Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players far far more handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn into a far more quickly and far far more thrilling game.

Far far more information on Field Hockey pitch and creating 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 these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was created mandatory for key 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 sort 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 far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. 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 ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the regular dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (thinking of the reality that 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent 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 recognized 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 have to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line definitely need 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 possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings have to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far far more 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 recommendations represented what London clubs have been functioning with 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 “one particular 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 current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play definitely need to 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, considering the fact that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch in the course of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the regular for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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 rated rated by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decrease 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 place 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 diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Frequent dimensions for a regular field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initial 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at objective definitely need to not cross the objective-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 objective is scored when the ball passes totally far more 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 may well possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender advantages in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized although the place 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 recommendations stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of far far 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 enhanced to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any price-free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations from other people today 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 utilized 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 precise 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 may well possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The start out out of 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 utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Each and every single half of the pitch is then divided when far more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every single back line. Historically, this was initial utilized to resume play just immediately after the ball passed far 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 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and price-free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are further markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every single objective post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group calls for the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may well possibly stand. These marks had been 5 and ten yards (4.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the recommendations.3 There is a comparable 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 top rated rated of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits significantly less complicated ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates drastically significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes significantly less complicated to adhere to, as nicely as becoming a far more quickly spectacle and substantially far far more thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all key competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these getting mentioned that at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even although 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 Planet Cup, have to have a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable choice and choice elite surfaces that do not have to have water are becoming 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, wants irrigation or watering to remain away from 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 one particular hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and increase the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches have to have watering ahead of, in the course of and just immediately after the game and upkeep charges are critical.

Sand-dressed pitches value far far more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-purpose surface acceptable for sports which incorporates association football and tennis is often anticipated and hockey may well possibly not be the predominant sport. There are lots of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which incorporates 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 into preferred, especially for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are often 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 pointed out the surface had “substantial benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored far far more 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, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and acquire it complicated to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the adjust of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the adjust of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey