How to Paint the End Zone

A proper American football field, whether located on a grass or artificial turf surface, is clearly marked with a number of defining characteristics. Typically, it has white lines every five yards, small ticks every one yard and large numbering every 10 yards. Each end zone of a football field is clearly marked by a perimeter line and can contain a simple or elaborate design. When painting an end zone, it is important to be able to execute a flawless simple design before attempting something fancier.

Things You'll Need

  • Paint
  • Paint sprayer
  • String
  • Assistants
  • Measuring tape
  • Wet rag
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure the end zone is cut to the appropriate length if it's made of natural grass. Paint only should be applied after the grass has been cut.

    • 2

      Add white paint to the reservoir of a portable, airless-style paint sprayer.

    • 3

      Recruit two assistants to help with the painting. Have them hold either end of a long length of string along the goal line. The string should be held taught and square, one to two inches above where you want to paint.

    • 4

      Spray one length of paint along the goal line directly over the string. Depending on the width of the spray nozzle of the airless sprayer, you might need to make two or more passes to make the goal line wide enough. The goal line should be four inches wide.

    • 5

      Repeat the string-holding and spraying process along the end zone sidelines and across the back of the end zone. When finished, the end zone will be framed by a straight white line. At minimum, this completes the job. The end zone sidelines should be four inches wide and the line across the back of the end zone should be at least four inches wide.

    • 6

      Choose the designs you'll paint in the end zone. A simple, common design is the team's city or school name in one end zone, and the team's name in the other end zone. If painting words is too ambitious for your expertise, a simple striped or checkered end zone is an option.

    • 7

      Calculate the number of letters you want to add to the area, thus deciding how large the letters will be and how much space will be between each. A regulation high school football end zone is 30 feet deep and 160 feet wide, but it might be a good idea to measure your end zone in case it is not regulation.

    • 8

      Paint the center letter in the word you've chosen directly in the middle of the end zone. For example, if the team name is "Bears," paint the letter "A" first, in the center. If the word you're painting is an even number of letters, ensure the space between the middle two letters is in the center of the end zone. Paint the letters by having your assistants hold the string accordingly, along each side of each letter. The squarer you paint each letter, the easier it will be to have a uniform look. For example, if you're painting the letter "E," begin by stretching the string from the top to the bottom of the vertical side of the letter. Paint that side, then measure the center of the side. Have the assistants hold the string perpendicular from your first line to paint the center of the letter. Follow this style to paint the other lines on the letter. If applicable, have another assistant watch from overhead, in such a location as the grandstands or from the window of an adjacent building. This "eye in the sky" can provide feedback about your work.

    • 9

      Add second coats of paint to your work, if needed.