Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players additional deal with of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has turn out to be a faster and additional fascinating game.

Added 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 at present it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by way of the 1970s and was made mandatory for essential competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch variety element 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball need to have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to have to wholly cross the objective line just just before a objective is scored.

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

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are produced 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 referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the objective posts is identified as the objective line. The side line need to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line definitely must measure 55.00 m. There need to have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may possibly properly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings need to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no additional 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 employing 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 “one particular 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 option 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 definitely must be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an selection colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the fact blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by way of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the frequent for professional field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

The objective need to have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective place need to have 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 diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Widespread dimensions for a frequent field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey targets 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 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at objective definitely must not cross the objective-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 (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes completely a lot 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 place a goalkeeper may possibly properly play the ball with any element of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly produced use of regardless of the truth that the place is definitely formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the objective 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 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 elevated 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 diverse suggestions from other persons 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 objective and produced 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 objective 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 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.4 m) from objective 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 may possibly properly stand.

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

Each and every single 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 back line. Historically, this was initial produced use of to resume play just following the ball passed a lot more 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 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 produced use of for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Thinking about the truth that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone a lot more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every objective 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 may possibly properly 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 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 key of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less tricky ball deal with and this in itself aids to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes much less tricky to adhere to, as nicely as becoming a faster spectacle and a lot additional thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all essential competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these even so at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Though it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches need to 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. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and selection elite surfaces that do not need to have water are becoming 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, requires irrigation or watering to steer clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much 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 much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for one particular hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lessen friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches need to have watering just just before, by way of and just following the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Even so, a multi-objective surface proper for sports which contains association football and tennis is regularly anticipated and hockey may possibly properly not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which contains 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 preferred, especially for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are regularly 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 stated the surface had “enormous benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored 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 had been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it definitely tough to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the modify of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and having fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey