The present invention relates to a playing field with its equipment for a game like soccer, said playing field including marked sidelines, goal lines, and cross-lines at a distance from the goal lines, and said equipment includ¬ ing at least one goal structure on each goal line.

In the prior known traditional football or soccer field, each end is provided with a single goal structure set on the goal line. The goal structure defines an area which is bordered by the goal line, the team playing on the oppo¬ site half-field attempting to deliver the playing object across said goal line within the area defined by the goal structure. In many instances, the creation of goals and scoring chances is precluded due to a defensive style of play on the part of the defending team and a technically more skillful team is forced to settle for a final score which may be unfair in view of the events on the field. In a number of tournaments it has been necessary to decide the winner by means of a penalty shoot-out, the result of which is not always consistent with the match events during regular playing time. When football or soccer is played in a traditional playing field on a single goal, the loose ball situations, especially set pieces, create rush situations in front of the goal and players do not have enough space for ball control. Tight contact situa¬ tions add to the injury risks that players are exposed to. The game may also be flat as an event, due to the lack of goal-scoring opportunities.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved playing field with its equipment, whereby it is possible to create more playing space in goal-scoring situations, the number of scored goals increasing and the game becom¬ ing more interesting to spectators.

This object is achieved by means of a playing field and its equipment according to the invention, whose character¬ izing features are set forth in the annexed claim 1.

The non-independent disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

In addition to the invention being applicable to an inter¬ nationally standardized playing field for the game of association football or soccer, the playing field having corresponding dimensions can be designed as a scale model, i.e. in the form of a mechanically or electrically operat¬ ed playing board. The playing field of the invention can also be designed to be playable in a graphic form by means of a game set, a computer, or some other device.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawing, which illus¬ trates one end section and its equipment included in a playing field of the invention.

The figure shows the end section of a four-goal soccer field 1. The field is marked with side- or touch-lines 6, goal lines 7, and cross-lines 4 which are spaced from the goal lines and serve as a line for the penalty area. Each goal line 7 is provided with exactly two separate goal structures 2 spaced from each other in the direction of the goal line 7. In a preferred case, the goal structures 2 have mid-points 3 whose distance from each other is about 1/3 of the total length of the goal line 7. The goal structures 2 are set symmetrically on either side of the lengthwise mid-line of the playing field. The goal struc¬ tures 2 have dimensions which are substantially equal to those of a football goal consistent with the internation- ally approved regulations.

On a playing field of the invention, the offensive team can select either one of the opponent's goals 2 as its target; goals scored in either goal are equal to each other. This adds to the use of a playing pitch in lateral direction, whereby the penalty line 4 may extend across the field all the way to the sidelines 6. The game can be played principally the same way as traditional football or soccer by using a football with internationally regulated measurements.

The essential feature is that the goals 2 are set on the goal line side by side and at a short distance from each other. Other than that, the sites and mutual distance of the goals may vary, provided that the goals are located on the goal line. When using a playing field of the inven¬ tion, it is natural that both goals be guarded by their own goalkeeper. The number of penalty spots 5 it two, one in front of each goal positioned as agreed m football rules .

In terms of setting up a playing field if the invention and its equipment, it is of course possible to depart to some extent from the measurements of a traditional foot¬ ball field and its goal structures. The point is that two separate goal structures are used to create space for building the game in lateral direction, which increases the number of scored goals and makes the game more event¬ ful also for spectators.