Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players extra handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn into a much more swiftly and extra thrilling 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 for the duration of the 1970s and was made mandatory for important 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 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 much 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 prior to 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 (due to the reality 1998), regardless of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains well-known 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 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 aim posts is recognized as the aim line. The side line have to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line have 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 might maybe be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings have to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been operating 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 “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 suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play have 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, due to the fact 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 certified field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey aim at the 1960 Summer season 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 ideal by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decreased 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. Typical dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 1st 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 1st hit at aim have 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 much more than the aim line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Moreover, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper might maybe 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 produced use of regardless of the reality that the area is in reality 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 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any price-no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct suggestions 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 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 certain 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 might maybe stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get started out of each 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

Every single and each half of the pitch is then divided when once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each single back line. Historically, this was 1st produced use of to resume play suitable just 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 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 involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and price-no cost-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much 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 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 might maybe 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 extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the ideal of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings specifically exactly where the aim posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot a lot easier ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates a lot much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes a lot a lot easier to comply with, as appropriately as becoming a much more swiftly spectacle and drastically extra intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Regardless of the reality that 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 Planet Cup, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three key sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a lot 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 a lot much 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 reduce friction and improve the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches demand watering prior to, for the duration of and suitable just after the game and upkeep expenditures are essential.

Sand-dressed pitches expense extra than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Even so, a multi-objective surface proper for sports which involves association football and tennis is commonly anticipated and hockey might maybe not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into nicely-recognized, in certain for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 stated the surface had “enormous rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and learn it difficult to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed appropriately following the adjust of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing 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