LED floodlighting for small-sided pitches and mini pitches
For children's football the DFB gives pitches from 16 × 20 m to 55 × 35 m; a DFB mini pitch measures 20 × 13 m. The benchmark for the lighting is the football values of DIN EN 12193: 75 lx for training, leisure and school sport, 200 lx for competitions at a medium level. On the small area, what matters most is the mast position, light from several directions and consideration for neighbours.
As of:
Send an enquiry for small-sided pitch lightingWhat makes the small pitch different
Number and height of masts
A small-sided pitch can manage with fewer and lower masts than a full-size pitch.
Uniform, without hard shadows
The floodlight beams must overlap so that no part of the pitch is lit from only one direction.
Glare from high balls
The floodlights should be mounted as high as possible so that looking at high balls causes as little glare as possible.
Consideration for neighbours
Directing light precisely onto the pitch and limiting operating hours are effective measures against disturbance.
Switching by occupancy
Time programmes and scenes ensure that the pitch is only lit when it is in use.
GR ≤50
Glare rating, strictest level
10 no glare90 unbearable
Glare at close range
On a small pitch the mast is never far away. We therefore determine mast height, tilt and optics so that looking at high balls causes as little glare as possible.
- Mast height
- Tilt
- Optics
- Distance to the pitch
Light by playing level
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75lx | Training, leisure, school sport | Class III | U 0.5 | GR ≤ 55 |
| 200lx | Competitions at medium level | Class II | U 0.6 | GR ≤ 50 |
What do the values mean?
Lux tells you how much light reaches the pitch. Uniformity shows how evenly it is distributed, and the glare rating how strongly the floodlights cause glare.
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Illuminance (lx): How much light falls on a surface. 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given.
Uniformity (U): Lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer the value is to 1, the more even the light.
Glare rating (GR): Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare at outdoor facilities, on a scale from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare).
Suitable floodlights
Small-sided pitches can often be lit with the STL963.
- Series 12
STL963
Smaller installations and few masts: tennis, padel, training pitches.
- Colour temperature
- 3000 K, 4000 K, 5000 K
- Power
- 960 W
- Weight
- 20 kg
Datasheet as PDF (459 KB)
Frequently asked questions
How big is a small-sided pitch?
There is no standard size in practice. For children's football the DFB gives 16 × 20 m and 25 × 20 m for the Bambini, 40 × 25 m for 5-a-side and 55 × 35 m for 7-a-side. A DFB mini pitch measures 20 × 13 m, that is 260 m². A planning overview from the state sports federations assumes 968 m² of usable sports area for a small-sided pitch.
How many lux does a small-sided pitch need?
For training, leisure and school sport 75 lx at a uniformity of 0.5, for competitions at a medium level 200 lx at 0.6. The 75 lx is a maintained value: the system should still deliver this brightness as it ages, so when new it is higher.
How does it differ from a full-size pitch?
Mainly the area, and with it the masts. For new full-size pitches, a guide from three state football associations recommends 6 to 8 masts, usually 14 to 16 m high. A published lighting report assumes four masts with a luminaire height of 12 m for a small-sided pitch of 50 × 70 m, and six masts of 16 m for the full-size pitch next to it.
Until when may the floodlights stay on?
That is governed by the permit and the individual case. The LAI guidance lowers the reference values from 10 pm: in residential areas the value for the increase in brightness at the window falls from 3 lx to 1 lx. Ask your immission control authority early.
Send an enquiry for small-sided pitch lighting
Location and contact details are enough. We will get back to you with a first assessment for your field.
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