DIY Network

Building a Soccer Field Michael Strahan builds a backyard soccer goal and some unique practice hazards that are sure to improve soccer skills. From "Backyard Stadiums" episode DBYS-104

(Continued from page 3)

Building Family Dasher Boards

The Goldberg soccer field needs some color and something to block the balls from going into the neighbor's yard. We came up with an idea that solved both problems. With some plywood, paint, stencils and stickers the kids can decorate their own dasher boards any way they like.

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Materials:

2 sheets of 1/2" pressure-treated plywood
four 8' pressure-treated 2x4
exterior paint
Super 77 glue
stickers
brace hinges
screws

Tools:

circular saw
drill and drill bits

	Figure A
	Figure B

1. Take two sheets of 1/2" pressure-treated plywood and cut each sheet in half the long way with a circular saw.

2. Build the supports: two 23" 2x4s bottom cut to 22-1/2 angle screw to plywood two per board 18" from each end.

3. Prime the boards with exterior gray primer, and paint with exterior paint in your choice of colors (figure A).

4. Decorate the boards any way you like. We had stencils made at local sign shop with the kids' names. After we painted them on, and we added all sorts of stickers with Super 77 spray cement. Once the stickers were in place, we coated the entire board with exterior polyurethane to protect them. When they were finished, we move them into place behind the goal (figure B).

Tip: If you don't have a stencil brush to dab you paint into the stencils, take a piece of duct tape and wrap it around the bristles of a standard paint brush, gathering them in a bunch at the end. Use the newly formed tip to apply your paint.

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Enjoy your soccer field!

Lining the Soccer Field

The dasher boards brought some color to the field but without lines around the goal box, it doesn't look much like a real field. We easily added the lines we needed to complete our goal box using an inexpensive athletic line striper.

Materials:

paint striper
white spray paint
4 stakes

Tools:

measuring tape
hammer

Note: We created a box that came out 10 feet from either side of the goal and ran 30 feet deep. You can line your field as big or small as you like depending on how much space you have.

1. Measure out 10' from both outside posts and use a stake to mark the measurements (figure C).

2. Then from both stakes measure out 30' on both sides. And again use stakes to mark the corners. Use a large T-square to make sure the lines are perpendicular to the back line (figure D).

3. Then simply connect the corners to form a goal box.

4. Use a string to connect each stake and then using the paint striper to line the box in front of your soccer goal.

Note: Roll the striper slowly along the string. This will give you a bright white stripe.

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RESOURCES :

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

Soccer Corner Flags
Website: www.eSoccerGoals.com