Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot much more deal with of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a much more swiftly and a lot much more thrilling game.

Significantly much more information on Field Hockey pitch and developing 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 for the duration of the 1970s and was designed mandatory for principal competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort portion 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball ought to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the objective line prior to a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the regular dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the fact 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains widespread 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 named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the objective posts is identified as the objective line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line genuinely ought to 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 may possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot 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 initial recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been using 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 “a single 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 choice 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 genuinely ought to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, mostly due to the fact blue turf aids 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 regular for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Aim

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

Objectives 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 ought to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lessen 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 objective ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area ought to be delimited at ground level by a objective 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 objective is. Normal dimensions for a regular 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at objective genuinely ought to not cross the objective-line bigger 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 objective is scored when the ball passes completely much more than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On prime of that, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may possibly play the ball with any portion 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 broadly utilised even though the area is in truth formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the objective line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 recommendations stated that “no objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a lot 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any completely cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations from other people concerning 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 objective 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 objective 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 objective. 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 objective 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 possibly stand.

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

Just about every half of the pitch is then divided when much more 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 utilised to resume play following 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 area 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 involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and completely cost-free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Simply because 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilised 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 objective 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 possibly 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 equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where lengthy corners have 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 lengthy markings precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot less difficult ball deal with and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies significantly significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a result becomes a lot less difficult to comply with, as proficiently as becoming a much more swiftly spectacle and substantially a lot much more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) designed artificial pitches mandatory at all principal competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these even so at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-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 Globe Cup, have to have a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and solution elite surfaces that do not have to have water are becoming researched.20

There are three principal types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to steer clear of pitch place on

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

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and significantly significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches have to have watering prior to, for the duration of and following the game and upkeep expenditures are critical.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot much 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-aim surface proper for sports which contains association football and tennis is generally vital and hockey may possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which contains shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be effectively-identified, especially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally as effectively 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 stated the surface had “enormous benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored a lot 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 involving 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 initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it genuinely tough to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the alter of surface in spite 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 starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey