Sharples School
Pitch Setup

Banner example This shows the Bolton Town welcome banner attached to the green metal perimeter fence, as referenced in the main layout. The first manager on site should put this up once the storeroom has been opened.

Parents are asked to help set up their child’s pitch while the coaches warm up the players. Arrive at least 30 minutes before kick-off, check what still needs doing and then get the correct pitch ready.

Use these photographs to identify the correct equipment and return it to the same place after the match. The pitch-specific sections below explain exactly what your pitch needs.

Main collection point

1. 1Grass-pitch Respect barriers
2. 23v3 marker tape — 1 pitch per bag
3. 3Astro cones and purple bag

Use the site map below to find your team’s pitch and the correct spectator side. Important: do not set up on the first 11-a-side grass pitch you come to when entering the grass area. This is marked on the map as “PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS PITCH”. Not sure which pitch you’re on? Check with your team manager or coach before moving any equipment.

Tap to enlarge

Grass pitch layout — spectator areas, coach areas, club banner and storeroom are all marked.

Small-sided pitches

Pitch 1 and Pitch 2 can be set up in different ways depending on the fixture: as 3-a-side, 5-a-side or combined as one 7-a-side pitch.

Choose the surface you are setting up. Each section now keeps the equipment, layout, set-up and pack-away information together.

Grass

01

What equipment do I need?

3v3 marker tape bag

The 3v3 marker tape is kept in this dedicated bag. One bag marks out one pitch. Return the tape and all four securing pegs to the bag after the match.

3v3 folding goal

These are the Samba Aluminium Folding goals used for 3-a-side pitches. Use one at each end of the pitch.

Respect barrier

Run it along the spectator touchline only. Spectators must stay behind the barrier and must never stand near or behind either goal.

Securing pegs

Use the four pegs supplied with the 3v3 marker tape to secure the extra corner strings into the grass. Check all four pegs are returned to the marker-tape bag after the match.

Small corner flags, spikes & bases

The club has 10 small metal spikes for the little corner-flag poles. Use the spikes wherever possible. If there are not enough spikes for every corner, use the weighted rubber bases for the remaining flags.

Rubber centre spots

Use a rubber spot to mark the centre of each 3v3 pitch. The rubber spots are kept in the Astro purple bag. This bag contains rubber spots only and does not have an equipment list.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• Lay out the black seatbelt-style 3v3 marker tape to form the pitch boundary. One bag marks out one pitch.
• At each corner, use the extra loop of string attached to the marker tape and secure it into the grass with a dedicated peg. Use 4 pegs in total — one at each corner.
• Important: use the dedicated pegs to keep the marker tape in place. Do not use the corner flags or their spikes to secure the tape.
• Once the marker tape is secure, place the small corner flags at the corners as position markers only. Use the small metal spikes wherever possible; if there are not enough, use the weighted rubber bases for the remaining flags.
• Set up the folding goals with one goal at each end.
• Place a rubber spot at the centre of each 3v3 pitch. These are stored in the Astro purple bag. Yellow cones are not required on the grass 3v3 pitches.
• Keep the Respect barrier outside the boundary of the existing grass pitch, so spectators stay off the playing surface.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Remove the small corner flags carefully. Pull any metal spikes straight up, detach any weighted rubber bases, and return all flags, spikes and bases used.
• Dismantle each folding goal by unfastening the back pole, then return each goal to its black mesh bag.
• Return the 3v3 marker tape to its individual bag and check that all 4 pegs are inside the bag.
• Collect all rubber centre spots and return them to the Astro purple bag.
• Manager check: make sure all rubber spots used have been returned. The Astro purple bag contains rubber spots only and does not have an equipment list.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

Astro

01

What equipment do I need?

3v3 marker tape bag

The 3v3 marker tape is kept in this dedicated bag. One bag marks out one pitch. Return the tape to the bag after the match.

3v3 folding goal

These are the Samba Aluminium Folding goals used for 3-a-side pitches. Use one at each end of the pitch.

Small corner flag and base

Small corner flag and weighted FORZA base used on the Astro pitches.

Astro Respect barrier cones

Use the large yellow cones to create the spectator Respect barrier along the spectator side. These cones are stored on the black cone holder and are separate from the Astro purple bag.

Astro purple bag — rubber spots

The Astro purple bag contains rubber spots only and does not have an equipment list. Use the rubber spots to mark the centre of the 3v3 pitches and return every spot after use.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• Use seatbelt-style 3v3 marker tape to mark out the pitch boundary.
• Hold the tape down at each corner with the small Bolton Town corner flags with weighted bases.
• Use the Samba Aluminium Folding goals, with one goal at each end.
• Place a rubber spot at the centre of each 3v3 pitch. The rubber spots are stored in the Astro purple bag.
• Up to 4 x 3-a-side pitches can be set up on Pitch 1 as shown.
• Create the Respect barrier using the large yellow cones along the spectator side. Spectators must not stand behind the goals.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Detach the small corner flags from their bases. Make sure each flag remains tied to its pole and store the poles upright with the flags at the top. The flags do not need to be wrapped around the poles.
• Dismantle each folding goal by unfastening the back pole, then return each goal to its black mesh bag.
• Return each 3v3 marker tape to its individual bag. The four grass securing pegs are not used on Astro, but check that they remain inside the bag.
• Collect all rubber centre spots and return them to the Astro purple bag.
• Collect the large yellow Respect barrier cones and return them to the black cone holder.
• Manager check: make sure all rubber spots used have been returned. The Astro purple bag contains rubber spots only and does not have an equipment list.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

Choose the surface you are setting up. Each section now keeps the equipment, layout, set-up and pack-away information together.

Grass

01

What equipment do I need?

Samba goal

Assemble it correctly, fit the net securely and colour-match the frame sections. All Samba goals are double bagged to help protect them.

Samba goal bags

Each pitch needs 2 Samba goal bag sets — one for each goal. Each Samba goal must be double-bagged to help protect it, with the older bag on the outside.

Netting holdall

The club uses labelled black holdalls for the goal netting. Each bag should contain 2 sets of netting. The securing pegs are stored separately in the correctly labelled purple bag, not in the netting holdall.

Full-size corner flag

For grass pitches, fit the grass spike to the corner flag before use. Push it into the ground vertically and, when packing away, pull it straight up — do not drag it sideways or the spike may snap.

Flat circular markers

Use these for the goalkeeper areas, centre spot and halfway touchline markers where required.

Goalkeeper area markers

Use the flat white markers to mark the goalkeeper areas on the 5v5 grass pitch.

Respect barrier

Run it along the spectator touchline only. Spectators must stay behind the barrier and must never stand near or behind either goal.

Pitch marker cones & purple bag

Use the appropriate yellow cones to mark the pitch and keep the flat circular and other pitch markers in the labelled purple bag. Return the cones to the black holder after use. Each purple bag is clearly labelled with the equipment that should be inside it, so check the contents against the label before returning it.

Horseshoe pegs

Use the Horseshoe pegs to secure the Samba goals to the ground. Check they are all returned after the match.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• Use cones to mark out the pitch following the grass layout shown.
• Place four full-size corner flags, one at each corner of the pitch, using the grass spikes provided.
• Set up the Samba goals at each end and secure each goal to the ground using the Horseshoe pegs provided in the goal bags.
• Mark the goalkeeper areas with the flat white markers.
• Mark the centre spot and the halfway line on each touchline using flat circular markers. This helps younger players know where to move back to when following the retreat rule.
• Keep the Respect barrier completely outside the existing 11-a-side pitch markings and on the spectator side only.
• Ensure no parents or spectators stand within the existing 11-a-side pitch. No spectators should stand near or behind either goal.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Remove the corner flags carefully. Pull grass spikes straight up and make sure each spike is still joined to its pole before the flags are returned.
• Fully dismantle the Samba goals and return them to their storage bags as shown in the Samba goal section.
• Collect all pitch-marking cones, spots and flat circular markers used for the pitch.
• Return the pitch-marking equipment to the correct, clearly labelled purple pitch bag. Put the cones back onto the black cone holder and tie the purple bag to the black holder.
• Manager check: make sure all equipment shown for this pitch is present before the bag is returned.
• Coil the Respect barrier neatly and return all poles and rope to the correct storage bag.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

Astro

01

What equipment do I need?

Small corner flag and base

Small corner flag and weighted FORZA base used on the Astro pitches.

Flat circular markers

Use these to mark the centre spot and the halfway line on each touchline for the retreat rule.

Astro cones & purple marker bag

The large yellow cones create the Respect barrier. The flat circular and other pitch markers are stored in the labelled purple bag, with the yellow cones kept on the black holder. Each purple bag is clearly labelled with the equipment that should be inside it, so check the contents against the label before returning it.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• Use half of the astro area as shown. The goals are already in place on the astro pitch.
• Use the small corner flags with bases, placing one at each of the four corners.
• No flat markers are needed for goalkeeper areas on the astro.
• Mark the centre spot and the halfway line on each touchline using flat circular markers. This helps younger players know where to move back to when following the retreat rule.
• Create the Respect barrier using the large yellow cones along the spectator side only.
• Spectators must remain behind the yellow-cone Respect barrier and must not stand near or behind either goal.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Detach the small corner flags from their bases. Keep the flags tied to the poles and store them upright with the flags at the top; do not wrap the flags around the poles.
• Collect all flat circular markers and other pitch-marking equipment used for the pitch.
• Collect the large yellow cones used for the Respect barrier and return them to the correct cone holder.
• Return the pitch-marking equipment to the correct, clearly labelled purple pitch bag. Put the cones back onto the black cone holder and tie the purple bag to the black holder.
• Manager check: make sure all equipment shown for this pitch is present before the bag is returned.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

Choose the surface you are setting up. Each section now keeps the equipment, layout, set-up and pack-away information together.

Grass

01

What equipment do I need?

Samba goal

Assemble it correctly, fit the net securely and colour-match the frame sections. All Samba goals are double bagged to help protect them.

Samba goal bags

Each pitch needs 2 Samba goal bag sets — one for each goal. Each Samba goal must be double-bagged to help protect it, with the older bag on the outside.

Netting holdall

The club uses labelled black holdalls for the goal netting. Each bag should contain 2 sets of netting. The securing pegs are stored separately in the correctly labelled purple bag, not in the netting holdall.

Horseshoe pegs

Use the Horseshoe pegs to secure the Samba goals to the ground. Check they are all returned after the match.

Full-size corner flag

For grass pitches, fit the grass spike to the corner flag before use. Push it into the ground vertically and, when packing away, pull it straight up — do not drag it sideways or the spike may snap.

Flat circular markers

Use these for the centre spot and penalty spots where required on the 7v7 grass setup.

Goalkeeper area markers

Use the flat white markers to mark the goalkeeper areas on the 7v7 grass pitch.

Respect barrier

Run it along the spectator touchline only. Spectators must stay behind the barrier and must never stand near or behind either goal.

Touchline cones & purple marker bag

Use the yellow cones required to mark the touchlines. The flat circular and other pitch markers are stored in the labelled purple bag; return the cones to the black holder after use. Each purple bag is clearly labelled with the equipment that should be inside it, so check the contents against the label before returning it.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• One 7-a-side pitch can be set up in each half of the existing grass 11-a-side pitch (Pitches 3 and 4).
• Leave a clear gap between Pitches 3 and 4 for coaches and substitutes.
• Use the touchline cones to mark the pitch boundary as shown in the layout image.
• Place four full-size corner flags, one at each corner, with the grass spikes fitted.
• Set up the Samba goals at each end of the pitch and secure each goal to the ground using the Horseshoe pegs.
• Mark the goalkeeper areas with the flat white goalkeeper-area markers.
• Use flat circular markers to mark the centre spot and both penalty spots.
• Keep the Respect barrier completely outside the existing 11-a-side pitch markings and on the spectator side only.
• No parents or spectators should stand within the existing 11-a-side pitch, or near or behind either goal.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Remove the corner flags carefully. Pull the grass spikes straight up and make sure each spike is still joined to its pole before the flags are returned.
• Remove and collect the Horseshoe pegs, then fully dismantle the Samba goals and return them to their storage bags as shown in the Samba goal section.
• Collect all touchline cones, goalkeeper-area markers and flat circular markers used for the pitch.
• Return the pitch-marking equipment to the correct, clearly labelled purple pitch bag. Check the contents against the label, put the cones back onto the black cone holder, and tie the purple bag to the black holder.
• Manager check: make sure all equipment shown for this pitch is present before the equipment is returned.
• Coil the Respect barrier neatly and return all poles and rope to the correct storage bag.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

Astro

01

What equipment do I need?

Full-size corner flag

Use the full-size Bolton Town corner flag with the rubber base for the 7v7 astro setup.

Flat circular markers

Use 3 markers: one for the centre spot and two on the halfway line to help with kick-off and the retreat rule.

Astro cones & purple marker bag

Use the large yellow cones for the Respect barrier and the yellow cones for the touchlines. The three flat circular halfway/centre markers and other pitch markers are stored in the labelled purple bag. Each purple bag is clearly labelled with the equipment that should be inside it, so check the contents against the label before returning it.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• Set out the pitch as shown in the astro layout image. The goals and nets are already in place on the astro pitch.
• Use full-size corner flags with bases at the four corners — do not use the mini corner flags for this pitch.
• Use the semi-circles already marked on the astro as the goalkeeper areas. No flat goalkeeper-area markers are used on the 7v7 astro.
• Use 3 flat circular markers to make the halfway line clear: one for the centre spot and two additional halfway-line markers to help players position themselves for kick-off and the retreat rule.
• Use 7 cones to mark off each touchline, following the layout shown in the image.
• Create the Respect barrier using the large yellow cones along the spectator side only.
• Spectators must remain behind the yellow-cone Respect barrier and must not stand near or behind either goal.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Detach the full-size corner flags from their bases and return both the flags and bases with the pitch equipment.
• Collect all pitch-marking cones and flat circular markers used for the pitch.
• Collect the large yellow cones used for the Respect barrier and return them to the correct cone holder.
• Return the pitch-marking equipment to the correct, clearly labelled purple pitch bag. Check the contents against the label, put the cones back onto the black cone holder, and tie the purple bag to the black holder.
• Manager check: make sure all equipment shown for this pitch is present before the bag is returned.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

The 9v9 matchday setup at Sharples is on grass, so all of the information for Pitch 5 is now kept together below.

Grass

01

What equipment do I need?

Respect barrier

Run it along the spectator touchline only. Spectators must stay behind the barrier and must never stand near or behind either goal.

Full-size corner flag

For grass pitches, fit the grass spike to the corner flag before use. Push it into the ground vertically and, when packing away, pull it straight up — do not drag it sideways or the spike may snap.

9-a-side peg bag

Bring this labelled purple bag to the pitch with the rest of the 9v9 equipment. It contains the pegs used to secure the goal nets. Check the contents against the bag label before returning it.

9-a-side netting holdall

The 9-a-side goal nets are stored in a labelled black holdall. Each holdall should contain 2 sets of netting. The net-securing pegs are stored separately in the labelled purple 9-a-side peg bag.

02

What should the pitch look like?

03

How do I set it up?

• The pitch is already fully marked out on the grass.
• The goalposts are fixed in position.
• Fit the nets to both fixed goals and secure the nets using the pegs provided.
• The net pegs are stored in the labelled purple bag, not with the nets, so this bag must be brought to the pitch with the rest of the equipment.
• Fit the grass spikes to the corner flags and place a flag at all four corners.
• Set the Respect barrier along the spectator side only.
• Keep the Respect barrier outside the 9-a-side pitch boundary.
• Spectators must never stand near or behind either goal.

04

How do I pack it away?

• Check with your manager whether your pitch needs to be taken down or whether it is being used by another team after your match.
• Remove the corner flags carefully. Pull the grass spikes straight up and make sure each spike is still joined to its pole before the flags are returned.
• Remove the net-securing pegs, then remove and pack away both goal nets.
• Return all net pegs to the correctly labelled 9-a-side purple peg bag and check its contents against the label.
• Return both sets of netting to the correctly labelled black netting holdall.
• Manager check: make sure all equipment shown for the 9v9 pitch is present before it is returned.
• Coil the Respect barrier neatly and return all poles and rope to the correct storage bag.
• Clear away any rubbish and check the pitch and surrounding area for left kit, belongings or Bolton Town equipment.
• Return all kit and equipment to the area outside the storeroom.

The Respect barrier should always run along the spectator side of the pitch — never near or behind either goal.

Before you leave, use this quick final check so nothing is missed.