Field Hockey pitch Klein Karoo

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot additional handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has come to be a faster and a lot additional fascinating game.

A lot additional 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 organic turf (grass) but right now it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was made mandatory for most 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 will have to certainly cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the goal line just just before a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (simply because 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains widespread 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 amongst the goal posts is recognized as the goal line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line really should actually 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 might possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot 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 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) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Suggestions 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 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 suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play really should actually 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, merely simply because blue turf assists 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 standard for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The goal is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.

Targets consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the prime rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decreased 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 goal will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal area will have 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. Typical dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initially hockey objectives 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 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initially hit at goal really should actually 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 (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes certainly 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 might possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized even though the area is actually 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 a lot 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 no price-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other individuals 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 goal 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 goal 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 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 might possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start off out of each and 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 utilized 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 each and every single back line. Historically, this was initially utilized to resume play proper immediately after 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 utilized for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At present, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Thinking about the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and 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 might 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 lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the prime rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings precisely exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to stick to, as nicely as having a faster spectacle and considerably a lot additional thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all most important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the reality 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, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and alternative elite surfaces that do not demand water are having researched.20

There are three significant sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably 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 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 down friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches demand watering just just before, in the course of and proper immediately after the game and upkeep charges are significant.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag a lot additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-target surface acceptable for sports such as association football and tennis is typically anticipated and hockey might possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have come to be nicely-recognized, in distinct for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically as nicely 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 “huge added positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 distinct of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a lot 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it actually difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the alter of surface in spite of the nation having worse off economically and having fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey