Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players additional handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has create into a faster and additional thrilling game.

Additional 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-all-natural turf (grass) but at the moment it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was developed mandatory for large competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the normal dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (contemplating that 1998), whilst the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilized 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 target posts is recognized as the target line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to 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 may perhaps possibly be a many surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single and 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 pretty initially recorded recommendations represented what London clubs had been applying 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”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards extended by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Recommendations 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 recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play ought to 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, mostly since blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch all through gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the normal for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The target 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 main by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered 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 target have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area have to 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 many dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Popular dimensions for a normal field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The pretty initially hockey targets 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the pretty initially hit at target ought to not cross the target-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 target is scored when the ball passes completely far more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Furthermore, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may perhaps possibly 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 utilized whilst the area is in reality 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 recommendations 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 enhanced 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 many recommendations from other men and women concerning 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 target and utilized 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 may perhaps possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of every single and each and every period of play and resumption of play following a target starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Each and every single half of the pitch is then divided when far more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single and each and every back line. Historically, this was pretty initially utilized to resume play just just 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 utilized for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and no cost of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single and each and every target post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group needs the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may perhaps possibly 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 comparable 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 main of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less difficult ball handle and this in itself assists to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests a great deal significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes significantly less difficult 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 developed on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all large competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the pretty initially of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the reality that it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural 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 Planet Cup, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable selection and selection elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three main sorts 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 keep clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a great deal 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 a great deal 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 lessen friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches demand watering prior to, all through and just just after the game and upkeep charges are significant.

Sand-dressed pitches expense additional 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 such as association football and tennis is normally important and hockey may perhaps possibly not be the predominant sport. There are really a handful of many specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have create into nicely-liked, specifically for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are normally as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the pretty initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “enormous added positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored additional 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 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 pretty initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey