Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

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

Added info and 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 all-organic turf (grass) but these days it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came for the duration of the 1970s and was produced mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target 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 will need to completely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball will need to wholly cross the target line prior to a target 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), when the use of the imperial terms remains standard 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 on).

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 involving the target posts is recognized as the target line. The side line will need to measure 91.40 m and the back line will have to measure 55.00 m. There will need to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which could possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings will need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and 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Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs had been employing 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”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards lengthy 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 current width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play will have to 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, because blue turf aids 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 standard for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Goal

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

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

The 1st hockey objectives 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 1st hit at target will have to not cross the target-line higher 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 target is scored when the ball passes completely much more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Also, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the area precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is broadly applied when the area is actually 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 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 expense-no cost-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations from other individuals 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 target 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 target 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 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 could possibly stand.

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

Each half of the pitch is then divided as soon as much more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every back line. Historically, this was 1st applied to resume play right 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 applied for the offside rule in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations regarding fouls and expense-no cost-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration the truth that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been applied for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more 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 each and every 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 could 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 equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where lengthy corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the prime of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball deal with and this in itself aids to reduced the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game as a outcome becomes easier to stick to, as adequately as receiving a much more quickly spectacle and substantially far much more thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on all-organic grass turf. Possessing stated that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) produced artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches will need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Globe Cup, will need a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Possessing stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and selection elite surfaces that do not will need water are receiving researched.20

There are three most critical sorts of artificial hockey pitch surface:

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

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

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and considerably 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 reduced friction and increase the speed at which the game can be played. Possessing stated that, these pitches will need watering prior to, for the duration of and right away right after the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches value far 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 acceptable for sports such as association football and tennis is often anticipated and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of diverse specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as 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 out to be effectively-identified, especially for football, but these do not commonly meet the FIH’s test criteria they are often as effectively 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 pointed out the surface had “huge rewards”.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 choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored far much more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just just before the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group had been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals in involving 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 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and come across it difficult to adapt.”29 Possessing stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed adequately following the transform of surface regardless of the nation receiving worse off economically and receiving fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey