Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot additional handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn out to be a additional swiftly and a lot additional thrilling game.

A lot additional 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-all-natural turf (grass) but at the moment 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 crucial 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 variety portion 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball ought to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the common dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (taking into consideration the reality that 1998), even even though 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 recognized as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this in amongst the objective posts is identified as the objective line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to measure 55.00 m. There ought to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot additional 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 initial recorded suggestions represented what London clubs have been producing 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”. Suggestions 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 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 present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.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 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 professional field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

The objective ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective place ought 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 cease the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in distinctive dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Widespread dimensions for a common field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial 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 initial hit at objective need to 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 (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 place a goalkeeper could play the ball with any portion of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly applied even even though the place is primarily 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 a lot additional 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 completely totally free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive suggestions from other folks concerning 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 specific 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 get began 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

Each and every 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 initial applied to resume play just following 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 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 applied for the offside rule in amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and completely totally free-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Offered 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 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 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 top 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 difficult ball handle and this in itself assists to lower the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game consequently becomes much less difficult to adhere to, as adequately as finding a additional swiftly spectacle and a lot a lot additional fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on all-all-natural grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these obtaining mentioned that at this time couple of players had observed 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 ought to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not demand water are finding researched.20

There are three most critical types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to keep clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for portion of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and substantially much 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 lower friction and strengthen the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches demand watering ahead of, for the duration of and just following the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag a lot additional 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-target surface acceptable for sports which involves association football and tennis is generally needed and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are various distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which involves shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn out to be widespread, particularly for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are generally also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “huge rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored a lot additional 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 in 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, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it challenging to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed adequately following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation finding worse off economically and finding fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey