GB2372456A

GB2372456A - Goal with deflecting means behind the goal line

Info

Publication number: GB2372456A
Application number: GB0104646A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Caulfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-26
Filing date: 2001-02-26
Publication date: 2002-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-26
Also published as: HK1049290B; GB0104646D0; HK1049290A1; GB2372456B

Abstract

A goal 2 for a sports ground is provided with deflecting means 12 in the ground behind the goal line to deflect a ball in to the goal once all of the ball has passed over the line. The deflecting means may be provided by a sloping surface in the ground or by means of an angled component installed in the ground. Preferably the sloping surface provides an angle of 1-45{ and commences between 6-14cm behind the goal line. Optionally the slope is formed from reinforced plastics as an elongated triangle with fixing means by which it may be secured in the ground.

Description

Title: Improvements in and relating to sports grounds. DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to improvements in sports grounds, particularly but not exclusively to an improvement in a football pitch.

Generally, it is clear for everyone to see when a goal has been scored in football since the ball normally ends up in the back of the net. However, sometimes the ball can bounce back out of the net even though it was passed over the goal line, for example if it hits

the cross bar of the goal. In such a situation it may be difficult to "decide whether or not a goal has been scored. If the ball is all the way over but close to the goal-line, a goal has been scored but this can be very difficult to see. If the football match is being recorded, it is possible for viewers to see a replay of the recorded shot to observe whether or not a goal was scored but, by this time, it is too late to change the referee's decision, regardless of whether it was right or wrong. At present, there is no system or device available to the officials to assist them in deciding whether the ball completely crossed the line.

In the past this situation has arisen in relation to important football matches. This has initiated many arguments, often which go on for years, regarding whether or not a particular goal was achieved. For example, Geoff Hurst's famous and controversial goal in the 1996 World Cup final against Germany and the more recent shot of Ray Parlours which crashed off the bar for England against Finland in the World Cup qualifier in 2000. It would be beneficial if the officials and supporters had some way of knowing immediately whether or not the football had passed over the goal line.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement to a sports ground, in particular a football pitch, which overcomes, or at least alleviates, the abovementioned drawbacks.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a sports ground comprising a pitch having lines dividing the pitch into playing areas and having a goal at either end of the pitch, each goal having a pair of vertical goal posts linked at their upper ends by a horizontal crossbar and having a goal line along the ground between the goal posts, characterised in that deflecting means are provided in the ground behind the goal line to deflect a ball into the goal.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a goal comprising a pair of vertical goal posts linked at their upper ends by a horizontal crossbar and having a goal line along the ground between the goal posts, characterised in that the goal is provided with deflecting means in the ground behind the goal line to deflect a ball into the goal.

It is to be appreciated that the goal may also include a net extending from the goal posts and the crossbar.

The deflecting means is preferably a sloping surface. For example, the ground may be provided with a slope that extends downwardly from a given distance behind the goal line towards the back of the net. Alternatively, an angled component may be provided for installing in the ground to provide a sloping surface.

It is to be appreciated that the deflecting means should be provided at a distance behind the goal line that propels the ball into the goal only once all the ball is over the line. Preferably, the distance is approximately half the radius of the ball in play. For example, with respect to a football goal, the sloping surface preferably commences between 6 to 14 cm behind the goal line.

The angle of the sloping surface should be such as to provide the required deflection of the ball into the back of the net but not so steep that it may be potentially hazardous to the football players.

Preferably, the sloping surface provides an angle of between 1 to 45 , more preferably 10 to 40 .

A third aspect of the present invention provides an accessory for a sports ground, in particular a football pitch, the accessory comprising a unit for placement in the ground, the unit having a sloping surface to provide deflecting means.

Preferably an elongated triangle is provided for placing in the ground to provide a deflector. More preferably, the unit has two sides that extend substantially perpendicularly to each other with the third side forming the sloping surface. Alternatively, the sloping surface may be provided by the ground itself which is then provided with a cover, for example in the form a sheet, which is lain over the slope to prevent the slope being worn away.

The unit is preferably formed of a reinforced plastics material.

Suitable fixing means, such as pegs, screws or bolts, may be provided to secure the unit to the ground.

It is to be appreciated that a deflector may be provided in a goal in respect of both indoor and outdoor pitches, either as a permanent or temporary fixture. The use of such deflecting means is appropriate to any type of game that requires a ball to cross over a line provided on the ground and, in particular, to games where the ball may hit a top cross bar and fall down close to or on the line. If the ball hits the line such that all of the ball is over the goal line, the ball will contact the balance point at the top of the sloping surface causing the ball to be deflected into the goal.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a side view of a goal provided with an accessory according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the goal shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the movement of a football that hits the top bar of the goal of Figure 1 but does not cross the goal line; Figure 4 shows the deflection of the football as it contacts the accessory of the goal of Figure 1 after crossing the goal line; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of an accessory for a goal of a football pitch according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a goal fitted with an accessory according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The goal 2 comprises two parallel vertical posts 4 and a horizontal crossbar 6 linking the tops of the posts. A net 8 extends from the bar and the posts to provide a cage for receiving a ball. A goal line 10 is provided along the surface of the ground between the posts to provide the lower boundary for the goal. The pitch is provided with a sloping surface 12 a predetermined short distance behind the goal line between turf 14 that is of the same level as the rest of the playing field and a lower level of turf 16 inside the netted area of the goal.

In this manner, if a football is kicked or headed in the direction of the goal and hits the crossbar that extends across the top of the goal and falls vertically downwards (as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 3), it is easy to see whether the ball falls inside or outside of the goal line. If the ball hits the goal line at such an angle that not all of the ball crosses the goal line, the ball will not contact the balance point P and it is not deflected into the goal (as illustrated in Figure 3). Hence, it can be readily observed that a goal has not been scored. In contrast, if the ball hits the ground such that all the ball is over the goal line, the ball will come into contact with the balance point P of the sloping surface 12 and is automatically deflected into the goal net (as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 4) clearly demonstrating that a goal has been scored.

The deflector is not only useful for assisting in determining whether a goal has been scored following a ball hitting the crossbar of the goal. It is also useful, for example, if the ball bounces onto the goal line at such an angle that it is difficult to determine whether it has crossed the line or even when a goalkeeper drops a ball in the viscinity of the goal line.

Whilst the goal may be provided with a deflector according to the present invention by manipulation of the ground itself, it is also possible to provide a deflector that may be placed within the ground to provide the required sloping surface. Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings illustrates one example of such a deflector.

It comprises a moulded component, for example, of reinforced plastics material, which is in the shape of an elongated triangle.

The pitch is lowered behind the goal line to provide a stepped region and the two substantially perpendicular sidewalls 20,40 are lain against the ground in the stepped region of the pitch and the third side wall 50 forms the sloping surface between the normal level of the pitch and the lowered level. The moulded component is secured in the ground by suitable fixing means 60, such as pegs or bolts that are driven or screwed into the ground.

It is to be appreciated that a range of angles of the sloping surface will provide the required deflection of the ball into the back of the net and hence the deflector is not limited to a particular angle.

However, preferably the angle should be steep enough to ensure quick and adequate deflection of the ball but not so steep that it may be potentially hazardous to the football players.

The accessory of the present invention may be provided on indoor or outdoor football pitches or other types of sports grounds to assist in retaining a ball within a goal once it has fully landed on or crossed the line. The accessory is made of cheap materials and easy to install and thus would be available to both small and large sports clubs. Any layman could cut out the required depth behind the goal and install the accessory, either as a permanent or temporary fixture.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A sports ground comprising a pitch having lines dividing the pitch into playing areas and having a goal at either end of the pitch, each goal having a pair of vertical goal posts linked at their upper ends by a horizontal crossbar and having a goal line along the ground between the goal posts, characterised in that deflecting means are provided in the ground behind the goal line to deflect a ball into the goal.
2. A sports ground as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflecting means is a sloping surface.
3. A sports ground as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ground itself is provided with a slope that extends downwardly from a given distance behind the goal line.
4. A sports ground as claimed in claim 2 wherein an angled component is installed in the ground to provide a sloping surface.
5. A sports ground as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the deflecting means is provided at a distance behind the goal line that propels the ball into the goal only once all of the ball is over the line.
6. A sports ground as claimed in claim 5 wherein the distance is approximately half the radius of the ball in play.
7. A sports ground as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the sloping surface commences between 6 to 14 cm behind the goal line.
8. A sports ground as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the sloping surface provides an angle of 10 to 450.
9. A sports ground as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sloping surface provides an angle of between 10 -40 .
10. A goal comprising a pair of vertical goal posts linked at their upper ends by a horizontal crossbar and having a goal line along the ground between the posts, characterised in that the goal is provided with deflecting means in the ground behind the goal line to deflect a ball into the goal.
11. A goal as claimed in claim 10 wherein the deflecting means is a sloping surface.
12. A goal as claimed in claim 11 wherein the ground itself is provided with a slope that extends downwardly from a given distance behind the goal line.
13. A goal as claimed in clam 11 wherein an angled component is installed in the ground to provide a sloping surface.
14. A goal as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 wherein the deflecting means is provided at a distance behind the goal line that propels the ball into the goal only once all of the ball is over the line.
15. A goal as claimed in claim 14 wherein the distance is approximately half the radius of the ball in play.
16. A goal as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the sloping surface commences between 6 to 14 cm behind the goal line.
17. A goal as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the sloping surface provides an angle of 10 to 450.
18. A goal as claimed in claim 17 wherein the sloping surface provides an angle of between 10 -40 .
19. An accessory for a sports ground comprising a unit for placement in the ground, the unit having a sloping surface to provide deflecting means.
20. An accessory as claimed in claim 19 wherein the deflector is in the form of an elongated triangle.
21. An accessory as claimed in claim 20 wherein the unit has two sides that extend substantially perpendicularly to each other with the third side forming the sloping surface.
22. An accessory as claimed in claim 19,20 or 21 wherein the unit is formed of a reinforced plastics material.
23. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein fixing means are provided to secure the unit to the ground.
24. A goal substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
25. An accessory substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing.