Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Further details 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 now 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 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 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 require to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball require to wholly cross the objective line just ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the fact 1998), although 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 referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this in involving the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line require to measure 91.40 m and the back line seriously must measure 55.00 m. There require to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could maybe be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings require to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no extra 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initially recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been creating 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) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single 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 decision 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 seriously must 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, due to the fact blue turf aids 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 common for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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 best rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts require to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar require to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar require to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

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

The initially 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 initially hit at objective seriously must not cross the objective-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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes completely additional than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. In addition, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could maybe play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender positive aspects in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied although the area is basically 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 targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of extra 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 totally free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct recommendations 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 objective 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 objective 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 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 maybe stand.

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

Every single and every single half of the pitch is then divided after additional by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single single back line. Historically, this was initially applied to resume play straight away right 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 in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Provided 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 lengthy corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single 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 could maybe 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 precisely exactly where lengthy corners have 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 precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less tricky ball manage and this in itself aids to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates a great deal much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes much less tricky to adhere to, as adequately as becoming a faster spectacle and a fantastic deal extra thrilling 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 important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Whilst it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches require to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe 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 lengthy-term sustainable option and selection elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three big types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to steer 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 a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lessen friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches contact for watering just ahead of, in the course of and straight away right after the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense extra 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 consists of association football and tennis is commonly critical and hockey could maybe not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which consists of shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have create into properly-recognized, in certain for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “huge constructive elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored extra 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 in 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 initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it challenging to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed adequately following the modify of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey