Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a great deal additional manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a faster and a great deal additional fascinating game.

Far additional information on Field Hockey pitch and developing there of.

A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on all-all-natural turf (grass) but currently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was developed mandatory for considerable 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 type aspect of the place 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball will have to definitely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the goal line just just before a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the truth 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains preferred 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 identified as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this in involving the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line will have 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 could possibly be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a great deal additional 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 suggestions represented what London clubs have been using 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 “1 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 selection was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play will have 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, mostly since blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch all through gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the common for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Aim

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

Targets consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the greatest by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decreased 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 place 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 cease the ball.eight

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

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

Circle

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

A goal is scored when the ball passes definitely additional than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Furthermore, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper could possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively employed even though the place is genuinely 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 suggestions stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a great deal additional 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any no price-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive suggestions from other men and women concerning other players’ distance a broken circle 5 m from the penalty circle denotes this spot.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 could possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began of every and every single 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 and every single half of the pitch is then divided as soon as additional by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every and every single back line. Historically, this was initial employed to resume play suitable following the ball passed additional than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this place 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 in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Due to the truth 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional 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 every and every single goal post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group calls for the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender could possibly stand. These marks had been 5 and ten yards (4.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the suggestions.3 There is a connected 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 greatest 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 a lot less complicated ball manage and this in itself assists to decrease the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates a great deal much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes a lot less complicated to comply with, as properly as having a faster spectacle and significantly a great deal additional fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all considerable competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these obtaining mentioned that at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural 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, have to have 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 have to have water are having researched.20

There are three principal sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a great deal much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for aspect of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and a great deal much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf decrease friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches have to have watering just just before, all through and suitable following the game and upkeep costs are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches cost a great deal additional 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 which involves association football and tennis is commonly anticipated and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are rather a handful of distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be prevalent, especially for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly 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 described the surface had “huge optimistic elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a great deal additional 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 in 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, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation having worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey