The Swiss Association for Standardization SNV in the years 2000-2010: Football total
Football is often referred to as the most beautiful pastime in the world. No other sport captures the imagination of the masses. Some play themselves, others watch passionately, and all know the goal: The round has to go into the square! To ensure that the game is played fairly around the world, there are a few simple rules - and the majority of spectators are familiar with these, too.
After Switzerland had been relatively unsuccessful in the international arena since the 1960s, the sun is now rising in the sky for the Swiss national team after around 30 years of lack of success. National coach Roy Hodgson takes the Swiss team to the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 European Championship, and the success is by no means unique. In the following noughties, our little country made it to two European and two World Cups in just one decade.
Football total in Switzerland
Under its national coach Köbi Kuhn, the Swiss national soccer team qualifies for the 2004 European Championship in Portugal and for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. At the 2008 European Championship, it is automatically eligible to participate together with Austria because the 2008 World Cup is being held in Switzerland and Austria. With Ottmar Hitzfeld, Switzerland also plays itself in the 2010 World Cup.
All coincidence, or what?
But which rules ensure that everything runs smoothly, unnoticed in the background? The ball passes through more than half a dozen standards before it reaches the goal from the soccer player's shoe. Under the standardized shin guard on the kicker's leg, it starts its journey across the standardized natural turf, past the goalkeeper's standardized glove and straight into the standardized soccer goal.
Why do the seats in the stadium not collapse even under the greatest load? And how come the goals are always the same size? Simply because there are harmonized rules for this. The various interest groups come together to agree on these rules in standards, after which they are published as Swiss standards, among other things.
Shin guards
In the duel, the midfielder goes down. The defender claims that he went for the ball. Or was he aiming for the opposing player's shin? Is the shin guard strong enough to withstand an attack? If it complies with SN EN 13061, the player will only have a bruise. Tests guarantee maximum safety. In the event of a kick, a shin guard must not slip by more than 15 millimeters or have a dent no larger than 25 millimeters!
Gloves
Without good gloves, even the best goalkeeper could only hold the ball with difficulty. If the defenders can't keep the ball out, the goalie is the last resort. He must do everything to ensure that the ball does not go into the net! But he can't just rely on his own strength, agility and ultra-fast reflexes. Good gloves comply with the European standard SN EN 16027, which stipulates that gloves must not slip by more than 20 millimeters, even under considerable force, so that they can never slip off the hands.
Football goal
How stable are the goalposts in the stadium? The spectators hold their breath. The most nerve-wracking part of the final match begins. Another penalty shootout, you can hardly believe it! The goalkeeper feels the pressure. It's all up to him now. The fans cheer as the first shot thunders against the crossbar. If it complies with SN EN 748, it gives way by no more than 1 centimeter when the ball hits it. The net extends at least 80 centimeters backwards at the top, and 1.5 meters at ground level.
The tension rises immeasurably, the next penalty decides the game! If the goalkeeper holds the ball, his team is qualified! Suddenly the goal seems huge. Can he deflect the ball when the shooter aims into the upper right corner? According to the standard, the goal must be 7.32 × 2.44 meters. So the goalkeeper can easily reach any angle. And, of course, he saves the victory. His team goes to the European Championship!
Lawn
Natural grass or artificial turf? Some prefer artificial turf, while others believe that football can only be played on natural grass. At the 2018 World Cup, half of all 12 stadiums had hybrid turf reinforced with synthetic fibers. According to the experts, the blades should ideally be 23 millimeters high. But how is that measured? If everything is to be done according to standards, the European standard SN EN 12233 comes into play. It contains a procedure for determining the height of the grass. A special tool is used, which essentially consists of a measuring rod on which a round, movable disc is mounted. The distance between the tip of the rod placed on the ground and the disc resting on the stalks is measured.
Ball is not equal to ball
A soccer ball for the World Cup must meet the strict requirements for soccer balls. The European standard SN EN 12235, for example, specifies test procedures, including for the bouncing behavior of the balls. If a ball is dropped from a height of 2 meters onto a concrete surface, it may bounce up a maximum of 1.35 meters. Therefore, it can never just bounce over a goalkeeper.
Stadium seats
Soon the game will begin, fans will flock to the stadium in search of their seats. According to SN EN 13200-4, the distance between each seat in a row and the corresponding seat in the row in front must be at least 30 centimeters. That's not exactly lavish, but once everyone is seated, only the match counts anyway. But what other rules apply to seating? According to the provisions of the standard, the seats must be able to withstand a weight of 2,000 kilograms and be at least 40 centimeters deep and 50 centimeters wide.
Football lighting
Cameras were positioned around the pitch. The spectators want to see everything in detail! That's why it's really important that the cameras can record the game properly. It is obvious that the pitch must be well lit, but SN EN 12193 also contains details about the lighting required for TV cameras. According to it, it must be 0.25 times brighter in the area where the cameras are placed than on the pitch! But there should not be too much light either. Scattering effects of light can disturb people living around a stadium: The standard specifies which light levels are permitted in which competition and in which environment - residential, natural or metropolitan - which amount of light is allowed to stream over the horizon of the floodlights.
These standards are described in the SNV online store available:
- SN EN 13061 (in German, French and English)
- SN EN 16027 (in German, French and English)
- SN EN 748 (in German, French and English)
- SN EN 12233 (in German, French and English)
- SN EN 12235 (in German, French and English)
- SN EN 13200-4 (in German)
- SN EN 12193 (in German, French and English)
More stories from 100 years of SNV can be found here, here or here.
