Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

A lot much 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 all-all-natural turf (grass) but at the moment 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 critical 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 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball require to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball require to wholly cross the objective line prior to a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the normal dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (taking into consideration the truth that 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are produced use of 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 in among the objective posts is identified as the objective line. The side line require to measure 91.40 m and the back line truly should really measure 55.00 m. There require to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings require to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no far much 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 initially 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”. 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 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 truly should really 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, due to the fact 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 normal for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Aim

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

The objective require to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective area require 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 diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Regular dimensions for a normal field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The initially 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 initially hit at objective truly should really 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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes completely much 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 area a goalkeeper could play the ball with any element of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly produced use of although the area is in truth 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 far much 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 cost-free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse suggestions from other people 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 produced use of 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 could stand.

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

Each half of the pitch is then divided after much more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from just about every back line. Historically, this was initially produced use of to resume play straight away right after the ball passed much more 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 produced use of for the offside rule in among 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and cost-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 produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more 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 just about every objective 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 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 specifically exactly where extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the main of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings specifically exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a great deal less difficult ball handle and this in itself aids to lower the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates drastically significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes a great deal less difficult to comply with, as nicely as becoming a much more swiftly spectacle and a lot far much more intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on all-all-natural grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all critical competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the initially of these obtaining mentioned that at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Whilst it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-all-natural turf all national competitions and international matches require to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, require a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not require water are becoming researched.20

There are three essential 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 preserve 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 a single 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. Nonetheless, these pitches require watering prior to, in the course of and straight away right after the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense far much 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-target surface suitable for sports such as association football and tennis is usually required and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are lots of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn out to be preferred, in certain for football, but these do not ordinarily meet the FIH’s test criteria they are usually also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet 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 stated the surface had “big constructive elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically favored far much 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 had been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in among 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 initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it truly difficult to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the alter of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey