Field Hockey pitch Kagiso

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players substantially far more manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a far more swiftly and substantially far more fascinating game.

Added 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-organic turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came via the 1970s and was developed mandatory for crucial competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type aspect 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the typical dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains preferred 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 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 target posts is identified as the target line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to measure 55.00 m. There have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may perhaps possibly be a numerous surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no substantially far more 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 extremely initially recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been using 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 “1 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 selection 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 ought to 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, due to the reality blue turf aids 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 typical for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer time time Olympics. The target 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 have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The target have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target place have to be delimited at ground level by a target 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 numerous dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Widespread dimensions for a typical field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The extremely initially hockey ambitions had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but had 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 extremely initially hit at target ought to not cross the target-line higher 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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes completely far more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On top rated of that, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may perhaps possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender added benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized although the place is definitely formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the target line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 suggestions stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of substantially far 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.5 Any no price-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly numerous suggestions 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 target 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 target line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from target. 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 target 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 perhaps possibly stand.

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

Every single half of the pitch is then divided after once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every back line. Historically, this was extremely initially utilized to resume play straight away right after 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 place 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 in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Now, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration the reality 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 added markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every target 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 may perhaps possibly 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 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 target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits substantially a lot easier ball manage and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies substantially significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes substantially a lot easier to stick to, as nicely as receiving a far more swiftly spectacle and a lot substantially far more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on all-organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the extremely initially of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 When it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, contact for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable selection and choice elite surfaces that do not contact for water are receiving researched.20

There are three important sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

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

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and improve the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches contact for watering prior to, via and straight away right after the game and upkeep costs are crucial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense substantially far more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Even so, a multi-target surface suitable for sports like association football and tennis is commonly anticipated and hockey may perhaps possibly not be the predominant sport. There are various numerous specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be effectively-identified, specifically for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the extremely initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “huge added added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored substantially far more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just 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 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, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the extremely initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it difficult to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface regardless of the nation receiving worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey