Sustainable Sport NEWS

World hockey governing body, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has launched its new standard for hockey pitch standards, the 'Handbook of Performance, Durability and Construction Requirements for Synthetic Turf Hockey Pitches'.

The Handbook is published by the FIH as a comprehensive statement of its requirements for approved synthetic hockey turf products and for the certification of pitches constructed using those products.

The Handbook introduces new classifications for 'Synthetic Turf Products', which now includes:

• Global Level – for FIH world-level competitions
• National Level – for other international and higher level national competitions
• Multi-sport Level – for all other levels, subject to national association regulations

The foreword of the Handbook states "synthetic turf is increasingly used for hockey pitches around the world. It is over 30 years since the surface was first used for international hockey. In that time, the structure and composition of pitches has developed tremendously.

"New materials and new construction and installation methods have been introduced. Synthetic turf pitches are now used widely at many levels of hockey play.

"To support these developments while maintaining the quality of synthetic turf pitches, it is necessary to update this Handbook of performance requirements from time to time. This version therefore reflects the latest synthetic turf technology, together with the latest update of FIH requirements.

"However, FIH hopes to see further development in synthetic turf in the near future primarily in relation to the use of water. At present, all global level turf and pitches and some at national level require the application of water to achieve the performance requirements. This is not sustainable in a world where water is an increasingly scarce and valuable natural resource. FIH is therefore undertaking research and consulting with the synthetic turf industry to develop a specification for a global level turf which does not require the application of water. In doing so, the playing characteristics of the game and the safe actions of players will be taken into account.

"A test has been identified which appears to differentiate irrigated unfilled global turf from other types of turf but more data is needed before the test can be included as a requirement for turf approval. The test (loss of ball velocity on interaction with a turf) is therefore included in this Handbook and all new product approval requests must include it. However, this is solely for FIH data collection and not a criterion for turf approval. In due course, the test will be evaluated and if considered appropriate included in a revised Pitch Handbook.

"The test above may, in due course, lead to the development of global turfs which do not, de facto, require watering. However, and in the interim in relation to top level hockey, water-based pitches will continue to be specified. For some time after the new turfs are available, FIH will continue to allow top events to be played on existing water-based pitches that meet the performance requirements. Organisations considering the installation of new pitches or refurbishment of existing pitches can therefore use current approved turf products with confidence. "

One key area covered in the Handbook is the use of water to achieve the performance standards on global level turf. In a world where water is increasingly scarce and a valuable natural resource, the FIH recognise this as being unsustainable.

Handbook author and FIH consultant Alastair Cox is a speaker at the upcoming National Synthetic Surfaces Conference and Expo (NSSCE), being held in Sydney on 12th and 13th June.

In his presentation, Cox will explain the vision for the future of hockey, how the Handbook recognises the evolution of synthetic turf technology, how new testing methods are considered by the Handbook and why local government and sport should be planning for hockey to be played on surfaces that do not need water.

Welcoming the presentation, Australian synthetic surfaces expert Martin Sheppard states "this is excellent news for local government and sport, as FIH recognises the challenges that Australia and other southern hemisphere countries are facing with reduced availability of water.

"They also recognise with the new multi-sport standard that it should be about providing the game for more people to play. This should make the game more accessible for all. It will be a coup for Australia to have the new standards launched at the NSSCE."

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