1 Answers
The penalty area or 18-yard box is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends 16.5m to each side of the goal and 16.5m in front of it.
Within the penalty area is the penalty spot, which is 11m from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal.
A penalty arc adjoins the penalty area, and encloses the area within 9.15m of the penalty spot. It does not form part of the penalty area and is only of relevance during the taking of a penalty kick, when any players inside the arc are adjudged to be encroaching.
Within the penalty area is another smaller rectangular area called the goal area , which is delimited by two lines starting on the goal-line 5.5 metres from the goalposts and extending 5.5 metres into the pitch from the goal-line, and the line joining these. Goal kicks and any free kick by the defending team may be taken from anywhere in this area. Indirect free kicks awarded to the attacking team within the goal area are taken from the point on the line parallel to the goal line nearest where the infringement occurred; they cannot be taken any closer to the goal line. Similarly drop-balls that would otherwise occur closer to the goal line are taken on this line.