2000-11-07
As I stated in other postings I didn't know enough about the game, to
advocate changing 9.15 m to 10 m. I don't have a problem with any whole
metre, so 9 m would not appear as converted or irrational to me. Nor, do I
have a problem with half metres, such as 2.5 m or 5.5 m.
But, I don't like 2.44 m or 7.32 m or 9.15 m, etc.
I just wonder if players or officials in metric countries follow these
numbers to their exactness or round them to convenient whole metres. Since
I'm told nobody comes out and measures the distance, who would know if the
player was 9 or 9.15 or 10 m from the reference point. And since you said
the 9.15 m was a minimum, then a player standing 10 m away is perfectly
legal.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of PARKYN JOHN
Sent: Tuesday, 2000-11-07 08:03
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:9048] re: sports rules
kilopascal wrote:
>
> 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?
>
>-----
Hello:
Yes FIFA is guilty of fuzzy (archaic) math. The 'world game'(!) uses
all sorts of funny SI numbers based on round imperial numbers. Probably
the main reason things don't change is because UK reps hold great sway
on FIFA rules committees.
Among the culprits are:
- width of goal is 7.32 m (based on 8 yards).... wouldn't 7.5 m be nice
or 8 m if we wanted more goals
- height of goal is 2.44 m (based on 8 feet)... how about 2.5 m... 2 m
and 3 m out of the question
- depth of goal-area from post is 5.5 m (based on 6 yards)... should be
5 m or 6m
- depth of penalty area from goal post is 16.5 m (based on 18 yards)...
should be 15 m or 16 m or 17 m
- distance of opponent @ kick-off, free-kick, corner-kick, penalty-kick
is minimum of 9.15 m (based on 10 yards)... should be 10 m (not 9 m as
writer above wants)
- distance of ball from goal is 11 m (based on 12 yards)... leave at 11m
or make 10m or 12 m... maybe 11m is the ideal number. We shouldn't
insist on super rounded numbers if it affects the integrity of the
game... Safety, fairness must prevail
- pressures and mass of ball are all funny numbers.
In its arrogance (old boys network), FIFA based in Zurich (www.fifa.com)
much like IOC, won't listen to individuals. FIFA only listens to
national association.
Any idea to crack the FIFA nut is welcome. We mustn't give up hope on
this one... Remember rugby changed the 25-yard line to 22-metre line...
Perhaps a 20 m or 25 m line would be better, but as suggested above, it
could be that 22 m is best for the game. One thing's for sure... If
rugby rules were being formulated today in an increasingly metric world,
the line would be would be 20 or 25 m out from the posts.
Regards,
John Parkyn
President, Canadian Metric Association
