Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot additional deal with of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn out to be a faster and a lot additional fascinating game.

Far additional 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 all-all-natural turf (grass) but these days 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 considerable 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 kind 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball will have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the goal line ahead of a goal 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 (taking into consideration the reality that 1998), in spite of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent 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 amongst the goal posts is recognized as the goal line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line have to have to measure 55.00 m. There will have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may perhaps possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot 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 initially recorded suggestions represented what London clubs have been using 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 choice 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 have 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, considering the fact that 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 knowledgeable field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

The goal will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal place will 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 cease the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in diverse 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 initially 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 initially hit at goal have to have to not cross the goal-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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes completely additional than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may perhaps possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively employed in spite of the reality that 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 suggestions stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a lot 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any entirely no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other people concerning 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 goal 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 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 perhaps possibly stand.

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

Each half of the pitch is then divided when once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single back line. Historically, this was initially employed to resume play quickly following the ball passed additional 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At present, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and entirely no cost-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Thinking about that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional 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 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 perhaps 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 equivalent 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 ideal of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings specifically exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot less difficult ball deal with and this in itself assists to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies significantly significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes a lot less difficult to comply with, as nicely as becoming a faster spectacle and a lot a lot additional fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all considerable competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these on the other hand at this time handful of players had noticed 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 will have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, contact for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable decision and choice elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three key sorts 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 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-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches contact for watering ahead of, in the course of and quickly following the game and upkeep charges are critical.

Sand-dressed pitches value a lot additional 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 acceptable for sports like association football and tennis is commonly critical and hockey may perhaps possibly not be the predominant sport. There are fairly a couple of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like 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 turn out to be nicely-liked, specifically 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 initially 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 rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to one particular distinct of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored a lot additional 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 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and get it tricky to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the modify of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and having fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey