Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players considerably much more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a faster and considerably much more fascinating game.

A lot 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 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 vital competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type 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 much more 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 target line just just before a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the typical dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the truth 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains widespread 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 forth).

The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are referred to 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 seriously need to 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 could possibly be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no considerably 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 quite initial recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been operating with 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 “1 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 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 seriously need to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an selection colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, for the explanation that blue turf aids 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 typical for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Goal

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer time time 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 by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered 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 area 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 cease the ball.eight

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

The quite 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 quite initial hit at target seriously need to not cross the target-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 target is scored when the ball passes certainly much more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied although the area is definitely formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the target 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 considerably 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 certainly cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive recommendations from other men and women 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 target 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 target line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a distinct goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 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.4 m) from target 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 possibly stand.

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

Every single single half of the pitch is then divided as soon as much 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 quite initial applied to resume play quickly right after 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 applied for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and certainly cost-free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Due to the truth 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are added 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 target post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group needs the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender could 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 comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners have 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 extended markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less complex ball handle and this in itself aids to lower the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes much less complex to adhere to, as efficiently as receiving a faster spectacle and a lot considerably much more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) designed artificial pitches mandatory at all vital competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the quite initial of these getting stated that at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though 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 Planet Cup, get in touch with for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable choice and selection elite surfaces that do not get in touch with for water are receiving researched.20

There are three major types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly 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 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-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lower friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches get in touch with for watering just just before, in the course of and quickly right after the game and upkeep expenditures are vital.

Sand-dressed pitches cost considerably much more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-objective surface suitable for sports like association football and tennis is frequently important and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like 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 properly recognized, specifically for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are frequently also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the quite 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 constructive elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 certain of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored considerably 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 quite initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it seriously tough to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed efficiently following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation receiving worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey