Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Far a lot more information on Field Hockey pitch and developing 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 presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by way of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for critical 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 ought to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the prevalent dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (simply because 1998), even although the use of the imperial terms remains well-known in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilized 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 named the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line 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 may possibly nicely be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no considerably 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 recommendations represented what London clubs have been producing 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 selection was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play ought 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, due to the reality blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by way of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the prevalent 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.

Ambitions consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the main by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts ought to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decreased 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 objective ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area ought 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 distinctive dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Normal dimensions for a prevalent field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 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 1st hit at objective ought to not cross the objective-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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes completely a lot more than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On top rated of that, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may possibly nicely play the ball with any portion of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender final final results in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized even although the area is seriously 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 ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of considerably 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any price-no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive 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 objective and utilized 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 particular 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 nicely stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began 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 utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Every single and 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 every single back line. Historically, this was 1st utilized 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 utilized for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At present, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and price-no cost-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Contemplating that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized 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 added 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 calls for the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may possibly nicely 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 main 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 significantly less difficult ball handle and this in itself aids to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes significantly less difficult to comply with, as correctly as receiving a faster spectacle and a excellent deal considerably a lot more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all critical competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic 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 Planet Cup, contact for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not contact for water are receiving researched.20

There are three key varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to maintain away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably 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 considerably 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 lessen friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches contact for watering ahead of, by way of and just immediately after the game and upkeep charges are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense considerably a lot more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. On the other hand, a multi-objective surface acceptable for sports which contains association football and tennis is frequently important and hockey may possibly nicely not be the predominant sport. There are numerous distinctive 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 prevalent, especially for football, but these do not frequently meet the FIH’s test criteria they are frequently also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 pointed out the surface had “enormous rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to one particular distinct of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored considerably a lot more 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 involving 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, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and learn it tough to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed correctly following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation receiving worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey