The Pitch
3. Other things to be found on a pitch
In this subsection two common features on the edge of the pitch are explained in some more detail: the bench and the corner flag. Of course, there are also other things directly next to the pitch which may be regarded as technical equipment, for example, rotating advertising boards, camera installations or technical facilities in the stadium. However, since these things are not directly related to the football match itself, they have not been included here.
3.1. The bench
Substitutes shuffling their feet, coaches gesturing wildly, masseurs and team doctors jumping up and down. Besides the pitch, the bench and its direct vicinity are the most important places in the stadium. When things are not going so well, the bench may become a target for disappointed fans throwing cigarette lighters, coins or, at best, rolls of toilet paper at it. Therefore it must provide protection.
Figure 11: Bench with accessories (DE 35 45 862 A1)
DE 35 45 862 A1 examines this aspect in detail and depicts a box-like shelter. The invention also provides a comparatively comfortable bench with many accessories, oa. telephone extension, heating and a variety of storage options (Figure 11).
A far more basic type of bench is described in an earlier utility model document DE 76 23 247. The bench only provides seats with built-in heating. Some years previously, another utility model application (DE 70 03 455) suggested a rather more Spartan bench consisting of a combination of boards and a supporting element, on the whole, it was very similar to a park bench, and was also used for the stadium seating.
| Publication number | Year | Title | Brief description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE 103 61 617 A1 | 2003 | Markierungssystem für Spielfelder | Tightened, elastic marking tape secured to the ground used to mark out the pitch |
| DE 35 45 862 A1 | 1985 | Gehäuseartige Schutzvorrichtung | Bench shelter with heating and telephone extension |
| DE-GM 76 23 247 | 1976 | Kupplungsstück zur lösbaren Verbindung von je mit einer Bodenplatte versehenen Sitzelementen | Lockable shelter for team bench |
| DE-GM 70 03 435 | 1970 | Sitzbank für Stadien oder dergleichen | Team bench and bleachers made of boards and supporting elements like a park bench |
3.2 The corner flag
Corner flags do not only mark the field boundaries, but are also very popular as missiles or as dancing partners for successful scorers. This involves a risk of injury.
Figure 12: Flexible anchoring of corner flag (DE 18 48 548 utility model).
In the utility model document DE 1848548 a flexible corner flag is depicted that is firmly secured in the ground (Figure 12).
The flag pole is made of ash wood, as usual, and coated with a lightfast synthetic material clearly visible to the referee. A polyethylene socket is inserted into a concrete base embedded in the ground. The flag pole can only be inserted to a level above the pitch surface level so that it easily bends upon impact. However, this mechanism should not be confused with pivotable poles for slalom gates frequently utilising coil springs as bendable segments.
In addition to flexibility, visibility is also an important quality of the corner flag. Illumination can increase visibility of the flag. In DE 10323306 A1 electro-luminescent film is adhered to the flag.
Electronics are also making their way into the corners of the playing field, above all, when plastic tubes replace the solid wooden flag poles. Then, active and passive components for a large variety of uses can be placed inside the tubes: for example, positioning systems for tracking the movements of players and the ball on the field (e.g. DE 10 2007 046 366 A1, WO 2003/033 091 A2 and football: chapter 6). DE 202 04 738 U1 even describes a corner flag with built-in loudspeaker to amplify the referee's whistle signal.
| Publication number | Year | Title | Brief description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE 10 2007 046 366 A1 | 2007 | Konzept zur Positionsmessung durch Phasenvergleich eines modulierten Signals | Position determining device using antennas inserted in the corner flags a.o. |
| DE 103 23 306 A1 | 2003 | Selbstleuchtende Fahne | Flag with electro-luminescent film, eg. for use in stadiums |
| WO 2003/033 091 A2 | 2002 | Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Echtzeitlokalisierung von Personen und Spielgerät bei Mannschaftssportarten | Position determining device using antennas inserted in the corner flags a.o. |
| DE 202 04 738 U1 | 2002 | Schiedsrichterpfeife mit Mikrophon zur Tonverstärkung über die an den 4 Eckfahnen eingebauten Lautsprechern | a.o. corner flag with built-in loudspeaker to amplify referee's whistle signal. |
| DE-GM 18 48 548 | 1962 | Elastische Eckfahne | Corner flag whose flag pole is inserted into a concrete socket with soft synthetic top that bends upon impact |