Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?
The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players considerably much more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn into a much more quickly and considerably much more thrilling game.
Additional 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 organic turf (grass) but these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by means of the 1970s and was produced mandatory for significant competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and aim specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.
All line markings on the pitch type element 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball need to have to definitely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to have to wholly cross the aim line prior to a aim is scored.
Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the normal dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the fact 1998), though the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent in some nations
Field of play on a hockey pitch
Colored pitches are produced 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 in amongst the aim posts is identified as the aim line. The side line need to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line should measure 55.00 m. There need to have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may well be a several surface for the final meter. All line markings need to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no considerably much 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 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) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations 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 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 present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34
On artificial surfaces, the field of play should 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, for the purpose that blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by means of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the normal for certified field hockey tournaments.
Objective
A hockey aim at the 1960 Summer season season Olympics. The aim 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 important by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts need to have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered edge of the crossbar need to have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar need to have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.
The aim need to have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The aim area need to have to be delimited at ground level by a aim 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 several dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the aim is. Normal dimensions for a normal 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 decreased 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 aim should not cross the aim-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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.
A aim is scored when the ball passes definitely much more than the aim line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Furthermore, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may well play the ball with any element of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender final outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively produced use of though the area is actually formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the aim 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 considerably much 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 definitely free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly several suggestions from other people relating to 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 aim and produced 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 aim line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a distinct goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from aim. 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 aim 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 well stand.
A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start off out of each and every period of play and resumption of play following a aim starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3
Every single single half of the pitch is then divided after once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every back line. Historically, this was 1st produced use of to resume play ideal following the ball passed much 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 produced use of for the offside rule in amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and definitely free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Due to the truth 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13
There are much more markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every aim 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 may well 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 precisely exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the important of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings precisely exactly where the aim posts are situated.14
Artificial playing surface
“artificial grass permits much less difficult ball handle and this in itself assists to decrease the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes much less difficult to stick to, as nicely as becoming a much more quickly spectacle and a lot considerably much more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”
Historically, the game was produced on organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all significant competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches need to have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, contact for a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20
There are three important types 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 hold away from pitch place on
• Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for element 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 decrease friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches contact for watering prior to, by means of and ideal following the game and upkeep charges are critical.
Sand-dressed pitches expense considerably much 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 like association football and tennis is ordinarily anticipated and hockey may well not be the predominant sport. There are various several specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like 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 nicely-identified, in certain for football, but these do not normally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily as nicely inconsistent and slow.27
Criticism
The Globe 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 a single of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored considerably much more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just 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 in 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, stated that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and get it difficult to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the adjust of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey
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