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Maths Adventures

Football maths quest: perimeter

A story-led junior maths adventure using scores, tables and stadium measures to measure fences, walls and safe zones around places.

Quick answer

Perimeter is the total distance around the edge of a shape. You can measure it by adding up all the sides.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know how to measure the perimeter of football pitches, stadium fences, and safe zones using simple addition. You will be able to:
  • Measure the distance around any shape by adding up all its sides
  • Use real-world examples like football pitches and stadium walls
  • Work out the perimeter of rectangles and other shapes
  • Understand how perimeter helps keep people safe at football events

Why this matters

When you go to a football match, the stadium needs safe zones and fences around the pitch. The people who plan these areas need to know how much fencing they need. That's where perimeter comes in! Perimeter helps us:
  • Plan how much fencing to buy for a stadium
  • Measure how far you run around a football pitch
  • Work out how big a safe zone needs to be
  • Understand how much space different shapes take up
Whether you're building a football pitch, designing a safe area, or just playing in the park, perimeter helps you understand how much space you have around the edges.

How it works

To find the perimeter of any shape, you simply add up all the sides around the outside. Here's how:
  1. Look at the shape - Find all the sides that make up the outside edge
  2. Measure each side - Write down how long each side is
  3. Add them all together - Use addition to find the total distance
For a rectangle (like a football pitch), you can use this shortcut:
  • Perimeter = 2 × (length + width)
This means you add the length and width together, then multiply by 2. It's like counting the long sides twice and the short sides twice.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're planning a football pitch for a new school stadium. Here are some examples: Example 1: A rectangular football pitch
  • Length = 100 metres
  • Width = 50 metres
To find the perimeter:
  • 2 × (100 + 50) = 2 × 150 = 300 metres
That means you need 300 metres of fencing to go around the whole pitch. Example 2: A square safe zone
  • Each side = 25 metres
To find the perimeter:
  • 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 = 100 metres
Or using the shortcut:
  • 4 × 25 = 100 metres
Example 3: A triangular area
  • Side 1 = 30 metres
  • Side 2 = 40 metres
  • Side 3 = 50 metres
To find the perimeter:
  • 30 + 40 + 50 = 120 metres

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Football Stadium Planner You are a stadium planner for a new football stadium. You need to design safe zones around the pitch and calculate how much fencing you need. Step 1: The main football pitch is 100 metres long and 50 metres wide.
  • How much fencing do you need for the pitch?
Step 2: There's a safe zone around the pitch that's 10 metres wide on all sides.
  • How much fencing do you need for this safe zone?
Step 3: There's also a small entrance gate that's 3 metres wide.
  • How much fencing do you need for the whole area?
Step 4: The stadium also has a small training area that is 20 metres by 15 metres.
  • How much fencing do you need for this area?
Step 5: You want to create a safety zone around the training area that is 5 metres wide on all sides.
  • How much extra fencing do you need for this safety zone?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to measure all sides of a shape
    Why it happens: Kids might only measure 2 sides of a rectangle and think that's enough
    Fix: Always look around the outside of any shape and count every side
  • Mistake: Mixing up perimeter and area
    Why it happens: Both involve shapes and measurements, so they can get confused
    Fix: Remember perimeter is the distance around the edge, area is the space inside
  • Mistake: Adding the same side twice when using the shortcut
    Why it happens: When using 2 × (length + width), children might add the length twice and width twice separately
    Fix: Use the shortcut formula correctly: 2 × (length + width) = 2 × length + 2 × width
  • Mistake: Not using the correct units
    Why it happens: Kids might say "the perimeter is 20" instead of "the perimeter is 20 metres"
    Fix: Always remember to write the unit (metres, centimetres, etc.) after your answer

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with perimeter is easy and fun! Here are 5 simple ways to support them:
  1. Measure around objects at home - Use a tape measure or ruler to find the perimeter of a book, table, or room
  2. Play a perimeter game - Ask your child to find 3 things around the house that have a perimeter of about 100 cm
  3. Use real football examples - Look at football pitch dimensions on the internet and calculate their perimeters together
  4. Draw shapes and add sides - Draw different shapes and have your child add up the sides to find the perimeter
  5. Count steps around a shape - Walk around a square or rectangle and count each side to find the total distance
Remember to:
  • Encourage them to check their work
  • Ask them to explain their thinking
  • Don't worry if they make mistakes - they're learning!
  • Use real-world examples they enjoy (like football or their own home)

Practice questions

  1. What is the perimeter of a rectangle that is 8 metres long and 5 metres wide?
  2. Find the perimeter of a square with sides of 12 metres
  3. A football pitch is 100 metres long and 70 metres wide. What is its perimeter?
  4. Calculate the perimeter of a triangle with sides of 15, 20, and 25 metres
  5. What is the perimeter of a rectangle that is 15 metres long and 10 metres wide?
Answers:
  1. 26 metres (2 × (8 + 5) = 2 × 13 = 26)
  2. 48 metres (4 × 12 = 48)
  3. 340 metres (2 × (100 + 70) = 2 × 170 = 340)
  4. 60 metres (15 + 20 + 25 = 60)
  5. 50 metres (2 × (15 + 10) = 2 × 25 = 50)

FAQ

What is perimeter?

Perimeter is the total distance around the outside edge of a shape. You can find it by adding up all the sides.

How do you find the perimeter of a rectangle?

For a rectangle, add the length and width together, then multiply by 2. So if a rectangle is 6 metres long and 4 metres wide, the perimeter is 2 × (6 + 4) = 2 × 10 = 20 metres.

Can you find the perimeter of any shape?

Yes! You can find the perimeter of any shape by adding up all the sides that make up the outside edge.

Why is perimeter important for football?

Perimeter helps stadium planners know how much fencing or safety barriers they need around football pitches and safe zones to keep people safe.

How can I practice perimeter at home?

You can practice by measuring objects around your house, drawing shapes and calculating their perimeters, or playing games where you find objects with specific perimeters.