is a level area 360 feet long and 160 feet wide. White lines called yard lines run across the field every 5 yards, and lines called sidelines run down each side. The goal lines are 100 yards apart, and the end zones extend 10 yards beyond each goal line. The white lines are numbered from the goal lines to the 50-yard line or midfield. Two broken lines called inbounds lines or hash marks run parallel to the sidelines. For college games, the hash marks are 53 feet 4 inches from each sideline, dividing the field into thirds. For professional games, they are 70 feet 9 inches from each sideline.

In high school and college football, two goal posts, each 20 feet high, stand 10 yards behind each goal line. A crossbar connects them 10 feet above the ground. The posts are 18 feet 6 inches apart in high school games, and 23 feet 4 inches apart for college games. In professional football, the goal posts, 18 feet 6 inches apart, rise 20 feet from the crossbar. A single post 6 feet behind the end line curves forward to support the crossbar over the line.

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This page was last updated on 01/18/2010.