Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot much more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn out to be a much more promptly and a lot much more thrilling game.

A lot much more information 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 all-organic turf (grass) but right now it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was produced mandatory for important 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 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball really should totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball really should wholly cross the target line just just before a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (offered that 1998), regardless of the truth that the use of the imperial terms remains standard 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 on).

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 amongst the target posts is recognized as the target line. The side line really should measure 91.40 m and the back line have to measure 55.00 m. There really should be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings really should be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot much 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 really 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been using 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 “a single 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 decision was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the current width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play have to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, merely simply because blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch in the course of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the standard 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.

Targets 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 really should be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered edge of the crossbar really should be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar really should be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The target really should be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area really should 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 diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Prevalent dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The really 1st 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 really 1st hit at target have to not cross the target-line higher 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 (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes totally much 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 precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender positive aspects in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively created use of regardless of the truth that the area is seriously 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 a lot much 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any price-absolutely free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other folks with regards 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 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 specific 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 get began of every single 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 created use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Every single and every single half of the pitch is then divided when once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single single back line. Historically, this was really 1st created use of to resume play quickly soon after the ball passed much 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 created use of for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and price-absolutely free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Thinking of that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been created use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single single 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 suggestions.3 There is a comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where lengthy corners had 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 precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot much easier ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies drastically significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes a lot much easier to comply with, as proficiently as becoming a much more promptly spectacle and a lot a lot much more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on all-organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the really 1st of these on the other hand at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches really should be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, contact for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three most critical types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly 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 drastically 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 drastically significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly 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 contact for watering just just before, in the course of and quickly soon after the game and upkeep costs are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot much 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 like association football and tennis is commonly required and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn out to be nicely identified, specially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the really 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “huge rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a lot much more 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 in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the really 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey