Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players further handle of the ball. Coupled with enhanced ball speed, hockey has come to be a a lot more promptly and further thrilling game.

Far a lot more particulars 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 all-organic turf (grass) but at present it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came by means of the 1970s and was produced mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and goal 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 a lot more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball need to entirely cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to wholly cross the goal line just just before a goal 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 (offered that 1998), even 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 on).

The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the goal posts is recognized as the goal line. The side line need to measure 91.40 m and the back line ought to 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 possibly be a diverse surface for the final meter. All line markings need to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no further 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Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998.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 initial recorded recommendations represented what London clubs have been employing 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”. Suggestions 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 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 present width of 60 yards was written into the recommendations.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 solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, for the purpose that blue turf assists television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch by means of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the typical for professional field hockey tournaments.

Objective

A hockey goal at the 1960 Summer time time Olympics. The goal 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 reduce 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 goal need to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The goal area need to be delimited at ground level by a goal 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 diverse dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the goal is. Normal dimensions for a typical field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The pretty initial hockey ambitions have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been lowered to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 recommendations. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the pretty initial hit at goal ought to not cross the goal-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 (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A goal is scored when the ball passes entirely a lot more than the goal line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Moreover, 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 produced use of even although the area is in reality formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the goal 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 further 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 no expense-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly diverse recommendations from other people relating 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 goal 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 goal 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 goal. 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 goal 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 period of play and resumption of play following a goal starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Every and each and every half of the pitch is then divided after once 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 pretty initial produced use of to resume play just right after the ball passed a lot 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 amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 These days, there are detailed recommendations with regards to fouls and no expense-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Taking into consideration that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone a lot more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every goal 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 recommendations.3 There is a equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended 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 extended markings precisely exactly where the goal posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits considerably less complicated ball handle and this in itself assists to reduce the quantity of infringements of the rules—which signifies considerably much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes considerably less complicated to stick to, as nicely as becoming a a lot more promptly spectacle and significantly further intriguing from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was produced on all-organic grass turf. Getting 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 pretty initial of these nonetheless at this time couple 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 need to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, contact for a water-mainly primarily based playing surface. Getting stated that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not contact for water are becoming researched.20

There are three main types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mainly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to steer clear of 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. Getting stated that, these pitches contact for watering just just before, by means of and just right after the game and upkeep charges are critical.

Sand-dressed pitches expense further than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Getting stated that, a multi-aim surface acceptable for sports like association football and tennis is usually anticipated and hockey could possibly not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of diverse 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 nicely recognized, especially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are usually as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the pretty initial hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and stated the surface had “enormous good elements”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, stated that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single certain of nonstop, precise-hop action.”28 Getting stated that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored further affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Prior to 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 initial time at the age of 19 or 20 and find it difficult to adapt.”29 Getting stated that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed nicely following the alter of surface regardless of the nation becoming worse off economically and finding fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin stated that “for India it was like starting a lot more than, with all nations even in field hockey