Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Additional 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 right now it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by means of the 1970s and was created mandatory for vital 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 variety 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 completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball should really wholly cross the target line just prior to a target 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 the reality that 1998), although 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 named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line should really measure 91.40 m and the back line need to have 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 could be a special surface for the final meter. All line markings should really be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been using 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”. Suggestions 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 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 present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play need to have 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, basically for the reason that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by means of 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 target at the 1960 Summer season season Olympics. The target 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 major 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 target should really be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area should really 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 quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in special dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Regular dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 1st hockey objectives 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 target need to have to not cross the target-line bigger 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 (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes completely extra than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On prime of that, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied although the area is basically 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 suggestions stated that “no objectives 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 totally no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly special suggestions from other people relating to other players’ distance a broken circle 5 m from the penalty circle denotes this location.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 had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a distinct goal3 they had 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 could stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start off out of every single 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 as soon as extra by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single single back line. Historically, this was 1st applied to resume play correct 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and totally no cost-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Thinking of the reality 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 additional markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single single target 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 could 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 major of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings specifically exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less difficult ball deal with and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies a lot much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game for that reason becomes much less difficult to stick to, as successfully as obtaining a extra swiftly spectacle and a good deal a lot extra fascinating 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) created artificial pitches mandatory at all vital competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the reality that 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 Globe Cup, demand a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Even so, 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 obtaining researched.20

There are three most vital 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 hold 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 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-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and increase the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches demand watering just prior to, by means of and correct following the game and upkeep costs are substantial.

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. Even so, a multi-purpose surface suitable for sports like association football and tennis is ordinarily required and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are several special 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 develop to be properly-liked, especially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe 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 described the surface had “big rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single certain of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a lot extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just 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 in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it seriously really hard to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed successfully following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation obtaining worse off economically and obtaining fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting extra than, with all nations even in field hockey