Hockey Pitch

Field Hockey pitch Rosendal

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Further facts 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 organic turf (grass) but nowadays 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 major competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch kind aspect 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball should really totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball should really wholly cross the goal line ahead of a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the frequent dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (thinking of that 1998), in spite of the truth that the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are applied 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 involving the goal posts is identified as the goal line. The side line should really measure 91.40 m and the back line require to measure 55.00 m. There should really 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 should really 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 have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been employing 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 option was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play require to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the truth 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 frequent for knowledgeable field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

The goal should really be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal area should really 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 exceptional dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Popular dimensions for a frequent 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 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 goal require to not cross the goal-line bigger 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 (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes totally additional than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Also, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could possibly play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly applied in spite of the truth that the area is primarily 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 recommendations 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 no expense-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly exceptional 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 goal and applied 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 certain 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 could possibly stand.

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

Every single half of the pitch is then divided when once 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 applied to resume play just soon after 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 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 applied for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and no expense-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Thinking about the truth that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are additional 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 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 recommendations.3 There is a associated 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 prime of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less difficult ball handle and this in itself assists to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies a great deal much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game thus becomes much less difficult to adhere to, as proficiently as obtaining a faster spectacle and a fantastic deal additional intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all major competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches should really 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. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable choice and solution elite surfaces that do not require water are obtaining researched.20

There are three most crucial 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 keep clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a great deal 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 a great deal much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lessen friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches require watering ahead of, in the course of and just soon after the game and upkeep charges are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag 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 suitable for sports such as association football and tennis is regularly anticipated and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of exceptional specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn out to be preferred, specially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are regularly 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 stated the surface had “huge benefits”.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 option to make artificial surfaces mandatory considerably favored additional affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it challenging to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed proficiently following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation obtaining worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey

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