Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Extra 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 presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was produced mandatory for huge competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch variety 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball really should certainly cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball really should wholly cross the target line ahead of a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the frequent dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 1998), regardless of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains standard 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 really should measure 91.40 m and the back line require to measure 55.00 m. There really should 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 really should be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far a lot 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 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs had been employing 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”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one particular hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Suggestions 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 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 assists 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 frequent for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

The target really should be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area really should 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 quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Typical dimensions for a frequent field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 1st hockey objectives 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 1st hit at target require to not cross the target-line higher 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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes certainly a lot more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On leading of that, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly utilized regardless of the reality that the area is genuinely 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 objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far a lot 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 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 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 unique 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 could stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start of every single and every single 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 half of the pitch is then divided after a lot more 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 1st utilized to resume play ideal soon after the ball passed a lot 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 regarding fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Contemplating that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone a lot more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single and every single target 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 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 target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less difficult ball deal with and this in itself assists to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies drastically much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes much less difficult to adhere to, as nicely as becoming a a lot more quickly spectacle and a lot far a lot more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all huge competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches really should 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 observed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and selection elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three most vital varieties 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 steer clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be drastically much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for element of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and drastically much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for one particular hundred% of the pile depth

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

Sand-dressed pitches value far a lot 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 suitable for sports which contains association football and tennis is generally anticipated and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which contains shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into properly identified, especially for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “huge constructive elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored far a lot more 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 regardless of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it challenging to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the modify of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey