Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players extra handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has come to be a more quickly and extra thrilling game.

Additional details on Field Hockey pitch and building 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 presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was created mandatory for big competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Guidelines of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch kind portion of the location 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 more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre location. A ball ought to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the guidelines in England, the normal dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The guidelines are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (given that 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are made 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 known as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the target posts is recognized as the target line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to measure 55.00 m. There ought to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and three m at the backlines which could be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no extra 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initial recorded guidelines represented what London clubs have been working with at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches have been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Guidelines by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Guidelines Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this choice was reversed in 1909.five In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the guidelines.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play need to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an option colour. The London 2012 Olympics began a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the fact blue turf aids tv viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch in the course of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the normal for experienced field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer time Olympics. The target 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 prime by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts ought to be three.66 metres apart, and the reduce edge of the crossbar ought to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar ought to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The target ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target location ought 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 distinctive dimensions based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Common dimensions for a normal field hockey net are about three.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey objectives have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (five.five m) apart” but have been decreased to four yards (three.7 m) apart in the 1886 guidelines. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at target need to not cross the target-line larger than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the objectives which are now mandatory.34

Circle

A view of the penalty circle (strong line), the broken circle five m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes entirely more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the location a goalkeeper could play the ball with any portion of his physique and the location exactly where an infringement by a defender final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly made use of even though the location is basically formed by a three.66-metre (four yd) straight line, parallel to the target line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 guidelines stated that “no objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of extra 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.five Any totally free-hit inside five m of the circle has slightly distinctive guidelines from other folks regarding other players’ distance a broken circle five m from the penalty circle denotes this place.ten

A penalty spot is centrally positioned straight in front of the target and made 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 target line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.three 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.four m) from target the following year.five

Other markings

Simon Gougnard prepares to take a penalty corner from the ten m mark. The five m line above demarcates the closest position a defender could stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start off of each and every period of play and resumption of play following a target begins with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also made use of for the obselete offside rule.three

Each and every half of the pitch is then divided once more 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 made use of to resume play following the ball passed more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this location 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 made use of for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.three Presently, there are detailed guidelines concerning fouls and totally free-hits in the 23 metre area of the pitch.12 Given that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been made use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are further markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and five m from each and every target post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group requires the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender could stand. These marks had been five and ten yards (four.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the guidelines.three There is a equivalent mark five m from along the side line (from exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the prime of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much easier ball handle and this in itself aids to minimize the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes much easier to stick to, as nicely as getting a more quickly spectacle and significantly extra fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was created on organic grass turf. Having said that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all big competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 While it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches ought to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, call for a water-primarily based playing surface. Having said that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable alternative and option elite surfaces that do not call for water are getting researched.20

There are 3 principal sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

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

On water-primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf minimize friction and improve the speed at which the game can be played. Having said that, these pitches call for watering prior to, in the course of and following the game and upkeep fees are important.

Sand-dressed pitches price extra than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Having said that, a multi-goal surface appropriate for sports which includes association football and tennis is typically necessary and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which includes shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not too long ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have come to be preferred, specifically for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically as well 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 mentioned the surface had “huge added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, mentioned that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, accurate-hop action.”28 Having said that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just before the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have 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 regardless of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, mentioned that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and locate it tough to adapt.”29 Having said that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the modify of surface regardless of the nation getting worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin mentioned that “for India it was like beginning more than, with all nations even in field hockey