Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot a lot more manage of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has turn into a a lot more swiftly and a lot a lot more thrilling game.

Added 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 presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course 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 Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch variety 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball ought to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the target line ahead of a target 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 (due to the reality 1998), in spite of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilised 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 identified as 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 ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line seriously ought to measure 55.00 m. There ought to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could possibly be a exceptional surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot a lot 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 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”. Recommendations 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 Recommendations 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 present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play seriously ought 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, primarily mainly because blue turf aids 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.

Objective

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

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

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

The 1st 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 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the 1st hit at target seriously ought to not cross the target-line higher 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 target is scored when the ball passes totally a lot more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Furthermore, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper could possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender added benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilised in spite of the reality that the place is in reality 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 targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a lot a lot 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 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 exceptional suggestions from other individuals relating 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 target and utilised 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 precise 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 could possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start off off of just about 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 utilised for the obselete offside rule.3

Just about every single half of the pitch is then divided after a lot 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 1st utilised to resume play following the ball passed a lot 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 utilised for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilised for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone a lot more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are a lot more markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from just about 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 could 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 significant of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly much easier ball manage and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game consequently becomes significantly much easier to stick to, as nicely as becoming a a lot more swiftly spectacle and significantly a lot a lot more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all vital 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 Regardless of the reality that it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches ought to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, have to have a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and selection elite surfaces that do not have to have water are becoming researched.20

There are three major sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially 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 substantially much 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 down friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches have to have watering ahead of, in the course of and following the game and upkeep costs are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot a lot more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-objective surface proper for sports which contains association football and tennis is commonly essential and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of exceptional specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which contains shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into nicely-identified, especially for football, but these do not commonly meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as nicely 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 stated the surface had “enormous rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a lot a lot more 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 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 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it challenging to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey