After our post on 3G (third generation) football pitches earlier this week, we thought we’d take a look at artificial hockey pitches.

Artificial turf has many advantages over natural grass in terms of performance and practicality for Hockey facilities.  3G surfaces offer enhanced speed, movement and ball predictability.  They are resistant to wear in all weathers, allowing for play all year round.  Pitches also require considerably less maintenance, saving facilities time, money and inconvenience.

While there are a multitude of benefits; it is crucial to get the right product.   For example, a water-based turf enables faster ball transfer than a traditional sand surface, making it the product of choice for league competitions.  The turf is also less abrasive; therefore reducing player injuries to skin.

When it comes to the installation, there are many things to consider; the drainage system, the need for irrigation, the type of base and sub-base.  Seeking advice from a qualified professional will ensure the success of your new pitch.

Leisure Tech Lawns have a wealth of experience in this area.  The picture (above) is a replica of the Olympic Hockey Stadium that we fitted in Loughton, Essex.  We also installed the water based Olympic Hockey Pitch in Lillyshall.

If you are a hockey club considering the installation of an artificial surface, here’s all the information you’ll need:

England Hockey – Guide to Pitch Surfaces

England Hockey – 3G Pitch Policy

International Hockey Federation – Pitch Surfaces Guide

FIH – Handbook of Performance Requirements for Synthetic Turf Hockey Pitches 2008

If you need any help, don’t hesitate to contact us – email your questions to enquiries@leisuretechgb.co.uk  or call us on 01371 87 5901.

Tags: 3G Hockey Pitches, Artificial Hockey Pitches, Artificial turf

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 19th, 2013 at 9:50 am and is filed under Sports Turf. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.