Field Hockey pitch Vredenburg

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 turn into a faster and a lot additional thrilling game.

A lot additional specifics 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 at the moment it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came for the duration of the 1970s and was created mandatory for significant 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 type 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 additional than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball have to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the objective line ahead of a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the frequent dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (offered that 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains standard 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 on).

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 recognized as the objective 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 could possibly be a many surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every single 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 pretty very first recorded suggestions represented what London clubs have been applying 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”. 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 choice was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the current width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.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, mostly since blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch for the duration of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the frequent for certified field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer season time 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 major by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the lowered 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 objective 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 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 many dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Frequent dimensions for a frequent field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The pretty very first 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 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the pretty very first hit at objective ought 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 completely additional 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 could possibly play the ball with any portion of his physique and the place specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender advantages in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilized although the place is primarily 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 targets 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 completely cost-free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly many suggestions from other people concerning 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 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 possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of each and 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

Just about every half of the pitch is then divided after additional by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every single back line. Historically, this was pretty very first utilized to resume play quickly just 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 utilized for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed suggestions regarding fouls and completely cost-free-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Contemplating that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilized for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone additional 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 each and every single objective post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group needs the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender could possibly 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 have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the major 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 lot simpler ball handle and this in itself assists to reduced the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates significantly significantly less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game thus becomes a lot simpler to comply with, as nicely as receiving a faster spectacle and a lot a lot additional fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was designed on organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created artificial pitches mandatory at all significant competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the pretty very first of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had noticed 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 have 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. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a extended-term sustainable choice and alternative elite surfaces that do not demand water are receiving 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, requires irrigation or watering to keep clear of pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be significantly 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 significantly 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 reduced friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches demand watering ahead of, for the duration of and quickly just after the game and upkeep costs are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches expense a lot additional than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-objective surface proper for sports which consists of association football and tennis is commonly anticipated and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are quite a few many specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which consists of shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn into effectively-identified, specially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as effectively inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the pretty very first hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “substantial rewards”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single distinct of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory drastically 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 pretty very first time at the age of 19 or 20 and receive it seriously really hard to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the modify of surface regardless of the nation receiving worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting additional than, with all nations even in field hockey