Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players much more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has develop into a more quickly and much more thrilling game.

Extra data on Field Hockey pitch and building there of.

A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on all-natural turf (grass) but today it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came through the 1970s and was created mandatory for big competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Guidelines of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type aspect of the region which they define. For instance, a ball on the side line is nevertheless in the field of play a ball on the line of the penalty circle is in the penalty circle a foul committed more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre region. A ball need to absolutely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to wholly cross the objective line just before a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the guidelines in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The guidelines are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the fact 1998), despite the fact that the use of the imperial terms remains popular 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 among the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line need to measure 91.40 m and the back line should really measure 55.00 m. There need to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and three m at the backlines which may possibly be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 1st recorded guidelines represented what London clubs had been working with 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”. Guidelines by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Guidelines Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this choice was reversed in 1909.five In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the guidelines.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play should really be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an option colour. The London 2012 Olympics began a new trend for blue hockey pitches, since blue turf assists tv viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch 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.

Purpose

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer season Olympics. The objective 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 need to be three.66 metres apart, and the reduced edge of the crossbar need to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar need to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The objective need to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective region need to be delimited at ground level by a objective 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 distinct dimensions based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Standard dimensions for a common field hockey net are about three.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 1st hockey targets had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (five.five m) apart” but had been decreased to four yards (three.7 m) apart in the 1886 guidelines. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the 1st hit at objective should really not cross the objective-line larger 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 (strong line), the broken circle five m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes absolutely more than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Also, the circle marks the region a goalkeeper may possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the region exactly where an infringement by a defender final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied despite the fact that the region is really formed by a three.66-metre (four yd) straight line, parallel to the objective line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 guidelines stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of 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 elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.five Any free of charge-hit inside five m of the circle has slightly distinct guidelines from other folks regarding other players’ distance a broken circle five m from the penalty circle denotes this place.ten

A penalty spot is centrally positioned straight in front of the objective 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 objective line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.three m) from objective. In 1973, a stroke could also be awarded for a deliberate foul in the circle and the spot was moved to 7 yards (six.four m) from objective the following year.five

Other markings

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

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of every period of play and resumption of play following a objective begins with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also applied for the obselete offside rule.three

Every single half of the pitch is then divided once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every back line. Historically, this was 1st applied to resume play right after the ball passed more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this region 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 among 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.three These days, there are detailed guidelines concerning fouls and free of charge-hits in the 23 metre area of the pitch.12 Given that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are further markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and five m from every objective post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group requires the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may possibly stand. These marks had been five and ten yards (four.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the guidelines.three There is a equivalent mark five m from along the side line (from 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 exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits less complicated ball handle and this in itself assists to minimize the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes less complicated to comply with, as properly as getting a more quickly spectacle and substantially much more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was created on all-natural grass turf. Having said that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all big competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Despite the fact that it is nevertheless permissible to play on all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, call for a water-primarily based playing surface. Having said that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable selection and option elite surfaces that do not call for water are getting researched.20

There are 3 key sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to prevent pitch put on

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

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

On water-primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf minimize friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Having said that, these pitches call for watering just before, through and right after the game and upkeep expenses are important.

Sand-dressed pitches price much more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Having said that, a multi-objective surface appropriate for sports which includes association football and tennis is frequently needed and hockey may possibly not be the predominant sport. There are numerous distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which includes shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not too long ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop into well-liked, in particular for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are frequently 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 mentioned the surface had “massive positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, mentioned that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Having said that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored much more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 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 among 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, mentioned that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and discover it difficult to adapt.”29 Having said that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the alter of surface regardless of the nation getting worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin mentioned that “for India it was like beginning more than, with all nations even in field hockey