Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has grow to be a quicker and far more thrilling game.

Far more details on Field Hockey pitch and building 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 today it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came for the duration of the 1970s and was created mandatory for key competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Guidelines of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type element of the location which they define. For instance, a ball on the side line is nevertheless in the field of play a ball on the line of the penalty circle is in the penalty circle a foul committed more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre location. A ball will have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the target line just before a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the guidelines in England, the normal dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The guidelines are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (considering the fact that 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains frequent 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 known as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the target posts is recognized as the target line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to measure 55.00 m. There will have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and three m at the backlines which could be a unique surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initial recorded guidelines represented what London clubs had been working 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”. Guidelines by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Guidelines Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this choice was reversed in 1909.five In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the guidelines.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play need to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an option colour. The London 2012 Olympics began a new trend for blue hockey pitches, simply because blue turf assists tv 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 normal for qualified field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season 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 top rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be three.66 metres apart, and the reduced 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 target will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target location will 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 quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in unique dimensions based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Common dimensions for a normal field hockey net are about three.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey targets had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (five.five m) apart” but had been decreased to four yards (three.7 m) apart in the 1886 guidelines. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at target need to not cross the target-line larger than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the targets which are now mandatory.34

Circle

A view of the penalty circle (strong line), the broken circle five m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes totally more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Furthermore, the circle marks the location a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the location exactly where an infringement by a defender final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized even though the location is truly formed by a three.66-metre (four yd) straight line, parallel to the target line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 guidelines stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of 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.five Any cost-free-hit inside five m of the circle has slightly unique guidelines from other people regarding other players’ distance a broken circle five m from the penalty circle denotes this place.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.three 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.four m) from target the following year.five

Other markings

Simon Gougnard prepares to take a penalty corner from the ten m mark. The five 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 of each and every period of play and resumption of play following a target begins with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also utilized for the obselete offside rule.three

Every single half of the pitch is then divided 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 initial utilized to resume play immediately after the ball passed more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this location 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 involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.three Currently, there are detailed guidelines concerning fouls and cost-free-hits in the 23 metre area of the pitch.12 Given that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are further markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and five m from each and every target post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group requires the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender could stand. These marks had been five and ten yards (four.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the guidelines.three There is a comparable mark five m from along the side line (from exactly where lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the top rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits simpler ball handle and this in itself assists to cut down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes simpler to adhere to, as nicely as getting a quicker spectacle and a great deal far more exciting from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was created on organic grass turf. Having said that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all key competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these even so at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even though it is nevertheless 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 Planet Cup, need a water-primarily based playing surface. Having said that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable solution and option elite surfaces that do not need water are getting researched.20

There are 3 principal varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to keep away from pitch put on

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

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

On water-primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf cut down friction and improve the speed at which the game can be played. Having said that, these pitches need watering just before, for the duration of and immediately after the game and upkeep charges are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense far more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Having said that, a multi-goal surface appropriate for sports which includes association football and tennis is usually necessary and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are numerous unique specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which includes shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not too long ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have grow to be common, specially for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are usually also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 “huge added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Having said that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored far 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 had 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 locate it really hard to adapt.”29 Having said that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface in spite of the nation getting worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like beginning more than, with all nations even in field hockey