Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has grow to be a quicker and a lot more fascinating game.

Much more 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 all-natural turf (grass) but today 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 key competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and purpose specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Guidelines of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type aspect 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 fully cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the purpose line prior to a purpose 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 (because 1998), 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 known as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the purpose posts is identified as the purpose line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought 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 every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 making use of 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 ought 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 assists 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 regular for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey purpose at the 1960 Summer time Olympics. The purpose 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 top rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts ought to be three.66 metres apart, and the reduced 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 purpose ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The purpose location ought to be delimited at ground level by a purpose 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 purpose is. Common dimensions for a regular field hockey net are about three.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initially hockey ambitions have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (five.five m) apart” but have been lowered 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 purpose ought to not cross the purpose-line larger 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 (strong line), the broken circle five m from it, and the penalty spot.

A purpose is scored when the ball passes fully more than the purpose 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 aspect of his physique and the location exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly utilised though the location is truly formed by a three.66-metre (four yd) straight line, parallel to the purpose line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 guidelines stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of 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.five Any no cost-hit inside five m of the circle has slightly distinctive guidelines from other people 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 purpose 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 purpose 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 purpose. 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 purpose 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 out of every single period of play and resumption of play following a purpose 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 more 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 immediately 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 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 utilised for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.three Presently, there are detailed guidelines concerning fouls and no cost-hits in the 23 metre area of the pitch.12 Considering the fact that 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 added markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and five m from every single purpose 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 top rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings exactly where the purpose posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot easier ball handle and this in itself assists to cut down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes a lot easier to adhere to, as properly as becoming a quicker spectacle and a lot a lot more exciting from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was created on all-natural grass turf. Having said that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all key competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-natural 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 Globe Cup, demand a water-primarily based playing surface. Having said that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable solution and option elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are 3 most important sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, needs 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 aspect 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 cut down friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Having said that, these pitches demand watering prior to, in the course of and immediately after the game and upkeep fees are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price a lot more 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 such as association football and tennis is typically expected and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as 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 grow to be preferred, particularly for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe 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 added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, mentioned that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Having said that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored 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 have 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, mentioned that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and locate it difficult to adapt.”29 Having said that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the transform of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin mentioned that “for India it was like beginning more than, with all nations even in field hockey