Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot extra handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a extra speedily and a lot extra fascinating game.

Far extra 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 right now it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came for the duration of the 1970s and was made mandatory for considerable 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 type portion 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 extra than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball have to have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to have to wholly cross the objective line just prior to a objective is scored.

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

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilised 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 amongst the objective posts is recognized as the objective line. The side line have to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to measure 55.00 m. There have to have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may well effectively be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings have to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot extra than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.

Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The extremely initial recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been using at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches had 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 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 ought 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 for the duration of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the common for certified field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

The objective have to have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area have to have 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. Normal dimensions for a common field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The extremely initial hockey objectives had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but had 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 initial hit at objective ought to not cross the objective-line bigger than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the objectives 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 extra than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Also, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may well effectively play the ball with any portion 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 broadly utilised even even though the area is really 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 objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a lot 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 absolutely free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct suggestions from other people with regards 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 utilised 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 had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a certain goal3 they had 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 may well effectively stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get started off of every and every 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 utilised for the obselete offside rule.3

Every and every single half of the pitch is then divided as soon as extra by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every and every single back line. Historically, this was extremely initial utilised to resume play promptly right after the ball passed extra 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 had 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 utilised for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and absolutely 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 utilised for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone extra 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 and every single 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 may well effectively 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 comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the major 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 considerably simpler ball handle and this in itself assists to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game consequently becomes considerably simpler to adhere to, as properly as becoming a extra speedily spectacle and considerably a lot extra fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all considerable competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the extremely initial of these even so at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches have 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. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable selection and solution elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three main 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 maintain away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be considerably significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for portion 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 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lessen friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches contact for watering just prior to, for the duration of and promptly right after the game and upkeep expenditures are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot extra 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 like association football and tennis is regularly anticipated and hockey may well effectively not be the predominant sport. There are really 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 also lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be effectively identified, especially for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are regularly also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the extremely initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “big good elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, right-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a lot 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 had 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 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 extremely initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the transform of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting extra than, with all nations even in field hockey