Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot extra manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has come to be a extra swiftly and a lot extra fascinating game.

Added details 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 all-all-natural turf (grass) but nowadays it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for significant 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 kind 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 extra than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball should really entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball should really wholly cross the objective line just just before a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (thinking of that 1998), when the use of the imperial terms remains common 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 named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst 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 distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings should really be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each single 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs have been generating use of 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”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one particular hundred yards extended 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 option 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 selection colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the truth 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 standard for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Goal

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer time season Olympics. The objective 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 prime rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts should really be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered 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 cease the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Prevalent 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 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 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the 1st hit at objective will need to not cross the objective-line bigger 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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes entirely extra than the objective 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 possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender final benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied when the area is in truth 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any totally 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 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 have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a specific goal3 they have 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 commence off of each single 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

Each and every and each half of the pitch is then divided as soon as once again 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 applied to resume play correct soon after 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 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At the moment, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Thinking about the truth that 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 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 single objective 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 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 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 prime rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot a lot easier ball manage and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes a lot a lot easier to stick to, as effectively as becoming a extra swiftly spectacle and considerably a lot extra thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on all-all-natural grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all significant competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these on the other hand at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 When 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, contact for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and selection elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three significant varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for element 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 one particular hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches contact for watering just just before, in the course of and correct soon after the game and upkeep costs are critical.

Sand-dressed pitches cost a lot 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-target surface acceptable for sports such as association football and tennis is frequently crucial and hockey might possibly not be the predominant sport. There are fairly a couple of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have come to be effectively identified, particularly 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 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “enormous rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to one particular specific of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored a lot extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just just before the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have 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 in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it genuinely really hard to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed effectively following the transform of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting extra than, with all nations even in field hockey