Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Further 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-organic turf (grass) but at the moment it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was created mandatory for crucial 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 aspect 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 completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought 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 had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (thinking of that 1998), in spite of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains standard 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 identified as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line definitely need 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 might possibly 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 additional than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.

Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been creating use of at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches had 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 “one particular 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 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 definitely need 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, mostly due to the fact blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch all through gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the standard for certified field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer time 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 best rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts ought to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower 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 goal ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal place ought 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 distinctive dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Common 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 had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but had been lowered 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 goal definitely need to not cross the goal-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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes completely a lot more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper might possibly play the ball with any aspect 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 utilized in spite of the reality that the place is definitely 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 targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of 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 completely no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive suggestions from other men and women 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 utilized 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 had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular goal3 they had 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 might 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 utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Each and every single 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 1st utilized 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 had 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Right now, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and completely no cost-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Mainly because 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 lengthy corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm lengthy 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 demands the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender might 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 specifically exactly where lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the best rated 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 much less hard ball manage and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes much less hard to stick to, as proficiently as receiving a faster spectacle and a good deal additional thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on all-organic grass turf. Possessing mentioned that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although 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, require a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Possessing mentioned that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable answer and selection elite surfaces that do not require water are receiving researched.20

There are three most vital 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 maintain away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for aspect 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 friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Possessing mentioned that, these pitches require watering ahead of, all through and following the game and upkeep costs are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Possessing mentioned that, a multi-aim surface proper for sports which involves association football and tennis is commonly critical and hockey might possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves 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 properly identified, especially for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as properly 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 stated the surface had “huge added added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Possessing mentioned that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored 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 had 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 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it hard to adapt.”29 Possessing mentioned that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the modify of surface in spite of the nation receiving worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey