Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Further 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 presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was designed mandatory for essential 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 element 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball will need to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will need to wholly cross the objective line just ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (contemplating that 1998), though the use of the imperial terms remains common in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are applied 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 identified as 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 will need to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to measure 55.00 m. There will need to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a exclusive surface for the final meter. All line markings will need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every and every 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 1st recorded recommendations 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) extended and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single 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 current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.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 alternative colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the fact 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 seasoned field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer time time Olympics. The objective 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 prime by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will need to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar will need to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar will need to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The objective will need to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area will need 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 quit the ball.eight

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

The 1st hockey objectives have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been lowered to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the 1st hit at objective ought to not cross the objective-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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes entirely far more than the objective 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 area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied though the area is basically 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 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 expense-free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly exclusive recommendations from other folks 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 applied 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 unique 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 could stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get started out of each and every and 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 applied for the obselete offside rule.3

Each and every 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 and every single back line. Historically, this was 1st applied to resume play just just 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 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 applied for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Currently, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and expense-free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Offered that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every and 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 could 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 comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where extended 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 extended markings specifically exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot less complicated ball manage and this in itself assists to lower the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates significantly significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game thus becomes a lot less complicated to stick to, as nicely as finding a faster spectacle and significantly further thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. Obtaining stated that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) designed artificial pitches mandatory at all essential competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches will need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, get in touch with for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Obtaining stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable resolution and alternative elite surfaces that do not get in touch with for water are finding researched.20

There are three significant types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly 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 element 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-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lower friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Obtaining stated that, these pitches get in touch with for watering just ahead of, in the course of and just just after the game and upkeep expenditures are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches value further than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Obtaining stated that, a multi-objective surface suitable for sports which contains association football and tennis is commonly necessary and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are fairly a couple of exclusive 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 create into nicely identified, specially for football, but these do not commonly meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “enormous positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Obtaining stated that, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored further 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 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, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it actually challenging to adapt.”29 Obtaining stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the alter of surface in spite of the nation finding worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey