A practical guide for sports clubs, academies, schools and commercial facilities planning an enclosed small-sided football project.
LDK Sports Facilities | Updated August 2026 | Approx. 8 min read
LDK glass soccer cage design for an enclosed commercial football facility.
Building a 5-a-side football pitch involves more than laying artificial turf and installing two goals. For a commercial sports center, football academy, school or community facility, the base, drainage, playing surface, enclosure, access, goals and lighting need to work as one system.
This guide explains the main decisions involved in 5-a-side football pitch construction, how common soccer cage systems differ, what affects project cost and what information buyers should prepare before requesting a quotation.
Quick takeaway Start with the site and operating model, then define the dimensions, base, turf, enclosure, goals and lighting together. The cheapest component-by-component quotation is not always the lowest-cost project once installation, drainage, shipping and long-term maintenance are included.
What this guide covers
- Site use, pitch dimensions and operating requirements
- Base construction, drainage and football-specific artificial turf
- Mesh, tempered-glass and portable enclosure options
- Goals, gates, lighting and outdoor corrosion protection
- Project cost factors, quotation inputs and common buyer questions
1. Start with the site, users and operating model
Before selecting materials, define how the pitch will actually be used. A football academy, a school, a community park and a commercial rental venue may all need different priorities.
- Indoor or outdoor installation
- Available installation length and width
- Player group: children, academy players, recreational adults or commercial customers
- Expected operating hours and usage frequency
- Training, casual play, leagues, events or commercial rental
- Permanent installation or portable / modular structure
- Local climate, rainfall, humidity and corrosion exposure
2. Confirm the pitch dimensions before production
There is no single universal 5-a-side cage size for every project. The final dimensions should follow the available site, intended users and local requirements. If you are still comparing different formats, see our commercial soccer cage sizing guide.
Example LDK 43 m x 20 m layout showing overall length and width. It is a customizable commercial cage example, not a universal 5-a-side standard.
Dimension note The 43 m x 20 m drawing is an example project layout. For an actual 5-a-side project, confirm the available length and width before the supplier prepares the final design.
3. Build the base and drainage for long-term performance
The playing surface is only as reliable as the structure underneath it. Outdoor football projects need a stable, level base that can carry the finished system and move water away efficiently. Poor preparation can lead to depressions, uneven wear, standing water and premature turf failure.
A typical solution may combine compacted subgrade, stone or stabilized base layers, concrete or cement-treated layers, drainage pipes and the final artificial turf. Exact thicknesses and materials should be confirmed according to local soil conditions, climate and engineering requirements.
LDK installation-system reference showing an example artificial-turf base and drainage structure.
4. Choose artificial turf for football use, not only appearance
Commercial football surfaces usually receive far more traffic than decorative landscaping grass. Turf selection affects ball movement, traction, player comfort, drainage, wear resistance and maintenance workload.
When comparing turf options, pay attention to the complete system rather than only the visible green fibers. Useful specifications can include pile height, fiber material, density, backing structure, water permeability, infill requirements and optional shock-pad systems.
LDK supplies artificial turf systems for soccer cages as part of customized football-facility projects.
5. Match the enclosure to the venue
The enclosure changes how the facility looks, how spectators see the game, how the ball stays in play and how easy the system is to relocate or customize. Three common directions are mesh, glass and portable modular cages.
LDK design images from sportscomplexcn.com: mesh, glass and portable detachable soccer cage systems.
Mesh soccer cage
Mesh fencing is a practical choice for schools, academies, community facilities and cost-sensitive commercial projects. It provides airflow, clear sightlines and reliable ball containment with a relatively straightforward structure. See the LDK Flexible Mesh Soccer Cage for an example configuration.
Tempered-glass soccer cage
Glass systems are suited to projects where spectator visibility, premium appearance and rebound play are important. Tempered-glass lower walls can keep the ball in play while maintaining an open visual connection between the pitch and surrounding venue. See the LDK outdoor glass soccer cage for 5-a-side football.
Portable detachable soccer cage
Temporary events, schools and facilities that may change layout later can benefit from modular systems that are easier to assemble, dismantle or relocate. See the LDK Portable Detachable Soccer Cage for a current design example.
6. Plan goals, gates and ball containment together
Goals should not be treated as an isolated accessory. In an enclosed football cage, the goals, side structure, player entrances, service access, upper netting and corner details need to be coordinated before production.
- Goal dimensions and integrated / independent design
- Player entrance positions and clear opening width
- Maintenance or emergency access
- Side-wall and upper-netting height
- Connections between frames, boards, glass or mesh panels
LDK also supplies soccer goal systems that can be specified alongside a cage project.
7. Design lighting around actual operating hours
For a commercial venue, lighting directly affects how many hours the pitch can operate. Evening training and rental sessions can improve venue utilization, so lighting should be planned with the structure rather than added at the end.
- Pitch dimensions and required coverage
- Fixture quantity and mounting height
- Beam distribution and glare control
- Shadow reduction across the playing area
- Indoor / outdoor electrical requirements
- Structural coordination between poles and enclosure frames
8. Specify corrosion protection for outdoor projects
Outdoor cages are exposed to rain, sunlight, humidity and changing temperatures. Coastal or tropical locations may require more attention to corrosion resistance. Buyers should confirm structural material, galvanization or coating, fastener material, UV resistance and maintenance expectations during the design stage.
This is also why the destination country and city matter when requesting a quotation: the same enclosure concept may need different protection depending on the installation environment.
How much does a 5-a-side football pitch cost?
There is no meaningful single global price for a complete 5-a-side football pitch. The final budget depends on what is included in the scope and how much local civil work is required.
- Pitch size: more area means more turf, enclosure material and structural support.
- Enclosure system: mesh, glass, boards and portable structures have different material and installation requirements.
- Turf system: fiber, density, backing, infill and shock-pad options affect cost.
- Foundation and drainage: existing ground conditions can change local civil-work requirements.
- Lighting: fixture quantity, poles and electrical work add to project scope.
- Goals and accessories: gates, benches, seating and branding should be included when comparing quotations.
- Shipping and installation: package volume, destination and local labor can materially change the delivered cost.
The most useful comparison is therefore not “Which quotation is cheapest?” but “What does each quotation actually include?”
A simple way to shortlist the system School / community facility -> Mesh cage
Premium commercial club -> Tempered-glass cage
Temporary event / relocatable venue -> Portable modular cage
Cost-sensitive long-term project -> Mesh or board-based system
What should you send before requesting a quote?
A supplier can only recommend the right system if the project brief is clear. Prepare these details before asking for a quotation:
- Project country and city
- Available installation length and width
- Indoor or outdoor installation
- Intended users and business model
- Preferred enclosure type, if known
- Whether artificial turf is required
- Whether evening lighting is required
- Any branding, colors, seating or other customization
- Site drawings, CAD files or clear photos if available
See how soccer cages are used in real facilities
Product drawings are useful for specification, but completed projects show how the system works in a real venue. LDK’s Global Projects section includes football-cage installations for different countries and applications.
LDK indoor soccer cage project for a youth football academy in Mexico. Source: sportscomplexcn.com Global Projects.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a 5-a-side football pitch be?
There is no single size that suits every commercial project. Confirm the available site, target users, local requirements and preferred operating format before the final drawing is prepared. The 43 m x 20 m layout shown above is an example, not a universal standard.
Which enclosure is best for a soccer cage?
Mesh is practical for schools, academies and cost-sensitive projects; tempered glass is suitable for premium venues that prioritize visibility and rebound play; portable modular systems are useful when relocation or temporary installation is important.
What base is required under artificial turf?
The pitch needs a stable, level base and an appropriate drainage design. Exact layers and thicknesses should be determined from local soil, rainfall, engineering and installation requirements.
Can the same soccer cage be used indoors and outdoors?
The overall concept may be similar, but structural protection, anchoring, drainage, lighting and electrical requirements can differ. Always identify the installation environment when requesting a quotation.
Why is there no fixed global price for a 5-a-side pitch?
The final cost depends on pitch size, enclosure type, turf system, foundation and drainage, lighting, accessories, shipping destination and local installation scope. Compare quotations by included scope, not price alone.
From product selection to a complete football facility
A 5-a-side football pitch should be designed as one project rather than a collection of unrelated components. The enclosure affects goals and access; pitch dimensions affect lighting; climate affects the structure; and the base affects the turf. Planning these systems together reduces conflicts during manufacturing and installation.
Planning a 5-a-side football pitch? Send your country, available space, indoor/outdoor requirement and preferred cage type. LDK can help define a suitable enclosure, turf, goal and lighting configuration for the project.
Contact LDK for a custom football pitch solution
