Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

A lot a lot more 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-organic turf (grass) but now it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came via the 1970s and was developed mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort portion 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball must certainly cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball must wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the regular 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), when the use of the imperial terms remains well-known 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 named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line must measure 91.40 m and the back line have to measure 55.00 m. There must be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings must be white and 75 millimeters wide. In 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 really 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”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 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 current width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play have 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 for the reason that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch via gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the regular for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

The objective must be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area must 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 distinct dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Frequent dimensions for a regular field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The really initially hockey objectives 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 really initially hit at objective have to not cross the objective-line higher 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 objective is scored when the ball passes certainly a lot more than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Moreover, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any portion of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly created use of when the area is in reality 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 suggestions stated that “no objectives 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 distinct suggestions from other people today with regards 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 objective 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 objective line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a specific 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 could 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 objective starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also created use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Each single half of the pitch is then divided after 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 really initially created use of to resume play just immediately after 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 area 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions with regards to 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 created use of 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 every single objective 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 associated 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 prime 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 handle and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates a great deal significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to adhere to, as correctly as finding a faster spectacle and substantially a lot a lot more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on all-organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the really initially of these possessing mentioned that at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches must be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, have to have a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable selection and selection elite surfaces that do not have to have water are finding researched.20

There are three essential types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a great deal significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for portion of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and a great deal significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly 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, via and just immediately after the game and upkeep expenditures 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 suitable for sports such as association football and tennis is generally necessary and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are rather a handful of distinct 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 extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into preferred, in specific for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally as properly inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the really initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “substantial rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 specific of nonstop, right-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 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 regardless of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the really initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it challenging to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed correctly following the transform of surface regardless of the nation finding worse off economically and finding fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey