Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot extra manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has create into a faster and a lot extra fascinating game.

Additional information on Field Hockey pitch and creating 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 these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by means of the 1970s and was made mandatory for primary 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 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 extra than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective 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 (thinking of that 1998), though the use of the imperial terms remains standard 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 objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line should really definitely 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 well nicely be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot extra 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 functioning with 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”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one particular 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 current width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play should really definitely 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, given that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by means of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the typical for certified field hockey tournaments.

Goal

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer season time 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 top by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered 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 objective have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area have 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. Popular dimensions for a typical field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 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 initially hit at objective should really definitely not cross the objective-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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes completely extra than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Moreover, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may well nicely play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender positive aspects in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized though the area is primarily 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 suggestions stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a lot extra 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 absolutely free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other people today 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 utilized 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 had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they had 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 well nicely stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The begin out 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 utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Every and every single half of the pitch is then divided when extra 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 initially utilized to resume play ideal following the ball passed extra 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 These days, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and absolutely free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Offered that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone extra than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are extra 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 well nicely 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 equivalent 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 top 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 much less complex ball manage and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes much less complex to comply with, as proficiently as becoming a faster spectacle and a fantastic deal a lot extra intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

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

There are three important varieties 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 remain clear of 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 one particular hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Possessing mentioned that, these pitches demand watering ahead of, by means of and ideal following the game and upkeep charges are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot extra 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 acceptable for sports which incorporates association football and tennis is normally important and hockey may well nicely not be the predominant sport. There are really a handful of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which incorporates shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have create into popular, in certain for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are normally as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 “enormous rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to one particular certain of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Possessing mentioned that, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored a lot extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just just before 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 regardless 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 get it definitely challenging to adapt.”29 Possessing mentioned that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the alter of surface regardless 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 extra than, with all nations even in field hockey