Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far extra deal with of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a extra quickly and far extra fascinating game.

A lot extra 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 organic turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was developed mandatory for huge competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type element 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 extra than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the popular dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the fact 1998), though the use of the imperial terms remains frequent in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are created use of 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 amongst the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line seriously must measure 55.00 m. There have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a a variety of surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every and each corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far extra than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.

Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs had been applying at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches had been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) extended and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 hundred yards extended by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Suggestions Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this choice 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 seriously must 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 due to the fact blue turf aids 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 popular for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer time season Olympics. The target 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 greatest by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The target have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area have to be delimited at ground level by a target 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 a variety of dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Widespread dimensions for a popular field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

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

Circle

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

A target is scored when the ball passes completely extra than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender rewards in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly created use of though the area is essentially formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the target line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 recommendations stated that “no objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far extra 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 cost-free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly a variety of recommendations from other individuals with regards to 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 target and created use of for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the target line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from target. 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 target 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 stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of every and each period of play and resumption of play following a target starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also created use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Every single and each half of the pitch is then divided after once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every and each back line. Historically, this was 1st created use of to resume play instantly just after the ball passed extra 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 had 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 created use of for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At present, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and cost-free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Offered that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been created use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone extra than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every and each target 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 could 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 equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners had 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 extended markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less difficult ball deal with and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes significantly less difficult to stick to, as adequately as receiving a extra quickly spectacle and substantially far extra intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all huge competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these on the other hand at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, need to have a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and alternative elite surfaces that do not need to have water are receiving researched.20

There are three essential 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 remain clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for element of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and substantially significantly 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 reduce down friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches need to have watering prior to, all through and instantly just after the game and upkeep expenditures are critical.

Sand-dressed pitches value far extra than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. On the other hand, a multi-target surface suitable for sports which consists of association football and tennis is generally important and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of a variety of specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which consists of shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be preferred, specially for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and talked about the surface had “big added rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 unique of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored far extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just just before the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group had been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals amongst 1928 and 1964.28 In 1996, Indian hockey player Ajit Pal Singh stated that regardless of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, talked about that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and learn it difficult to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed adequately following the adjust of surface regardless of the nation receiving worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting extra than, with all nations even in field hockey