Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Added data and 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 at present 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 critical competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and aim specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch form portion 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball will have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the aim line just just before a aim is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (provided that 1998), in spite of the truth that the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent 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 named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the aim posts is recognized as the aim line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line definitely should really 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 possibly effectively be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no extra 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 functioning with at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches had been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) extended and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards extended 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 choice 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 definitely should really be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an alternative colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the truth 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 common for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey aim at the 1960 Summer time time Olympics. The aim 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 very best by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower 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 aim will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The aim area will have to be delimited at ground level by a aim 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 aim is. Widespread dimensions for a common field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 1st hockey targets 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 aim definitely should really not cross the aim-line bigger 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 aim is scored when the ball passes completely far more than the aim line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may possibly effectively play the ball with any portion of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender final benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly utilized in spite of the truth that the area is actually formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the aim 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 extra 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 totally free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations from other people today relating 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 aim 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 aim 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 aim. 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 aim 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 possibly effectively stand.

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

Just about every half of the pitch is then divided as soon as far more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each single back line. Historically, this was 1st utilized to resume play following 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 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 involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Right now, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration the truth that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each single aim 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 possibly effectively 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 comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the very best of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the aim posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less difficult ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes much less difficult to comply with, as efficiently as becoming a faster spectacle and significantly extra intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all critical competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these possessing mentioned that at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though 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, contact for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable option and alternative elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three principal sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands 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 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 reduce friction and increase the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches contact for watering just just before, in the course of and following the game and upkeep expenditures are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches value extra 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 such as association football and tennis is generally essential and hockey may possibly effectively not be the predominant sport. There are lots 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 frequent, specifically for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally as effectively inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 talked about the surface had “enormous optimistic elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of 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 in spite 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 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it definitely really hard to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed efficiently following the transform of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing 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