Field Hockey pitch Villiers

Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot additional handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has develop to be a faster and a lot additional thrilling game.

Far additional details 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 organic turf (grass) but presently it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was produced mandatory for large competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and objective specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch sort 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball need to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the typical dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (taking into consideration that 1998), although 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 forth).

The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are named 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 need to measure 91.40 m and the back line need to genuinely measure 55.00 m. There need to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In every and each corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no a lot additional 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 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been operating with at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches have 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 “1 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 choice 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 need to genuinely 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, primarily due to the fact blue turf aids 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 typical for skilled field hockey tournaments.

Target

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

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

The 1st hockey ambitions 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 1st hit at objective need to genuinely not cross the objective-line higher than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the ambitions which are now mandatory.34

Circle

A view of the penalty circle (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes entirely additional than the objective line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper could play the ball with any aspect 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 applied although the place 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 recommendations stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of a lot additional 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 no expense-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct 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 objective 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 objective line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a particular 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 could stand.

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

Each and every and each half of the pitch is then divided as soon as once again by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from every and each back line. Historically, this was 1st applied to resume play just immediately after the ball passed additional 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 applied for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and no expense-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Contemplating that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are additional markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from every and each 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 recommendations.3 There is a comparable mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the finest of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits a lot less complicated ball handle and this in itself aids to lower the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates drastically much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game thus becomes a lot less complicated to comply with, as properly as acquiring a faster spectacle and drastically a lot additional fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on organic grass turf. On the other hand, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all large competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Regardless of the truth that it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. On the other hand, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and alternative elite surfaces that do not demand water are acquiring researched.20

There are three major sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, requires irrigation or watering to preserve away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be drastically 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 drastically much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for 1 hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf lower friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. On the other hand, these pitches demand watering ahead of, all through and just immediately after the game and upkeep costs are essential.

Sand-dressed pitches value a lot additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. On the other hand, a multi-objective surface acceptable for sports which consists of association football and tennis is commonly important and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which consists of shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not also lengthy ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be nicely recognized, especially for football, but these do not commonly meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “big added rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 On the other hand, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored a lot additional affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of 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 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 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it tough to adapt.”29 On the other hand, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the transform of surface regardless of the nation acquiring worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey