<P> Football goals were first described in England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries . In 1584 and 1602 respectively, John Norden and Richard Carew referred to "goals" in Cornish hurling . Carew described how goals were made: "they pitch two bushes in the ground, some eight or ten foote asunder; and directly against them, ten or twelue (twelve) score off, other twayne in like distance, which they terme their Goales". The first reference to scoring a goal is in John Day's play The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (performed circa 1600; published 1659). Similarly in a poem in 1613, Michael Drayton refers to "when the Ball to throw, And drive it to the Gole, in squadrons forth they goe". Solid crossbars were first introduced by the Sheffield Rules . Football nets were invented by Liverpool engineer John Brodie in 1891, and they were a necessary help for discussions about whether or not a goal had been scored . </P> <P> Two rectangular boxes are marked out on the pitch in front of each goal . </P> <P> The goal area (colloquially the "six - yard box"), consists of the rectangle formed by the goal - line, two lines starting on the goal - line 6 yards (5 m) from the goalposts and extending 6 yards (5 m) 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 (the "six - yard 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 . </P> <P> The penalty area (colloquially "The 18 - yard box" or just "The box") is similarly formed by the goal - line and lines extending from it, however its lines start 18 yards (16 m) from the goalposts and extend 18 yards (16 m) into the field . This area has a number of functions, the most prominent being to denote where the goalkeeper may handle the ball and where a foul by a defender, usually punished by a direct free kick, becomes punishable by a penalty kick . Both the goal and penalty areas were formed as halfcircles until 1902 . </P>

How big is a football feild in feet