Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far far more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has turn into a far more rapidly and far far more fascinating game.

Further data and details on Field Hockey pitch and creating 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 these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by means of the 1970s and was designed mandatory for substantial 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 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 have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the objective line just ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the typical dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 1998), even although 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 on).

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 involving the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to truly 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 might possibly be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single and just about every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 really 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been producing 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 choice 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 need to truly 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, for the explanation that blue turf assists 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 typical for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The objective is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.

Ambitions consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the cut down 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 objective have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area 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 distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Prevalent dimensions for a typical field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The really 1st hockey ambitions 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 objective need to truly not cross the objective-line bigger than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the ambitions 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 totally far more than the objective 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 might possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender advantages in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively produced use of even although the area is in reality 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 ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far 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 no cost of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct suggestions from other men and women concerning 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 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 particular 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 might possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began of every single and just about 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 and just about every half of the pitch is then divided as soon as once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single and just about every back line. Historically, this was really 1st produced use of to resume play just soon after 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 produced use of for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and no cost of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Due to the fact 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of 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 every single and just about 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 might possibly 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 lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the top of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot much easier ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates a lot significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes a lot much easier to comply with, as nicely as becoming a far more rapidly spectacle and substantially far far more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) designed artificial pitches mandatory at all substantial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the really 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 all-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 Globe Cup, get in touch with for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not get in touch with for water are becoming researched.20

There are three principal types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to steer clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a lot 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 a lot significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches get in touch with for watering just ahead of, by means of and just soon after the game and upkeep expenditures are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag far 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-purpose surface suitable for sports which involves association football and tennis is normally anticipated and hockey might possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into nicely-recognized, specially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are normally also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe 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 pointed out the surface had “enormous benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored far 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 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, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the really 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it complicated to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey