Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players a lot much more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has come to be a faster and a lot much more fascinating game.

Significantly much more information 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 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 crucial 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 have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball have to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the recommendations in England, the frequent dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The recommendations are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (taking into consideration the reality that 1998), although the use of the imperial terms remains prevalent 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 involving the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line have to measure 91.40 m and the back line want 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 be a distinct surface for the final meter. All line markings have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The extremely very first 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”. 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 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 want to 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, mostly mainly because blue turf assists 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 frequent for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Target

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season season 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 finest 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 target have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area have 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 cease the ball.eight

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

The extremely 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 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the extremely very first hit at target want to not cross the target-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 target is scored when the ball passes totally much more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper could 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 produced use of although the area is primarily 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 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 elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any no cost of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinct recommendations from other people relating to 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 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 target line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a certain goal3 they have 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 stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get started off of just about 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 produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Every single half of the pitch is then divided after much more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from just about every back line. Historically, this was extremely very first produced use of to resume play quickly 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 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 produced use of for the offside rule in involving 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Nowadays, there are detailed recommendations relating to fouls and no cost of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Simply 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 target 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 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 associated 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 finest 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 a great deal less difficult ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game consequently becomes a great deal less difficult to stick to, as nicely as becoming a faster spectacle and substantially a lot much more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was made on organic grass turf. Obtaining stated that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) made artificial pitches mandatory at all crucial competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the extremely very first of these nonetheless at this time couple of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Regardless of the reality 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-mainly primarily based playing surface. Obtaining stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a lengthy-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not demand water are becoming researched.20

There are three most crucial 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 protect against 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-mainly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Obtaining stated that, these pitches demand watering prior to, all through and quickly right after the game and upkeep charges are substantial.

Sand-dressed pitches price tag 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. Obtaining stated that, a multi-aim surface acceptable for sports like association football and tennis is typically anticipated and hockey could not be the predominant sport. There are lots of distinct specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have come to be preferred, specially for football, but these do not generally meet the FIH’s test criteria they are typically also inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Globe Hockey magazine reported on the extremely very first hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “substantial added added benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Obtaining stated that, it has been stated that the decision to make artificial surfaces mandatory significantly favored a lot much more 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 in involving 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, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the extremely very first time at the age of 19 or 20 and get it hard to adapt.”29 Obtaining stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the transform of surface in spite of the nation becoming worse off economically and obtaining fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the transform of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey