Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a great deal much more manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has come to be a much more immediately and a great deal much more fascinating game.

Significantly much 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 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 critical competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch form 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 need to have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to have to wholly cross the goal line just ahead of a goal 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 (thinking of that 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains frequent in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are created use of to distinguish the field of play (green or blue) from the run-off (red/blue/yellow/orange/and so on).

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 involving the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line need to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to have to measure 55.00 m. There need to have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may well maybe be a several surface for the final meter. All line markings need to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a great deal much 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 incredibly 1st 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 decision 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 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 alternative colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, mostly since blue turf assists 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 skilled field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The goal 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 top by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts need to have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered edge of the crossbar need to have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar need to have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The goal need to have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal place need to have to be delimited at ground level by a goal 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 several dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Typical dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The incredibly 1st hockey ambitions have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been lowered to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the incredibly 1st hit at goal need to have to not cross the goal-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 (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes totally much more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Moreover, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may well maybe play the ball with any element of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly created use of although the place is in reality formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the goal line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 recommendations stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a great deal much 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 totally cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly several recommendations from other people 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 goal and created 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 goal line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from goal. 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 goal 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 maybe stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start out out of just about every single period of play and resumption of play following a goal starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also created use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Just about every single half of the pitch is then divided as soon as much more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from just about every single back line. Historically, this was incredibly 1st created use of to resume play following 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 created use of for the offside rule in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At present, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and totally cost-free-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been created use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are much more markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from just about every single goal 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 may well maybe 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 associated 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 top of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less challenging ball manage and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies drastically significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes significantly less challenging to stick to, as adequately as finding a much more immediately spectacle and drastically a great deal much more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on organic grass turf. Getting mentioned that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all critical competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the incredibly 1st of these nonetheless at this time handful 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 need to have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, need to have a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Getting mentioned that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not need to have water are finding researched.20

There are three principal 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 remain clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be drastically 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 drastically significantly 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 enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Getting mentioned that, these pitches need to have watering just ahead of, for the duration of and following the game and upkeep charges are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches value a great deal much more 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 like association football and tennis is often needed and hockey may well maybe not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few several specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have come to be effectively identified, particularly for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are often as effectively inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the incredibly 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “huge constructive elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Getting mentioned that, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored a great deal much 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 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 incredibly 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it difficult to adapt.”29 Getting mentioned that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed adequately following the alter of surface regardless of the nation finding worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey