Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Significantly additional 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 these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was made mandatory for crucial competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and aim specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort 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 additional 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 aim line ahead of a aim is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the regular 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), regardless of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains common 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 identified as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the aim posts is recognized as the aim line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line truly should really 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 maybe be a many surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 quite initial recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been using 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 decision 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 truly should really 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, due to the fact 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 regular for professional field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

The quite initial hockey ambitions 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 quite initial hit at aim truly should really not cross the aim-line higher 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 aim is scored when the ball passes completely additional than the aim 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 may perhaps maybe play the ball with any element of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly applied regardless of the reality that the area is basically formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the aim 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 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 totally free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly many suggestions from other individuals 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 aim 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 aim line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a distinct goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from aim. 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 aim 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 maybe stand.

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

Every single single half of the pitch is then divided when additional by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single and every single back line. Historically, this was quite initial applied to resume play following the ball passed additional 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 applied for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Provided that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional 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 every single and every single aim 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 perhaps maybe 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 comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the significant of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings specifically exactly where the aim posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball deal with and this in itself assists to reduced the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies substantially significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes easier to comply with, as proficiently as becoming a faster spectacle and significantly more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the quite initial of these even so at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the reality that it is nonetheless permissible to play on 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, demand a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable decision and alternative elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three most critical sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to retain away from pitch place on

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

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduced friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches demand watering ahead of, all through and following the game and upkeep costs are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches cost 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 proper for sports like association football and tennis is usually important and hockey may perhaps maybe not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few many specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like 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 out to be effectively-liked, in distinct for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are usually also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the quite initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “huge rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single distinct of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just 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 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, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the quite initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it difficult to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the transform of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and having fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey