field hockey pitch hockey pitch playing surface game field hockey historically game played natural turf grass predominantly played artificial turf transition artificial pitches came 1970s mandatory major competitions lines markings goal specifications outlined rules hockey line markings pitch form area define example ball line field play ball line penalty circle penalty circle foul committed metre yard line occurred metre area ball completely cross boundary line play ball wholly cross goal line goal scored original rules england standard dimensions hockey pitch originally expressed imperial units rules expressed explicitly metric dimensions use imperial terms remains common countries field play hockey pitch rectangular shape longer perimeter edges called line opposing shorter edges referred toe line portion goal posts known goal line line measure line measure minimum run different surface final metre line markings white millimetres wide corner pitch corner flag square attached post height historically pitch dimensions imperial replaced metric recorded rules represented london clubs time minutes stated pitches yards long yards wide rules specified yards long yards wide allowed width pitch yards decision reversed current width yards written rules artificial surfaces field play coloured green blue signal blue permitted run portion pitch alternative colour goal goals consist upright posts placed centre joined horizontal inner edges posts metres apart lower edge metres ground white rectangular shape width millimetres depth millimetres height millimetres extends width goal height extend goal deep ground level deep level boards posts net stop ball hockey goals feet tall posts placed yards apart reduced yards apart rules rule introduced penalty corners hit goal cross goal line higher inches saw introduction goals mandatory circle goal scored ball passes completely goal line ball played defensive offensive player penalty circle additionally circle marks area play ball body area infringement defender results penalty corner terminology circle widely area actually formed metre straight line parallel goal line connected metre quadrant arcs rules stated goals shall allowed ball hit distance yards nearest visible striking circle radius yards codified radius circle increased yards men hockey women hockey free hit circle taken circle broken circle penalty circle denotes location mandatory penalty spot centrally positioned directly goal penalty stroke spot diameter centre outside goal line penalty strokes introduced deliberately stopping certain goal originally taken yards goal stroke awarded deliberate foul circle spot moved yards goal following year markings half way line parallel line divides pitch start period play resumption play following goal starts players half defending line rule half pitch divided line referred metre line yard line positioned line historically resume play ball passed line marked flags pitch deliberate defensive offenses area resulted penalty corner players defensive team involved penalty corner stood line moved half way line years later line rule rule abolished detailed rules free hits metre region pitch metre line attacking team resume play gone line replaced long corners additional markings long perpendicular line denote distances goal post relevant penalty corner mark attacking team takes penalty corner closest position defender stand marks yards earlier versions rules similar mark line long corners formally taken mark line indicating level penalty circle long markings goal posts situated artificial playing surface historically game developed natural grass turf artificial pitches mandatory major competitions summer olympics montreal time players seen played synthetic pitches play natural turf national competitions international matches played artificial surface elite level competitions olympic games world cup require water based playing surface water conservation efforts seen long term sustainable option alternative elite surfaces require water researched main types artificial hockey surface water based artificial densely packed requires irrigation avoid pitch wear dressed sand dressed artificial densely packed sand supports pile depth filled sand filled artificial longer densely packed sand supports pile depth water based pitches shorter turf reduce friction increase speed game played pitches require game maintenance costs significant sand dressed pitches cost sand filled pitches hockey absence sand close playing surface multi purpose surface suitable sports including association football tennis required hockey predominant sport different specifications artificial turf including shock absorption surface rebound friction strength outlined recently longer pile generation pitches popular especially football usually meet test criteria inconsistent slow criticism magazine reported hockey tournament played artificial pitch trial event montreal prior olympics said surface enormous benefits sports_illustrated said slow game gave way nonstop true hop action stated decision artificial surfaces mandatory greatly favoured affluent western countries afford new pitches switch artificial surface indian men hockey team dominant winning seven olympic gold medals indian hockey player stated despite size india afford fields captain indian men hockey team said hockey players india play sic time age find hard adapt pakistan hockey team performed following change surface despite country worse economically having fewer artificial pitches describing change surface said india like starting nations field hockey
Field hockey pitch