and feel.

However, natural grass requires regular maintenance, including watering, fertilizing, and mowing. It may also be affected by weather conditions, such as drought, which can cause the field to become dry and hard.

Ultimately, the choice between synthetic turf and natural grass depends on your personal preferences, budget, and the specific needs of your backyard football field.

What Equipment Do You Need?

If you’re trying to provide the best way for your kids to get better at football there are few things better than building them their own field. 

It’s important to realize that taking this entire job on yourself is almost impossible unless you already have the perfect yard for it. 

You’ll likely need to hire a company to level out your land and install lighting wherever needed. From there, you can handle fencing, marking, and installing the goals. You can also handle maintaining the grass or turf yourself as well. 

Cost Estimates

Here’s a quick look at how much it can cost to build a football field in your backyard:

Excavation/Land Grading:£6,000-10,000

Seeding/Sod:£1,000-2,000

Artificial Turf:£5-10 per square foot

Fencing: £5,000-10,000

Lighting:£2,500-5,000

Home Football Field FAQs

How do you line a football field from scratch?

Use a measuring tape or wheel to determine the dimensions of the field, and mark the boundaries with spray paint or flags. From there you’ll need to mark the center of the field which is entirely dependent on how large your field is. 

You’ll need to mark thepenalty box, goal area, and corner arc as well. Understanding the layout  of the football field will help ensure you do all of this properly to keep it authentic. 

Are football fields supposed to be flat?

The football pitch should be relatively flat, with a slight slope to allow for drainage. However, slight variations in the field's surface are allowed and can even be beneficial for the game. The field should also be maintained in good condition, with a consistent level of grass and no holes or other hazards.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re building your backyard football field out of turf or grass, there is one thing the field cannot be without and that is theOpen Goaaal 3-in-1 Football Trainer and Rebounder.

These goals will ensure that the ball stays on the field and in play. This prevents it from going into the neighbors yard or out into the street.

You’ll save some money on fencing costs while also improving your kids' level of play and practice while they’re out in the yard. 

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about your DIY football field or the Open Goaaal Rebounder.