Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot much more manage of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has develop to be a much more quickly and a lot much more fascinating game.

Further 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 by way of the 1970s and was created mandatory for essential competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and aim 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 much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball will have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will have to wholly cross the aim line prior to a aim is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the truth 1998), even even though the use of the imperial terms remains common 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 identified as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this in in between the aim posts is recognized as the aim line. The side line will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line must genuinely measure 55.00 m. There will have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may perhaps possibly be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings will have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot 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 initial 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) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “one particular hundred yards lengthy 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 recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play must genuinely be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an selection colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, just since blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by way of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the standard for professional field hockey tournaments.

Goal

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

The aim will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The aim place will have to be delimited at ground level by a aim 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 aim is. Normal 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the initial hit at aim must genuinely not cross the aim-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 aim is scored when the ball passes completely much more than the aim 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 perhaps possibly play the ball with any portion of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender rewards in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively produced use of even even though the place is in truth formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the aim 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 a lot 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 totally free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive recommendations from other folks with regards 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 aim 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 aim line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a distinct goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from aim. 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 aim 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 perhaps 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 aim starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Each 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 just about every single back line. Historically, this was initial produced use of to resume play appropriate soon 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 produced use of for the offside rule in in between 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 Mainly because 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 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 just about every single aim 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 may perhaps 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 connected mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy 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 lengthy markings specifically exactly where the aim posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball manage and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates considerably significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes easier to adhere to, as successfully as becoming a much more quickly spectacle and considerably a lot much more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Possessing stated that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all essential competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the initial of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 In spite of the truth that it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches will have 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. Possessing stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and selection elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three principal varieties of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

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

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and considerably 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 friction and improve the speed at which the game can be played. Possessing stated that, these pitches demand watering prior to, by way of and appropriate soon after the game and upkeep charges are considerable.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot much more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Possessing stated that, a multi-objective surface proper for sports like association football and tennis is typically crucial and hockey may perhaps possibly not be the predominant sport. There are lots of distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be nicely identified, in specific for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically 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 “large good elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Possessing stated that, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored a lot much more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just 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 in between 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, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and learn it difficult to adapt.”29 Possessing stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed successfully following the modify of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and getting fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey