2000-11-05
Maybe it is time for FIFA to change their rules to adopt more rational SI
distances. Would anyone notice if the free kick was at 9 m instead of 9.15
m? In fact, does the player stand exactly at that distance of "close enough
to"? If the shoe he is wearing is 30 cm long, and he was at the 9.15 m mark
with the centre of his shoe, the toe would be at the 9 m mark. What part of
the foot or shoe must be at the 9.15 m mark? How critical is it? And if it
isn't that critical, why not just say 9 m?
What other type of sports rules in SI are overprecise that one can think of?
John
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
> Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Sunday, 2000-11-05 10:27
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Subject: [USMA:8995] IoS article: extra
>
>
> The on-line version of the IoS article I posted earlier does not
> include the following side-bar:
>
> "Britain is the last country in the world where imperial and metric
> battle for supremacy, leaving the public dazed and confused.
> +Brighton & Hove Council was forced to cover road signs because the
> distances were measured in metres.
> +Milk can be sold in pints - but only if it is delivered in a
> recyclable glass bottle.
> +Legal contracts must contain metric measures - unless it is a land
> deal, in which case acres will do.
> +Weights of new-born babies must be recorded in kilograms, but
> midwives invariably convert that to an imperial measurement.
> +Boxers are weighed in stones and pounds, and their reach measured in
> inches - unless they are amateur, in which case everything goes
> metric.
> +Footballers take penalty kicks from 12 yards out and retreat 10 yards
> at free kicks. But Fifa, the world governing body, says penalties are
> taken 11 metres out and players must stand nine metres and 15cm back
> for a free kick."
>
> Chris
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