Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Added data and 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 all-organic turf (grass) but these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for substantial competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch form aspect 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 must totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball must wholly cross the objective line prior to a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the regular dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (thinking about the reality that 1998), even even though the use of the imperial terms remains frequent in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilised 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 involving the objective posts is identified as the objective line. The side line must measure 91.40 m and the back line require to measure 55.00 m. There must be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings must be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no substantially far 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 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) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 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 option 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 require 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, due to the fact blue turf aids television 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 regular for professional field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

The objective must be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective place must be delimited at ground level by a objective 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 objective is. Widespread dimensions for a regular field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The pretty initially 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the pretty initially hit at objective require to not cross the objective-line bigger 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 objective is scored when the ball passes totally far more than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper could play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender rewards in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilised even even though the place is basically formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the objective line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 recommendations stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of substantially 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 enhanced 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 diverse recommendations from other people with regards to 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 objective and utilised for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the objective line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a unique goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from objective. 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 objective 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 stand.

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

Every single and each and every half of the pitch is then divided after far more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every single back line. Historically, this was pretty initially utilised to resume play just 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 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 utilised for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations with regards to 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 utilised for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every single objective 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 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 lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the top of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball deal with and this in itself aids to decrease the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to adhere to, as proficiently as finding a faster spectacle and significantly substantially far more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all substantial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the pretty initially of these on the other hand at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches must 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. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and selection elite surfaces that do not demand water are finding researched.20

There are three most essential types 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 keep clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for aspect 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 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf decrease friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches demand watering prior to, in the course of and just soon after the game and upkeep expenditures are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense substantially 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 acceptable for sports which consists of association football and tennis is normally required and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are really a handful of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which consists of 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 create into preferred, in unique for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are normally as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe 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 talked about the surface had “substantial good elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 unique of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored substantially far more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just 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 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, talked about that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the pretty initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the transform of surface regardless of the nation finding worse off economically and finding fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey