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Q. How much does a hockey pitch cost from scratch to build?
A lot will depend on the suitability of the existing sub base material. The more material that needs to be taken out and replaced with suitable base material, the more expensive the overall project will be. A basic sand filled surface with no lights will start at around $750,000 and you can go up as high as $1.3 million for the top of the line pitch with lighting and irrigation systems.
Q. What size is considered “official size” for a hockey pitch these days?
In the 2008 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Handbook pitch now has to have a minimum of 2m from the sidelines to the fence and 3m from the end line to the fence however a minimum 3m space all around the field is preferable. This makes the overall pitch 97.44m x 61m with the pitch itself being 91.44m x 55m. The FIH would still prefer that where possible 4m should be allowed at the sides and 5m at the ends.
Q. Who should I contact about getting a budget estimate or quote from?
There are three major manufacturers operating in Australia that are licensed with the FIH and all three would be happy to supply you with a budget estimate for your proposed project. They are TEAM Sports and Leisure, Sports Technology International and Tiger Turf. Depending on where you are based they may have a local agent/distributor near you.
Q. Who should I contact about funding and grant information?
If you are a community based organisation you should look to your local council in the first instance as historically local government has been the major provider of finance to synthetic hockey pitches. Local Government and the Department of Education and Training usually control all the suitable public space. Your Council will usually provide you with an entrée to the State Governments Department of Sport & Recreation to enable an application for funding from that source.
(Your chances of success can be significantly enhanced by a demonstration of your club’s credibility by way of a presentation of a preliminary feasibility study, financial commitment, a club strategic plan and support from other potential users (local schools and clubs etc).
Q. What type of surface should my club look for?
Just about every club will want to have the best available surface installed at their club and seeing as all major international tournaments are played on watered down or ‘wet’ surfaces, they are generally the surface that the club will look for in the first instance. However, what needs to be considered is that the playing surface is always suitably irrigated. Added to that is the cost of water and availability of the water under current water restrictions.
The general rule is that if you are not likely to be hosting international fixtures then a sand-filled or sand dressed (‘hybrid’) surface will more than likely meet the needs of your club and you probably stand a better chance of attracting government funding by installing a drought proof option.
Q. What is a ‘hybrid’ surface and what are its benefits?
A ‘hybrid’ surface is a synthetic grass that does not require the amount of sand that is usually associated with a sand-filled or ‘dry’ surface. ‘Hybrid’ surfaces play more like a traditional ‘wet’ surface but in most cases do not require watering however they have similar characteristics to a ‘wet’ surface when either naturally watered or if you have the benefit of an irrigation system.
If you do irrigate the pitch for training and matches ‘hybrid’ surfaces generally require significantly less water than a traditional ‘wet’ surface.
There are many fields now installed around Australia that have ‘hybrid’ playing surfaces and these pitches are generally regarded as providing a superior playing experience to that of a sand-filled surface. The only question surrounding ’hybrid’ pitches is their longevity as the product has only been installed since 2004. However, current evidence suggests that the lifespan should be at least ten years depending on the attention to maintenance and ensuring that debris is removed regularly.
Sand-filled surfaces are the least preferred surface as they are abrasive and require the removal of substantial amounts of sand, as the pile wears down, to maintain the playing characteristics, however the level of sand has enabled well maintained pitches to remain playable well over ten years and in some instances well over fifteen years. Generally none of those pitches would be regarded as anything other medium to low standard in terms of their playability.
Q. What are the first steps in building a pitch?
The first step is always to consult your local council to see if there is any land available to look at building a hockey pitch. Councils will often then conduct a feasibility study into the costs etc of the construction and its impact and benefits to the community.
Once a site has been earmarked for the project a geo-technical investigation then needs to be carried out on the site with bore holes drilled and the core taken away and analysed with a report tabled on the findings. This report can often determine whether a site is suitable or not to build upon.
This report would then be handed to a design engineer who will survey the proposed area and in conjunction with the geo-technical report will be able to prepare a complete set of drawings and specifications for the construction of the pitch.
Q. How long should a hockey surface last?
Each company will be able to offer a manufacturer’s warranty for each product in their range and generally speaking this will be between 5 – 7 years depending on the product.
‘Wet’ hockey pitches will last somewhere between 7 – 10 years, perhaps slightly longer depending on the amount of traffic it endures and the maintenance it receives.
‘Hybrid’ pitches are still somewhat of an unknown quantity at this point of time as they have only been around for just over 3 years but most companies believe that these surfaces should be in good playing condition for around 10 -12 years, perhaps longer if regularly maintained and they receive moderate traffic.
‘Dry’ or sand filled surfaces have traditionally lasted the longest of the three types of surfaces as the bed of sand protects the wear and tear on the synthetic pile. Most companies will offer either a 25mm or 34mm pile height, so as long as each pile is properly sanded a 34mm pile will last around 15 years and 25mm pile around 12 years provided they are maintained on a regular basis.
Q. Is it necessary to have a shock pad under the synthetic grass surface and what type of shock pad should we look at installing?
Although the FIH doesn’t specifically state that a shock pad is required, the testing criteria make it necessary to pass either ‘Global’ or ‘National’ criteria.
A shock pad will certainly add to the player comfort, as the impact on the knees, back etc is significantly reduced when a shock pad is present.
There are two shock pad systems commonly used in Australia, the pre-formed roll out pads or and the cast ‘in-situ’ shock pad and both have their merits.
A roll out pad comes in 1.2m wide rolls and means that there are many joins beneath the playing surface, which may become an issue in the years to come with separation or over lapping. However, these pads are pre-formed to exact specifications and at a set thickness, but they will follow the contours of the base so are subject to the level of precision in the base. In theory a loose laid preformed shock pad should be reusable ‘as is’ when the carpet needs replacing.
A cast ‘in-situ’ shock pad is mixed and machine laid on site using a combination of granulated rubber and polyurethane. This type of pad can also take out the high and low spots in a base as the clearance of the paving machine above the base can be adjusted, therefore the thickness of the pad can be altered to ‘pave out’ the highs and lows and the result is a consistent pad upon which to lay the synthetic surface on. This method is reliant on a high level of expertise in the application of the shock pad and whilst it can be re-used it generally requires a varying level of remediation on the replacement of the carpet.
Q. Does my field have to meet a certain standard or criteria? If so, who’s criteria?
Hockey’s governing body, the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) has recently published a new handbook which covers nearly all aspects that need to be considered regarding synthetic grass products and the end product when the surface has been installed.
A synthetic surface must meet strict testing criteria if it is to receive “Global” recognition and certification and only ‘unfilled’ surfaces such as ‘wet’ pitches can be certified as “Global.”
Products that have infill material can only receive “National” certification which is fine as long as you don’t harbour ambitions to host the Olympic Games, Champions Trophy etc on the surface but you can still host international test matches on them.
If a company can show you that they are registered with the FIH and can show you a product that has been certified by the FIH as either a “Global” or “National” product, then you will probably get a good quality surface.
Only after the shock pad and synthetic grass has been installed can your pitch be tested against the FIH “field test” criteria and itself be classified as either “Global” or “National”. It is possible to install a synthetic surface with “Global” status but the finished playing surface only be given “National” status.
Product testing is the responsibility of the manufacturer whereas surface testing is the responsibility of the customer and the cost of the field testing can be anywhere from $7,000 - $ 12,000 depending on the location of the pitch and the distance needed to be travelled by the authorised testing house, Acoustoscan, based in Sydney. If you want to receive a certificate from the FIH following the tests it will cost approximately an extra $1,100.
Q. Do I need to water my pitch and if so how much water needs to be applied?
‘Wet’ pitches need to be wet in order to get the optimum performance in terms of playability and greater player safety when it comes to ‘carpet burn’. By watering the ‘wet’ pitch you reduce the friction between the surface and the ball, surface and the footwear and the surface and the player should the player fall or attempt to slide across the surface. The reduction in friction also means that the ball will travel more smoothly and consistently over the playing surface.
A ‘hybrid’ surface does not need to be irrigated prior to play and has playing characteristics more akin to that of a ‘wet’ surface, even when dry. If you do choose to irrigate a ‘hybrid’ surface the pitch will play similarly to a ‘wet’ synthetic surface.
A sand filled surface does not require any watering but this type of hockey pitch will play better following rain as the speed of the ball is increased and the consistency of the ball travelling across the playing surface is far better.
Each product form the various companies will require differing amounts of water for a ‘wet’ field to play at its optimum level. You should consult the manufacturing company or installation company as to how much water they feel is required for the initial ‘wet out’.
Different regions and climatic conditions will have a huge impact on how much water will be required for ‘wet outs’ and ‘top ups’ throughout the day. A warm, dry and windy day will see the surface lose water through evaporation more quickly than on a cool, over cast day so it really is horses for courses depending on the product installed and the weather on the day.
Q. Can I use my hockey pitch for other sports and activities?
More and more hockey pitches are becoming multi sport facilities as hockey clubs and councils look to maximise the number of hours that the surface is being used and therefore increase revenue by being able to hire the pitch out for activities other than hockey.
“Hybrid” surfaces can be used for a multitude of sports and it is not uncommon to have a surface that is certified by the FIH and other sporting bodies such as the International Tennis Federation (ITF). This means you can have a hockey pitch and tennis courts on the same surface.
Netball, Volleyball, Lacrosse and 5-a-side soccer are just some of the sports being played on ‘hybrid’ surfaces. Increasingly some ‘wet’ fields are also being used for 5-a-side soccer, lacrosse and NFL (American Football) in an effort to increase field use and revenue.
Without making the surface look too cluttered and perhaps confusing for the players when trying to determine what line belongs to their sport, marking a pitch for more than just hockey will increase your chances of funding from councils and State Government sport and recreation departments etc as you appeal to a larger audience in the community.
Q. Are the lines painted or cut and glued into the pitch?
Preference should be for tufted (stitched into the carpet) lines or cut and glued in lines. Adhesives and backing tapes have improved dramatically in recent years so issues such as seams opening up prematurely are not the issue it was in the past.
Most manufacturers can offer a range of coloured synthetic products so that you can have various lines cut and pasted into position without the need to use paint.
Should you decide on having some or all of the lines painted you should consult the various synthetic grass manufacturers as to what paints they recommend.
Q. How much maintenance will my field require and what type of maintenance will it need?
Every synthetic grass hockey pitch will require fairly regular attention when it comes to maintaining the pitch. A common misconception is that once a surface has been installed, it won’t require any attention for at least a couple of years….WRONG!
You must make sure that the carpet pile remains ‘fresh’ by removing all organic matter, debris etc from the playing surface and make every attempt to minimise the amount of sediment that is able to settle deep into the pile itself. Don’t wait for two or more years to start this….it has to start from the very first week that your surface is installed to ensure the maximum life of the surface and keeping the surface playing at its peak.
The synthetic grass manufacturer and installers will be able to advise on the correct course of maintenance for the particular product that you have had installed or looking to have installed. Every company should be able to offer you a maintenance program or put you in contact with a company that will be able to service your field as required.
‘Hybrid’ and sand filled surfaces will require fairly regular grooming to ensure a consistent bed of sand in the playing surface. This will ensure optimum playability and perhaps more importantly, optimum durability for the surface.
‘Wet’ fields will often develop an algae in the playing surface making the pitch unsightly and dangerous. The manufacturer will be able to advice on a product or products that will kill off the algae and stunt its re-growth. Algae’s are generally brought about by organic matter settling into the carpet pile and seeing as ‘wet’ fields are more often than not damp all over, provide a perfect environment for algal growth to occur.
When considering either building a hockey pitch or resurfacing an existing surface you really need to consider and allow for either the purchase of a cleaning machine for your club or set aside funds for its regular upkeep. Consider it beforehand and not in hindsight…it is a big investment and it should be maintained as such. 
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