Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far more manage of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has come to be a quicker and far more fascinating game.

Extra info 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 all-natural turf (grass) but today it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came throughout the 1970s and was produced mandatory for main 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 aspect of the region 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 region. A ball need to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the guidelines in England, the regular dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The guidelines are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (considering the fact that 1998), despite the fact that the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent 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 referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this in between the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line need to measure 91.40 m and the back line should really measure 55.00 m. There need to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and three m at the backlines which may well be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initially recorded guidelines represented what London clubs have been utilizing 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 selection was reversed in 1909.five In 1975, the existing width of 60 yards was written into the guidelines.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play should really 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 assists tv viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch throughout gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the regular for qualified field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season Olympics. The target is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.

Targets 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 need to be three.66 metres apart, and the decrease edge of the crossbar need to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar need to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The target need to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target region need 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 diverse dimensions based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Standard dimensions for a regular field hockey net are about three.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initially 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 initially hit at target should really not cross the target-line greater 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. Furthermore, the circle marks the region a goalkeeper may well play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the region exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilised despite the fact that the region is truly 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 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.five Any free of charge-hit inside five m of the circle has slightly diverse guidelines from other individuals 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 utilised 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 specific 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 may well stand.

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

Every half of the pitch is then divided once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single back line. Historically, this was initially utilised to resume play soon after 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 region 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 utilised for the offside rule in between 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.three Presently, there are detailed guidelines with regards to fouls and free of charge-hits in the 23 metre area of the pitch.12 Due to the fact 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilised 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 every single 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 may well 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 related 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 manage and this in itself assists to cut down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes much easier to adhere to, as properly as getting a quicker spectacle and a lot far more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was created on all-natural grass turf. Nevertheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all main competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these on the other hand at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Despite the fact that it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, demand a water-primarily based playing surface. Nevertheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and option elite surfaces that do not demand water are getting researched.20

There are 3 principal kinds of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be 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 much 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 cut down friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Nevertheless, these pitches demand watering prior to, throughout and soon after the game and upkeep fees are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price far more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nevertheless, a multi-goal surface appropriate for sports like association football and tennis is frequently expected and hockey may well not be the predominant sport. There are several diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like 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 well-known, particularly for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are frequently as well inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and mentioned the surface had “huge rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, mentioned that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nevertheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored far 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 have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in between 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 initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it difficult to adapt.”29 Nevertheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the adjust of surface regardless of the nation getting worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin mentioned that “for India it was like beginning more than, with all nations even in field hockey