Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

A great deal a lot 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 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 created mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type aspect 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 a lot 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 goal line prior to a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 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 on).

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 amongst the goal posts is identified as the goal 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 nicely be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings really should be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far a lot more than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.

Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The initially recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been generating use of at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches have 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 “1 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 selection was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.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, for the cause that 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.

Target

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season season Olympics. The goal 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 leading rated 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 goal really should be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal area really should be delimited at ground level by a goal backboard and two sideboards of height 460 millimetres (18 in). Affixed to these boards, the posts and crossbar is a net to quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Regular dimensions for a common field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initially hockey targets have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been lowered to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initially hit at goal have to not cross the goal-line higher 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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes totally a lot more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On leading of that, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could nicely play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area precisely 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 genuinely formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the goal line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 recommendations stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far a lot 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 entirely absolutely free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations from other people today relating 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 goal 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 goal line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from goal. 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 goal 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 nicely stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began of each period of play and resumption of play following a goal 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 after once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each back line. Historically, this was initially applied to resume play quickly 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 area resulted in a penalty corner. From 1961, players on the defensive group who have 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 Presently, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and entirely absolutely free-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Contemplating the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied 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 goal 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 nicely stand. These marks had been 5 and ten yards (4.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the recommendations.3 There is a associated mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the leading rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less complex ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests drastically significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game thus becomes significantly less complex to adhere to, as properly as receiving a a lot more quickly spectacle and drastically far a lot more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these even so at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on 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 Globe Cup, get in touch with for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable choice and solution elite surfaces that do not get in touch with for water are receiving researched.20

There are three key types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, wants 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 aspect 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 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches get in touch with for watering prior to, by means of and quickly following the game and upkeep costs are essential.

Sand-dressed pitches expense far a lot more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. On the other hand, a multi-objective surface acceptable for sports like association football and tennis is ordinarily anticipated and hockey could nicely not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few 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 into nicely-liked, specially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “huge benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 distinct of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored far a lot 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 have 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, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and get it hard to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the transform of surface in spite of the nation receiving worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey