Field Hockey pitch Motlhabeng

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players considerably far more deal with of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has turn into a far more swiftly and considerably far more thrilling game.

Added 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 organic turf (grass) but right now 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 crucial competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and aim specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch kind 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball have to have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to have to wholly cross the aim line ahead of a aim 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 (for the reason that 1998), in spite of the truth that the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are produced use of 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 referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the aim posts is identified as the aim line. The side line have to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to measure 55.00 m. There have to have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could possibly be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings have to 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 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 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) 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 suggestions.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 choice colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, primarily for the reason that blue turf aids television 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 standard for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey aim at the 1960 Summer time time Olympics. The aim is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.

Targets consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the most effective by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar have to have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar have to have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The aim have to have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The aim area have to have to be delimited at ground level by a aim 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 distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the aim is. Normal dimensions for a standard 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 lowered 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 aim ought to not cross the aim-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 aim is scored when the ball passes completely far more than the aim line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, 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 outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly produced use of in spite of the truth that the area is actually formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the aim 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 considerably 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 elevated 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 distinct suggestions from other people with regards 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 aim and produced use of for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the aim 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 aim. 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 aim 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 aim starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Just about every single half of the pitch is then divided when far 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 initially produced use of to resume play right away immediately 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 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 produced use of for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and expense-free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Offered that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of 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 aim 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 could 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 equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the most effective of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the aim posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less complicated ball deal with and this in itself aids to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates drastically much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes much less complicated to adhere to, as correctly as becoming a far more swiftly spectacle and substantially considerably far more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Obtaining stated that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these even so at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even although it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches have to have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, demand a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Obtaining stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable option and choice elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three crucial 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 avert pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be drastically 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 drastically 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 lessen friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Obtaining stated that, these pitches demand watering ahead of, for the duration of and right away immediately after the game and upkeep expenditures are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense considerably far more 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-aim surface suitable for sports such as association football and tennis is generally anticipated and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as 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 nicely-liked, in unique for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe 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 talked about the surface had “enormous added positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 unique of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Obtaining stated that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored considerably 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 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, talked about that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it complicated to adapt.”29 Obtaining stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed correctly following the adjust of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey