Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has develop to be a far more promptly and more fascinating game.

Further details 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 all-organic turf (grass) but nowadays it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was made mandatory for most important 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 form 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 far 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 objective line prior to a objective is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (contemplating that 1998), when the use of the imperial terms remains standard in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are utilised 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 will have to measure 91.40 m and the back line must actually 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 maybe be a a variety of 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 more 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 quite 1st recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been functioning 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 “a single 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 must actually be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, primarily mainly because 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 standard for seasoned field hockey tournaments.

Aim

A hockey objective at the 1960 Summer time season 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 prime by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts will have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the reduce 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 objective will have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The objective place will 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 quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in a variety of dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the objective is. Regular dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The quite 1st hockey objectives 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 quite 1st hit at objective must actually not cross the objective-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 (powerful line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A objective is scored when the ball passes completely far more 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 may perhaps maybe play the ball with any portion of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively utilised when 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 objectives shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of 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 elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any expense-absolutely free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly a variety of recommendations from other men and women concerning 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 utilised 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 distinct 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 may perhaps maybe stand.

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

Just about every single half of the pitch is then divided when far 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 quite 1st utilised to resume play suitable just after the ball passed far 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 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 utilised for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and expense-absolutely free-hits in the 23 metre location of the pitch.12 Simply because 2015, the 23 metre line has also been utilised for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far 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 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 may perhaps maybe 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 lengthy corners have 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 objective posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits substantially a lot easier ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes substantially a lot easier to adhere to, as properly as finding a far more promptly spectacle and drastically more thrilling from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on all-organic grass turf. Even so, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all most important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer time season Olympics in Montreal was the quite 1st of these nonetheless at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-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 Globe Cup, require a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Even so, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not require water are finding researched.20

There are three principal types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly 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 substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for portion 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-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and raise the speed at which the game can be played. Even so, these pitches require watering prior to, all through and suitable just after the game and upkeep charges are vital.

Sand-dressed pitches expense more 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-objective surface suitable for sports such as association football and tennis is ordinarily anticipated and hockey may perhaps maybe not be the predominant sport. There are many a variety of specifications and categorizations for artificial turf such as shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have develop to be properly-identified, specially for football, but these do not typically meet the FIH’s test criteria they are ordinarily also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the quite 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “enormous benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single distinct of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Even so, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored 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 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 in spite 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 quite 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it difficult to adapt.”29 Even so, the Pakistan hockey group have performed properly following the alter of surface in spite of the nation finding worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey