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 turn into a a lot more swiftly and extra fascinating game.

Added 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 presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was created mandatory for essential competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball really should totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball really should wholly cross the objective line prior to a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the regular dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (thinking of the reality that 1998), whilst the use of the imperial terms remains preferred 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 amongst the objective posts is identified as the objective line. The side line really should measure 91.40 m and the back line genuinely really should measure 55.00 m. There really should be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a special surface for the final meter. All line markings really should be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 extremely very first 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”. Suggestions 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 Suggestions 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 current width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play genuinely really should be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an choice colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, due to the reality 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 regular for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer season season Olympics. The objective 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 really should be 3.66 metres apart, and the reduce edge of the crossbar really should be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar really should be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

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

The extremely very first hockey ambitions 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 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the extremely very first hit at objective genuinely really should not cross the objective-line bigger than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the ambitions 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 objective is scored when the ball passes totally a lot more than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On best of that, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender positive aspects in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively applied whilst the area is in reality 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 suggestions stated that “no ambitions 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 cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly special suggestions 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 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 unique 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 stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The begin out of each and every 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

Each and every single half of the pitch is then divided as soon as a lot 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 extremely very first applied to resume play quickly 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 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 At present, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and totally cost-free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Thinking of the reality that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied 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 a lot more markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every objective post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group needs 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 suggestions.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 prime of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot less complicated ball manage and this in itself aids to reduced the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game thus becomes a lot less complicated to adhere to, as appropriately as obtaining a a lot more swiftly spectacle and considerably extra intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all essential competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the extremely very first of these obtaining stated that at this time couple 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 really should be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, demand 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 choice elite surfaces that do not demand water are obtaining researched.20

There are three most essential sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, desires irrigation or watering to retain away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for element of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and considerably significantly 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 reduced friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches demand watering prior to, all through and quickly following 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-aim surface suitable for sports which involves association football and tennis is regularly necessary and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are really a handful of special 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 nicely-recognized, especially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are regularly as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the extremely very first 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 unique of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Prior to the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have 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 extremely very first time at the age of 19 or 20 and find out it genuinely difficult to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed appropriately following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation obtaining worse off economically and obtaining fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey