Field Hockey pitch Orange Farm

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players additional manage of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has create into a much more swiftly and additional fascinating game.

More 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 these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was created mandatory for crucial 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 sort element 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball require to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball require to wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (contemplating that 1998), when the use of the imperial terms remains preferred in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are employed 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 amongst the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line require to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to seriously measure 55.00 m. There require to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may possibly effectively be a many surface for the final meter. All line markings require to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no additional 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 incredibly initial recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been operating with 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 selection was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present 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 solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, for the purpose that blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch all through gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the standard for professional field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

Objectives 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 require to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decrease edge of the crossbar require to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar require to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The objective require to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective place require to 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 quit the ball.eight

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

The incredibly initial hockey targets 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 incredibly initial hit at objective ought to seriously not cross the objective-line bigger than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the targets 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 objective is scored when the ball passes completely much more than the objective 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 possibly effectively play the ball with any element of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively employed when the place is fundamentally 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 recommendations stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of additional 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 no price-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly many recommendations from other folks concerning 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 objective and employed 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 distinct 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 may possibly effectively stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of every single 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 employed for the obselete offside rule.3

Each and every single half of the pitch is then divided when much more 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 incredibly initial employed to resume play correct immediately 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 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 employed for the offside rule in amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Contemplating the truth that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are much more markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single single objective 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 possibly 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 comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where extended corners have 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 objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball manage and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests significantly significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to adhere to, as nicely as finding a much more swiftly spectacle and a lot additional intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Getting mentioned that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the incredibly initial of these even so at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches require to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Getting mentioned that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable selection and solution elite surfaces that do not demand water are finding researched.20

There are three significant types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

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

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Getting mentioned that, these pitches demand watering ahead of, all through and correct immediately after the game and upkeep costs are crucial.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Getting mentioned that, a multi-objective surface proper for sports such as association football and tennis is ordinarily anticipated and hockey may possibly effectively not be the predominant sport. There are lots of many 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 create into effectively-identified, specially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily as effectively inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the incredibly initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “huge added positive aspects”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Getting mentioned that, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored additional 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 have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the incredibly initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it seriously difficult to adapt.”29 Getting mentioned that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface regardless of the nation finding worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey