Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players further handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a much more immediately and further fascinating game.

Far much more details 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 organic turf (grass) but at the moment it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came for the duration of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for vital competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch kind portion of the place 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball ought to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the goal line ahead of a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the widespread dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 1998), even even though the use of the imperial terms remains frequent in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are produced use of 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 identified as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this in involving the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line really should truly measure 55.00 m. There ought to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no further 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initial recorded suggestions represented what London clubs have been producing 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”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 hundred yards lengthy 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 option was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play really should truly be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an choice colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, for the explanation that blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch for the duration of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the widespread for certified field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season time 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 major by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts ought to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decreased 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 goal ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal place ought 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 cease the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Popular dimensions for a widespread field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey objectives have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been decreased to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at goal really should truly not cross the goal-line higher 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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes entirely much more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On leading of that, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper could play the ball with any portion of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender advantages in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively produced use of even even though the place is fundamentally 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 suggestions stated that “no objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of further 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 totally free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other folks with regards 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 produced use of 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 have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a specific goal3 they have 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 out of every single 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 produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Every and every single half of the pitch is then divided after much more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single single back line. Historically, this was initial produced use of to resume play right away immediately after the ball passed much more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this place 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 produced use of for the offside rule in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are much more markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single single goal post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group calls for 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 suggestions.3 There is a associated mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically 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 specifically exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to comply with, as nicely as becoming a much more immediately spectacle and substantially further fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Possessing mentioned that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all vital competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic 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 Planet Cup, will need a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Possessing mentioned that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and choice elite surfaces that do not will need water are becoming researched.20

There are three important types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably 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 considerably 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 reduce friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Possessing mentioned that, these pitches will need watering ahead of, for the duration of and right away immediately after the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense further than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Possessing mentioned that, a multi-objective surface proper for sports which involves association football and tennis is ordinarily required and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are many diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be widespread, in specific for football, but these do not commonly meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 “substantial optimistic elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 specific of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Possessing mentioned that, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored further affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in involving 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, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and learn it tough to adapt.”29 Possessing mentioned that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the adjust of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey