Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far extra handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has develop to be a extra rapidly and far extra thrilling game.

Considerably 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 all-organic turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by way of the 1970s and was made mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions 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 extra than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball really should entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball really should wholly cross the goal line ahead of a goal is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the prevalent dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (provided that 1998), even although the use of the imperial terms remains common in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilized to distinguish the field of play (green or blue) from the run-off (red/blue/yellow/orange/and so forth).

The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are identified as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this involving the goal posts is recognized as the goal line. The side line really should measure 91.40 m and the back line really should truly 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 may possibly nicely be a distinctive 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 far 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 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) extended and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards extended 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 decision 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 really should truly 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, for the explanation that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by way of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the prevalent for certified field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The goal 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 most effective by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts really should be 3.66 metres apart, and the lessen 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 goal really should be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal place really should be delimited at ground level by a goal backboard and two sideboards of height 460 millimetres (18 in). Affixed to these boards, the posts and crossbar is a net to cease the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in distinctive dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Common dimensions for a prevalent 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 decreased to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initially hit at goal really should truly not cross the goal-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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes entirely extra than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may possibly nicely play the ball with any element of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender final benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly utilized even although the place is truly formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the goal 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 far 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 elevated 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 distinctive 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 goal and utilized for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the goal line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a specific goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from goal. 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 goal 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 possibly nicely stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start of each and every period of play and resumption of play following a goal starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Every single half of the pitch is then divided when 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 initially utilized to resume play correct following 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 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 utilized for the offside rule involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions with regards 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 utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone extra than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every goal 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 possibly nicely 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 connected mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the most effective of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less challenging ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies drastically significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game consequently becomes significantly less challenging to comply with, as appropriately as becoming a extra rapidly spectacle and significantly far extra fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on all-organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the 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-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, will need a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable remedy and choice elite surfaces that do not will need water are becoming researched.20

There are three important varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly 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 drastically 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 drastically significantly less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches will need watering ahead of, by way of and correct following the game and upkeep costs are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense far extra than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Even so, a multi-objective surface suitable for sports like association football and tennis is often essential and hockey may possibly nicely not be the predominant sport. There are lots of distinctive 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 develop to be prevalent, in specific for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are often 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 talked about the surface had “huge optimistic elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored far 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 involving 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, talked about that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it difficult to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed appropriately following the transform of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting extra than, with all nations even in field hockey