How big is a hockey pitch? Hockey dimensions for outdoor hockey
How big is a hockey pitch? In this article we provide the answer to this question and we hope to be able to provide this essential information to new clubs that are in line of building new pitches.
How big is a hockey pitch? (Outdoor hockey):
The limits of a hockey field are the side lines and the back lines which form a rectangular shape of 91.40 metes (100 yards) long from backline to backline, by 55 meters wide (60 yards aprox.).
There are 3 lines that cut the field from side to side. The ones closer to the circle are the 23 metres lines and are actually placed at the 22.9 meters mark (25 yards from the backline). The centre line is located at a distance of 50 yards from the backlines.
What about the circles and goals?
The circle has a distance of 14.63 metres with a flat top that expands for 3.66 metres which is the same width that the goal bars should be from post to post. The goals present 2 sideboards and one backboard with a height of 0.46 metres and a depth (for the sideboards) of 1.2 meters.
The penalty stroke circles have a diameter of 15 centimetres and are placed 6.40 metres from the inside part of the goal line. Every single line around the hockey pitch has a width of 75 millimetres and the goals should be placed on the outside portion of the back line and not on top of it.
If you need more information about the different lines and rules of hockey, you should visit the FIH (International Hockey Federation) website under the rules of hockey section to find all the information that you might need.
Fun Fact: The world’s highest altitude hockey stadium:
The Shilaroo Hockey Stadium is a hockey stadium located in Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh, India. This Stadium is the world’s highest altitude hockey stadium at around 8,000 feet (almost 2,500 meters above sea level) and it’s surrounded by Narkanda and Hatu Peaks (I created this post with more pictures about this stadium here).
Why do we water hockey fields?
Sand based turfs are cheaper than water based, but this last type of surface offers the best and highest sport performance while providing more safety. Water based pitches have a very high density of grass therefore water makes the ball roll faster while controlling the way it bounces off the ground.
Compared to the sand, the “grass hair” move with more freedom, enabling hockey players to get the stick below the ball with ease. Finally the water based turfs remain soft and absorb impact and shock in a better way. The water reduces the friction helping players to get less scratch while sliding. Generally these type of pitches are placed with a anti-shock layer which reduces the stress on bones, muscles and joints.
We hope that we provide you enough information about what a hockey field looks like and how big is a hockey pitch. If you have any other doubts, please contact us at contact@ahockeyworld.net and we will try to help you!
