Painting field from scratch

How does 3-4-5 work

I just painted the field today, have been doing it for about 10 years.

We have "strings" that are 53.3 yards. If you dont have these, take either some rope or some kite string and measure out 53 and a third.

You should have 2 length lines and atleast 3 width lines.

Box up the field, then put one width line on the 50 yard line. This prevents your length lines from bowing in.

If you have field goal post to square up the field with, take your width line, fold it in half. find the middle, then make sure that is right in the center of the field at 90 feet.

Where do I measure 3,4,5

If you go this route, and are still a bit weary about painting a field. I would do it once in paint so you can visibly see your field came out well before you permanently scorch your field for the year.  I recall a thread similar to this one in the past, where someone did it with gas AND really screwed up marking their field so they had a big mess on their hands. 

Try to use any landmarks you can for reference. I paint our practice field from scratch and use the track around it to make sure my lines are straight.

Finding the corners is the key. I would look into hiring somebody to find those corners for you.

Once you get that you can literally just use tape measures to finish up the field. The main thing I want to sayis once you find the corners make sure you mark them with markers in the ground or piece of metal in the ground and once you find all your lines do the same.

The head of the organiz'n used this method where I coached in 2007.  However, he used a much longer base & could make it exact.

First lay down a sideline, 360'  (120 yds.) long.  Then stick a stake down 120' from one end. i.e. at the 30 yard line.  Attach a 200' string from there and at the other end a spray paint can, and spray an arc, same as you would using a compass and pencil in geometry, past approximately where you think the corner of the other side would be.  Then move your stake to the end of your 1st line (corner of end zone) and mark 160' of string from there.  Walk it along stretched out until you intersect the arc you put down with the paint; that intersection is the opposite corner of the end zone.

You can do this without painting the arc if you have 2 strings & 2 stakes.

First, if you don't have corners already set, I'd get it done professionally. It would be worth the cost.

Once you have the field laid out, I'd put an 18 inch piece of lead pipe set in each corner about 3 inches below the surface. I'd cap each end of the pipe on top.

Then I'd have each 10 yard segment marked and either have another piece of pipe or a 20 or 30 penny nail set in the ground. That way you can come back and use a metal detector to find the corners and each 10 yard mark and then locate it with a screw driver. (Hitting the head/cap)

Then the only thing you have to measure out is each 5 yard increment. Be sure to paint each pipe/ nail with white paint.

Gotta love them Pythagorean triples. 

I'm all about that 5-12-13