Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

A lot far more information 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 organic turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came for the duration of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for major competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type portion of the place 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 place. A ball will have to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the goal line prior to a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the prevalent 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), in spite 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 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 in in between the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line have to have to measure 55.00 m. There will 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 diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot far 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 quite 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been employing 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”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards lengthy 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 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 have to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an choice colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, mostly simply because blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch for the duration of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the prevalent for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season time 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 best rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered edge of the crossbar will have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar will have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The goal will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal place will have to 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. Normal dimensions for a prevalent field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The quite 1st hockey targets have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have 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 quite 1st hit at goal have to 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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes entirely far more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may perhaps possibly play the ball with any portion of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively produced use of in spite of the reality that the place is essentially 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 a lot 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 absolutely free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations 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 goal 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 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 may perhaps possibly stand.

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

Just about every single 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 each and every back line. Historically, this was quite 1st produced use of to resume play correct 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 place 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 produced use of for the offside rule in in between 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and absolutely free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Provided that 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 each and every goal 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 associated mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the best rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly simpler ball handle and this in itself aids to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes significantly simpler to adhere to, as successfully as becoming a faster spectacle and substantially a lot far more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all major competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the quite 1st of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 When it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches will have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, get in touch with for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and choice 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 substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for portion of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and substantially much 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 get in touch with for watering prior to, for the duration of and correct soon after the game and upkeep expenditures are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag a lot 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-objective surface proper for sports such as association football and tennis is regularly essential and hockey may perhaps possibly not be the predominant sport. There are fairly a couple of diverse 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 turn into properly identified, in unique for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are regularly also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the quite 1st 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 advantages”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored a lot far more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in in between 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 quite 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it hard to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed successfully following the alter of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey