Field Hockey pitch Ngodwana

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot far more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has create into a far more quickly and a lot far more fascinating game.

Far far more 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 these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was made mandatory for key competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort aspect of the place 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 place. A ball will have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the target line just prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the regular dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (taking into consideration the reality that 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent 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 in among the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to seriously 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 may well effectively be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot far 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 initially recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been employing at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches have 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 choice was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play ought to seriously 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, due to the reality blue turf assists 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 regular for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season 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 key by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the reduce 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 place 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 distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Widespread dimensions for a regular field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initially 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 initially hit at target ought to seriously 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 completely far more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Also, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may well effectively play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender positive aspects in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly applied even though the place is generally 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 a lot 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.5 Any price-no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct recommendations from other people 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 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 may well effectively stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of each 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 when once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every single back line. Historically, this was initially applied to resume play just 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 place 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 in among 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and price-no cost-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Contemplating the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every single target 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 may well effectively 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 connected mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the key of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies a lot much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to comply with, as properly as becoming a far more quickly spectacle and substantially a lot far more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all key competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had observed 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 will have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, have to have a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and selection elite surfaces that do not have to have 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 preserve away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a lot 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 a lot much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 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 have to have watering just prior to, in the course of and just immediately after the game and upkeep expenditures are crucial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot far more 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-target surface proper for sports like association football and tennis is normally needed and hockey may well effectively not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have create into effectively-identified, in specific for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are normally also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 stated the surface had “huge benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored a lot 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 have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in among 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 initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and find out it seriously difficult to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the alter of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey