Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far a lot more deal with of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn out to be a a lot more promptly and far a lot more fascinating game.

Further 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-all-natural turf (grass) but these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came via the 1970s and was developed mandatory for important 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 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 want to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball want to wholly cross the aim line just just before a aim is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the typical dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are employed 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 involving the aim posts is identified as the aim line. The side line want to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to measure 55.00 m. There want to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings want to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 incredibly initially 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) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “1 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 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 need 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, mostly for the reason that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch via gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the typical for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

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

The incredibly initially 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the incredibly initially hit at aim need to not cross the aim-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 aim is scored when the ball passes totally a lot more than the aim 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 place a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element 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 broadly employed even though the place is in reality 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 recommendations stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far 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 no price-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct recommendations from other people with regards to 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 aim and employed 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 precise 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 could 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 aim starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also employed for the obselete offside rule.3

Just about every 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 incredibly initially employed 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 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 employed for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and no price-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed 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 aim 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 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 equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the top rated rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the aim posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball deal with 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 easier to stick to, as properly as finding a a lot more promptly spectacle and substantially far a lot more thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the incredibly initially of these even so at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Regardless of the reality that it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches want to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, get in touch with for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not get in touch with for water are finding researched.20

There are three principal 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 retain away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be a great deal 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 a great deal much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 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. Nonetheless, these pitches get in touch with for watering just just before, via and following the game and upkeep charges are crucial.

Sand-dressed pitches value far a lot more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-aim surface proper for sports like association football and tennis is typically necessary and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are pretty a couple of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn out to be nicely-identified, specially for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the incredibly 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 added added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored far a lot more 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 incredibly initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it challenging to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the alter of surface in spite of the nation finding worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey