Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far a lot more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has come to be a a lot more swiftly and far a lot more fascinating game.

Additional particulars on Field Hockey pitch and constructing there of.

A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on organic turf (grass) but these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by way of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for most important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch form portion of the area which they define. For instance, a ball on the side line is nonetheless in the field of play a ball on the line of the penalty circle is in the penalty circle a foul committed a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball will have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the goal line ahead of a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the normal dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (offered that 1998), regardless of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are employed to distinguish the field of play (green or blue) from the run-off (red/blue/yellow/orange/and so forth).

The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line actually need to measure 55.00 m. There will have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may well effectively be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every and just about every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far a lot more than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.

Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The initial recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been applying at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches have been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Recommendations Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this decision was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play actually need to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an alternative colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, just mainly because blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by way of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the normal for certified field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The goal is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.

Objectives consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the major by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the minimize edge of the crossbar will have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar will have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The goal will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal area will have to be delimited at ground level by a goal backboard and two sideboards of height 460 millimetres (18 in). Affixed to these boards, the posts and crossbar is a net to quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Typical dimensions for a normal field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey ambitions have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been decreased to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at goal actually need to not cross the goal-line higher than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the ambitions which are now mandatory.34

Circle

A view of the penalty circle (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes totally a lot more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may well effectively play the ball with any portion of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender rewards in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly employed regardless of the reality that the area is essentially formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the goal line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 recommendations stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far a lot more than 15 yards (14 m) from the nearest goalpost”. A visible “striking circle” with “radius of 15 yards” was codified in 1886.34 The radius of the circle was elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any expense-no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct recommendations from other people relating to other players’ distance a broken circle 5 m from the penalty circle denotes this location.ten

A penalty spot is centrally positioned straight in front of the goal and employed for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the goal line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a certain goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from goal. In 1973, a stroke could also be awarded for a deliberate foul in the circle and the spot was moved to 7 yards (six.4 m) from goal the following year.5

Other markings

Simon Gougnard prepares to take a penalty corner from the ten m mark. The 5 m line above demarcates the closest position a defender may well effectively stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start out out of each and every and just about every period of play and resumption of play following a goal starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also employed for the obselete offside rule.3

Every single single half of the pitch is then divided when once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every and just about every back line. Historically, this was initial employed to resume play quickly right after the ball passed a lot more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this area resulted in a penalty corner. From 1961, players on the defensive group who have been not involved at the penalty corner stood behind this line (this was then moved to the half-way line two years later). The line was also employed for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and expense-no cost-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Contemplating the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone a lot more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every and just about every goal post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group demands the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may well effectively stand. These marks had been 5 and ten yards (4.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the recommendations.3 There is a associated mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the major of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits considerably less difficult ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes considerably less difficult to stick to, as nicely as becoming a a lot more swiftly spectacle and significantly far a lot more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all most important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the reality that it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches will have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, get in touch with for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and alternative elite surfaces that do not get in touch with for water are becoming researched.20

There are three major varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to keep away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for portion of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and considerably much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches get in touch with for watering ahead of, by way of and quickly right after the game and upkeep costs are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense far a lot more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-objective surface acceptable for sports such as association football and tennis is ordinarily vital and hockey may well effectively not be the predominant sport. There are lots of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have come to be effectively-identified, specially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “enormous rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored far a lot more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals involving 1928 and 1964.28 In 1996, Indian hockey player Ajit Pal Singh stated that in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and receive it tough to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the alter of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey