Field Hockey pitch Vaalwater

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players extra manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has turn into a much more promptly and extra fascinating game.

Additional information on Field Hockey pitch and developing 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 developed mandatory for crucial 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 variety aspect 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball have to definitely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the target line ahead of a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the frequent dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (for the reason that 1998), regardless of the reality that the use of the imperial terms remains well-known 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 referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to measure 55.00 m. There have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may possibly possibly be a different surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no extra 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 really very first recorded recommendations represented what London clubs had been applying 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 “a single 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 selection was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.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, due to the reality blue turf assists 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 frequent for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Objective

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

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

The really very first hockey targets had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but had 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 really very first 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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes definitely much more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On major of that, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may possibly possibly play the ball with any aspect 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 extensively utilized regardless of the reality that the place is in reality 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 recommendations stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of 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 enhanced 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 different recommendations from other men and women 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 target 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 target line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a precise 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 possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began of just about 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 utilized for the obselete offside rule.3

Each and every 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 single back line. Historically, this was really very first utilized to resume play instantly immediately 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 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 utilized for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and totally free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Thinking about that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized 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 single target 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 possibly 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 had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the major rated 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 substantially less complicated ball manage and this in itself assists to lessen the quantity of infringements of the rules—which suggests substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game hence becomes substantially less complicated to comply with, as correctly as acquiring a much more promptly spectacle and a good deal extra thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the really very first of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Although it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches have 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. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable selection and alternative elite surfaces that do not require water are acquiring researched.20

There are three most crucial 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 away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for aspect 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 a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lessen friction and strengthen the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches require watering ahead of, in the course of and instantly immediately after the game and upkeep costs are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches value 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-target surface proper for sports which involves association football and tennis is usually anticipated and hockey may possibly possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of different 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 into preferred, in distinct for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are usually also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the really very first hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “big rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the selection to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored extra affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group had 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 regardless 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 really very first time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it difficult to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed correctly following the alter of surface regardless of the nation acquiring worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey