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If you’re obsessed with all things footy like we are, then you’re probably itching to get outside with the kids and have a kick now that the weather has warmed up.

Finding time to take them down to the local oval can be difficult, and as a result they’ll probably end up stuck in the backyard kicking the ball to each other.

That’s why we’ve come up with a great way to keep them entertained: turn your backyard into a footy field!

All you need is a flat, solid surface, some goal posts and a bit of paint to outline the boundaries. It’s easy and it won’t take you long, and best of all you can do it on the cheap!

The surface

Constructing the playing surface itself will be the biggest job out of all of them. Firstly, you’ll need to find an area of your backyard that is hard, flat and even.

Try and find somewhere that doesn’t have too many lumps of bumps, and mow it as flat as possible - This is important as it will help to prevent anyone rolling an ankle or tripping on a rock. Plus, it’s a lot easier to bounce the ball when the grass is flat and clipped short!

It’s important to mention that mowing the grass could get quite annoying - Natural grass grows quickly, and having to keep it flat regularly will be time-consuming. The best way to keep your DIY footy field in a great condition is by installing artificial grass.

You’ll never need to mow again, and your field will stay green all year round!

The boundaries

Next, you’ll need to mark out your dimensions.

Unless you’ve got a humongous property it’s pretty unlikely you’ll be able to fit an actual-sized MCG in your backyard, so you’ll need to make one to fit the size of your backyard.

If your backyard is on the smaller end of the scale, you’ve always got the option of making half a field. Simply mark the centre square at the opposite end to the goal posts, and play some half-field footy!

Marking out the boundaries of the field keeps the game honest and fair, as well as reducing the risk of players running into obstacles outside the field of play.

You can use everyday white spray paint to outline the oval, or look at line marking paint, which is ideal for sporting fields and comes in a range of colours. For something more temporary, look at spray landscape chalk - which will wash away with water or will disappear by itself after a good rain. Whatever you use, just make sure your paint is completely dry before you start your first game! 

Be sure to Include the centre circle, centre square, 50 metre line (to proportion, of course!) and the goal square. You can use a piece of cardboard as a stencil to get those sharp square edges!

The goalposts

What’s a footy oval without goals?

There are several ways to create the goalposts, but by far the cheapest and easiest is using existing landmarks in your yard.

Trees and shrubs can make great makeshift goals. Just ensure they’re trimmed neatly, otherwise the ball might get stuck in the overhead branches!

If you’d rather the real thing, you can make your own using thick PVC pipes or wooden posts. Dig a really deep hole to implant them, or pour in some homemade concrete for good measure.

It’s probably a good idea to put a bit of padding around the lower portion of the post to prevent any nasty head bumps during a rowdy game.

For an easy and temporary option, you can also buy moveable posts at many sports retailers. 

Personalise it

Don’t limit yourself to a stock-standard, all-white footy field.

Give your oval a bit of colour; get the kids involved and decorate the posts with family team colours – or with stripes of the family’s official footy team.

Once your pitch is ready to go, it’s time to get out there! Arm yourself with a footy, invite the family round and kick off a friendly match.

Retire the lawn mower
Take back your weekends with our range of Premium Artificial Grass. With no need to water, mow or edge, Artificial Lawn is the low maintenance solution you’ve been looking for.
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