Field Hockey pitch Mossel Bay

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot extra handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has turn into a extra quickly and a lot extra fascinating game.

A lot extra info and information on Field Hockey pitch and constructing there of.

A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on all-all-natural turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was created mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch type 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 extra than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball should really totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball should really wholly cross the objective line just prior to a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the standard 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), even though 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 objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line should really measure 91.40 m and the back line will need to measure 55.00 m. There should really be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which might possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings should really be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every and just about every 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 initial recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been employing 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”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Suggestions 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 suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play will need 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, basically due to the fact blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch all through gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the standard for knowledgeable 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 significant by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts should really be 3.66 metres apart, and the reduce edge of the crossbar should really be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar should really be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The objective should really be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area should really 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 diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Typical dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial 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 initial hit at objective will need to 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 totally extra than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper might possibly play the ball with any portion of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied even though the area is actually 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 elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any entirely cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other people relating to 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 had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a distinct 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 might possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began of every and just about every 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

Every and just about every half of the pitch is then divided after extra by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every and just about every back line. Historically, this was initial applied to resume play quickly 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 applied for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Now, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and entirely cost-free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied 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 and just about every objective post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group demands the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender might possibly 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 connected mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the significant of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less complicated ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes significantly less complicated to stick to, as nicely as receiving a extra quickly spectacle and a lot a lot extra intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches should really be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, demand a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and solution elite surfaces that do not demand water are receiving researched.20

There are three significant sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably 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 considerably significantly 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 reduce down friction and increase the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches demand watering just prior to, all through and quickly following the game and upkeep costs are essential.

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. Nonetheless, a multi-objective surface acceptable for sports which involves association football and tennis is ordinarily anticipated and hockey might possibly not be the predominant sport. There are really a handful of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into effectively identified, especially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily as effectively 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 talked about the surface had “enormous optimistic elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored a lot extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of 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 regardless of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, talked about that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it actually difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface regardless of the nation receiving worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting extra than, with all nations even in field hockey