Hockey Pitch

Field Hockey pitch Umdloti

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players considerably a lot more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has create into a a lot more swiftly and considerably a lot more thrilling game.

Far a lot more 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 all through the 1970s and was designed mandatory for significant competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball should really entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball should really wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (simply because 1998), whilst the use of the imperial terms remains widespread 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 in in between the target posts is recognized as the target line. The side line should really measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to measure 55.00 m. There should really be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may possibly be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings should really be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no considerably a lot more 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 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) extended and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one particular hundred yards extended 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 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 ought to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an alternative colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, for the purpose that blue turf assists 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 standard for knowledgeable field hockey tournaments.

Aim

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

The target should really be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target place should really be delimited at ground level by a target 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 target is. Prevalent dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial hockey targets 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 initial hit at target ought to not cross the target-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 target is scored when the ball passes entirely a lot more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Also, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may possibly 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 whilst the place is basically formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the target 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 considerably 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 elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any entirely cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct suggestions from other folks relating 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 target 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 target 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 target. 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 target 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 stand.

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

Every single single half of the pitch is then divided after once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single and every single back line. Historically, this was initial applied to resume play promptly 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 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 applied for the offside rule in in between 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and entirely cost-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 a lot more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single and every single target 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 possibly 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 associated mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the ideal of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits much less complex ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes much less complex to stick to, as properly as obtaining a a lot more swiftly spectacle and substantially considerably a lot more thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on all-all-natural grass turf. Obtaining stated that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) designed artificial pitches mandatory at all significant competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these getting stated that at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even although it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches should really be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, want a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Obtaining stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and alternative elite surfaces that do not want water are obtaining researched.20

There are three principal sorts 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 avert 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 one particular hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Obtaining stated that, these pitches want watering prior to, all through and promptly following the game and upkeep costs are significant.

Sand-dressed pitches expense considerably a lot more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Obtaining stated that, a multi-objective surface suitable for sports like association football and tennis is typically crucial and hockey may possibly not be the predominant sport. There are many 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 create into effectively identified, in distinct for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically as effectively 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 talked about the surface had “huge benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, talked about that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Obtaining stated that, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored considerably a lot more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just just before the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group had been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in in between 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, talked about that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and find out it tricky to adapt.”29 Obtaining stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the alter of surface in spite of the nation obtaining worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin talked about that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey

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