Just a simple question......

[irod]

Does anyone know why soccer uses the term "yard" in measuring parts of the pitch? It seems strange that a sport that is non-American in origin uses "yards" instead of "meters".

Thanks
Irod

[ViscaBarca]

Does anyone know why soccer uses the term "yard" in measuring parts of the pitch? It seems strange that a sport that is non-American in origin uses "yards" instead of "meters".

Thanks
Irod
because it was invented by the english. you know, america is not the only country in the world to use inperial mesurements. though nowadays metric is the official mesurement in GB because of the EU, but it is still used...

[lanman]

Imperial measurements (yards, feet, miles etc) are still used to a large extent in Britain today, but back when the game was invented it was all that was used hence the dimensions of the pitch being in yards.

[RichardL]

Does anyone know why soccer uses the term "yard" in measuring parts of the pitch? It seems strange that a sport that is non-American in origin uses "yards" instead of "meters".

Thanks
Irod
which country do you think invented the imperial system of measurement?

[irod]

Thanks for the replies.

[TroisièmeRobert]

So, um... another interesting question:
Why did the British feel the need to create the imperial system?

I've been studying French colonisation the past few weeks, and right about when they started moving around in the world, they created a standardised French language. Richelieu started up l'Académie Français, a kind of governmental language authority, in the 1630s, to finalize spelling, grammar, accents, all that. But it wasn't created so much to keep the language regular throughout the colonies, but as a way of creating an official language that could be brought to the colonies, to civilize, save, modernise, etc...

Now, since we know the British created the imperial system, and are also renowned for their colonial expertise, does anyone know why exactly the imperial system was instituted? I'd hold that they envisioned it as a hallmark of British order and dominance, something they could spread throughout the world. The French got obsessive about their language, the British, their rulers. It's kind of interesting to think of it that way. Everytime you look at an 18-yard box, you've got a visual reminder of the British Empire. Any other thoughts?

[lanman]

So, um... another interesting question:
Why did the British feel the need to create the imperial system?

I've been studying French colonisation the past few weeks, and right about when they started moving around in the world, they created a standardised French language. Richelieu started up l'Académie Français, a kind of governmental language authority, in the 1630s, to finalize spelling, grammar, accents, all that. But it wasn't created so much to keep the language regular throughout the colonies, but as a way of creating an official language that could be brought to the colonies, to civilize, save, modernise, etc...

Now, since we know the British created the imperial system, and are also renowned for their colonial expertise, does anyone know why exactly the imperial system was instituted? I'd hold that they envisioned it as a hallmark of British order and dominance, something they could spread throughout the world. The French got obsessive about their language, the British, their rulers. It's kind of interesting to think of it that way. Everytime you look at an 18-yard box, you've got a visual reminder of the British Empire. Any other thoughts?

British Imperial Measurements were standardised in 1824, although the terms are much older (some are Roman, some even earlier). The problem at the time was that the measurements differed throughout Britain (most were based historically on a part of the body), and with the huge increase in industry at the time a standardisation of these was needed. The US followed 10 years later in a standard system of measurements, and although they used the same terms as Britain, some of the measurements were different.
Essentially both systems were formed through a need for consistancy throught the country, as, for example, if two people were both building rail tracks to their own local measurements then when they met their would be obvious problems.

[TroisièmeRobert]

thanks lanman! good info.