Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players much more manage of the ball. Coupled with improved ball speed, hockey has develop into a quicker and much more fascinating game.

A lot 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 organic turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came throughout the 1970s and was created mandatory for big 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 will have to absolutely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the purpose line prior to a purpose is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the guidelines in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The guidelines are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (given that 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 forth).

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 among the purpose posts is recognized as the purpose line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line should really measure 55.00 m. There will have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and three m at the backlines which may possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no much 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 working with 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 present 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 common for expert 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 major by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be three.66 metres apart, and the reduced 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 purpose will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The purpose location will have 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 quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in diverse dimensions based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the purpose is. Common dimensions for a common 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 should really not cross the purpose-line greater 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 absolutely more than the purpose line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Moreover, the circle marks the location a goalkeeper may possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the location exactly where an infringement by a defender final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively 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 much 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 improved 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 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 may possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of every 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 back line. Historically, this was initially utilised to resume play just 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 among 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.three Today, there are detailed guidelines relating to fouls and free of charge-hits in the 23 metre area of the pitch.12 Given 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 more markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and five m from every 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 may possibly 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 major 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 simpler ball manage and this in itself assists to minimize the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes simpler to stick to, as nicely as becoming a quicker spectacle and considerably much more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was created on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all big competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these on the other hand at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Despite the fact that 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 Globe Cup, need a water-primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable selection and option elite surfaces that do not need water are becoming researched.20

There are 3 primary varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to steer 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 minimize friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches need watering prior to, throughout and just after the game and upkeep fees are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price much 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 appropriate for sports like association football and tennis is normally expected and hockey may possibly not be the predominant sport. There are numerous 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 develop into common, specially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are normally 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 stated the surface had “massive rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to one particular of nonstop, accurate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored much 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 among 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it really hard to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the alter of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like beginning more than, with all nations even in field hockey