The FA LOTG Law One sets out the size of the playing area and offers minimum and maximum measurements for the length and width of the pitch depending on the number of players per side. It then goes on to specifically state that the penalty/goal area should be a semi-circle measuring 6 metres from the centre of the goal line.
My question is whether anyone can see anything in the LOTG document that allows the size of the area to be adjusted in any way?
Last year, our local league played with an eliptical shaped area that only measured 4 metres out from the goal line and 5.5 metres sideways from the centre of the goal line and are proposing to stick with that shape and size again this year.
As a goal-keeper myself, I believe the area is too small and in fact risks the health and safety of the goalkeeper with strikers getting that close.
One of the arguments used by the various teams for not complying with the FA LOTG is that last season there were too many 0-0 draws and increasing the area would reduce scoring opportunities further - no empathy for the goalkeepers there!
