I am very tired of the old trope that our pitch is narrower than the MLS mandated 70 yards. This was kicked around a lot during our first year, and now seems to be accepted wisdom, even though it is demonstrably false. I think it would be good for all of us to be equipped with the proof so that we can bring it out when others use the pitch argument when trashing our Club's stadium situation as amateurish and unprofessional.
I actually figured out the proof by looking at a post on a blog for Atlanta United. It was trying to prove that our pitch is only 68 yards wide. It used a really good way to analyze the question, but then ultimately failed to get the right answer because it used a photo with a bad angle. Confirmation bias, perhaps? You can read it here.
The Proof
On most soccer fields, there are short hash marks just past each end line. These are meant to delineate the spot that is 10 yards from a corner kick (this helps the referee ensure the defenders are keeping the proper distance). Since a corner kick can be taken up to 1 yard from the sideline, each mark is 11 yards from the nearest sideline. See the diagram below.
From here, it is simple math. The two marks indicate 22 yards of field width (11 yards for each). The penalty area is 44 yards wide. Those add up to 66 yards. That leaves the distance between the edge of the penalty area and each hash mark - it is the only variable. If that distance is 2 yards for each, then you get 4 more yards or 70 total. If it is only 1 yard, then you get 2 more yards, or 68.
The Atlanta United post used a sideline photo that compresses the distance between the hash mark and the penalty area, and concludes the difference is only 1 yard for a field width of 68 yards. However, if you look at the photos below, the distance is pretty clearly 2 yards, for a field width of 70.
I actually figured out the proof by looking at a post on a blog for Atlanta United. It was trying to prove that our pitch is only 68 yards wide. It used a really good way to analyze the question, but then ultimately failed to get the right answer because it used a photo with a bad angle. Confirmation bias, perhaps? You can read it here.
The Proof
On most soccer fields, there are short hash marks just past each end line. These are meant to delineate the spot that is 10 yards from a corner kick (this helps the referee ensure the defenders are keeping the proper distance). Since a corner kick can be taken up to 1 yard from the sideline, each mark is 11 yards from the nearest sideline. See the diagram below.
From here, it is simple math. The two marks indicate 22 yards of field width (11 yards for each). The penalty area is 44 yards wide. Those add up to 66 yards. That leaves the distance between the edge of the penalty area and each hash mark - it is the only variable. If that distance is 2 yards for each, then you get 4 more yards or 70 total. If it is only 1 yard, then you get 2 more yards, or 68.
The Atlanta United post used a sideline photo that compresses the distance between the hash mark and the penalty area, and concludes the difference is only 1 yard for a field width of 68 yards. However, if you look at the photos below, the distance is pretty clearly 2 yards, for a field width of 70.
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