Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players significantly far more manage of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has come to be a far more promptly and significantly far more thrilling game.

Substantially far more 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 by means of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for considerable 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 sort 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball will need to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will need to wholly cross the target line just prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (offered that 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are applied 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 recognized as the target line. The side line will need to measure 91.40 m and the back line should measure 55.00 m. There will need to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a exclusive surface for the final meter. All line markings will need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no significantly far more 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initial recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been creating use of at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches had been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Suggestions 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 Suggestions 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 should be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an choice colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the reality blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by means of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the common for certified field hockey tournaments.

Goal

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

The target will need to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area will need 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 exclusive dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Popular dimensions for a common field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey objectives had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but had been decreased 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 target should 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 totally far more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any portion of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied even though the area is in reality 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 suggestions stated that “no objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of significantly far 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-absolutely free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly exclusive suggestions 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 target and applied 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 unique 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 each and every single period of play and resumption of play following a target starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also applied for the obselete offside rule.3

Each 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 single back line. Historically, this was initial applied to resume play following the ball passed far 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 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 applied for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Nowadays, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and expense-absolutely free-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Thinking about that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are far more markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every single target 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 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 had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the main of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly much easier ball manage and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes significantly much easier to comply with, as successfully as becoming a far more promptly spectacle and a lot significantly far more intriguing 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 considerable competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these even so 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 need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, will need a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and choice elite surfaces that do not will need water are becoming researched.20

There are three main types 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 considerably significantly 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 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 raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches will need watering just prior to, by means of and following the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense significantly far 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 which consists of association football and tennis is generally anticipated and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are really a handful of exclusive 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 come to be nicely-identified, particularly for football, but these do not commonly meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 talked about the surface had “enormous added advantages”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored significantly far more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Prior to 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 in spite 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 initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed successfully following the modify of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and finding fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey