DIY Network

Building a Football Field Michael Strahan helps a young boy fulfill a Christmas wish for a backyard football field. From "Backyard Stadiums" episode DBYS-103

(Continued from page 3)

Building a Ladder Drill for Footwork

An important part of any sport is staying in shape and having good footwork. DIY's Backyard Stadiums ladder drill is made of stakes and rope, allowing the family to practice running. It's like running through tires without the expense of having to buy them.

advertisement

The classic football tire drill is replaced by this clever ladder drill, which eliminates the need to buy tires!

Materials:

15 plastic stakes
string

Tools:

tape measure
hammer

1. Measure out a plot 80"x40" — marking the corners with stakes. Continue by placing a stake in a straight line every 20", both horizontally and vertically. This will give you five stakes the long way and three stakes the short way.

2. String your rope around the outside of the box through the holes at the top of the stakes. Tie off at last stake.

3. Sring lines for the middle rows and tie the string at both ends.

4. When complete there should be two rows of four boxes each.

	Once the lines are applied, the Johnson family has a backyard football field that most NFL players, including host Michael Strahan, would love!
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Lining the Field

Kevin Johnson asked Santa for an entire football field in his yard and that's what Michael Strahan and the Backyard Stadiums crew gave him. While his yard wasn't 100-yards long (and whose is), we created a gridiron complete with spray painted numbers at each yard line.

Materials:

stakes
string
athletic spray paint
number stencils

Tools:

line striper
tape Measure
hammer

Note: When lining the field remember that it depends on how much space you have. Our field is 35-yards long — including the endzone. You can adjust these instructions as necessary to conform to the space available in your backyard.

1. Start by measuring out the width of the field from the goal post. Mark the corners with a stake, then measure out the length of the field in 5-yard increments. Use a T-square to ensure that the lines are straight — and check the width of the field to verify that it's square. Mark the position of each yard marker with a stake (figure A).

2. Once you've staked the entire field, string all the stakes together so it makes it easier to line the field with the paint striper.

3. Line the field using a paint striper (figure B). There a several available both for purchase or rental. Roll it directly over your string and be sure to make your lines nice and straight.

4. Use the same athletic paint that you used to line the field to apply the numbers. We purchased 12" number stencils (figure C) from a local sign shop, but you paint them free hand them if you prefer.

Enjoy your new football field!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

RESOURCES :

Striping Machine and Field Paint
Fox Valley Systems
Model: Super Striper (Athletic Striper)
Website: www.foxpaint.com

Goal Post Flags
Website: www.eSoccerGoals.com