Field Hockey pitch Ixopo

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players substantially additional handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn into a additional rapidly and substantially additional fascinating game.

A lot additional facts and information on Field Hockey pitch and constructing there of.

A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on all-all-natural turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came via the 1970s and was made mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort aspect 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball require to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball require to wholly cross the goal line just ahead of a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the prevalent dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (taking into consideration that 1998), regardless of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains common in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are employed 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 goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line require to measure 91.40 m and the back line should really genuinely measure 55.00 m. There require to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings require to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no substantially additional 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 initial recorded recommendations represented what London clubs had been applying 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”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 hundred yards extended 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 selection 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 should really genuinely 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 reality blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch via gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the prevalent for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

The goal require to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal area require to be delimited at ground level by a goal 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 distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Typical dimensions for a prevalent field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial 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 initial hit at goal should really genuinely not cross the goal-line higher 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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes totally additional than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly employed regardless of the reality that the area is generally formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the goal 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 substantially additional 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 certainly absolutely free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct recommendations from other men and women relating to other players’ distance a broken circle 5 m from the penalty circle denotes this spot.ten

A penalty spot is centrally positioned straight in front of the goal and employed for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the goal line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a certain goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from goal. 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 goal 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 off off of every single period of play and resumption of play following a goal starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also employed for the obselete offside rule.3

Just about every half of the pitch is then divided after additional 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 initial employed to resume play just following the ball passed additional 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 employed for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and certainly absolutely free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single goal 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 connected mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where extended corners had 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 extended markings specifically exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball handle and this in itself assists to reduced the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to comply with, as correctly as obtaining a additional rapidly spectacle and a terrific deal substantially additional intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on all-all-natural grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these obtaining stated that at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the reality that it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches require to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, contact for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not contact for water are obtaining researched.20

There are three principal types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to avoid pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially 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 substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduced friction and increase the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches contact for watering just ahead of, via and just following the game and upkeep expenditures are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense substantially additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. On the other hand, a multi-objective surface proper for sports such as association football and tennis is generally important and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are fairly a couple of distinct 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 prevalent, specifically for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally as properly inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “enormous positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 certain of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored substantially additional 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 in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it tough to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed correctly following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation obtaining worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey