{"id":2077,"date":"2026-07-10T13:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/why-choose-an-artificial-hockey-pitch\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T02:31:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T02:31:50","slug":"why-choose-an-artificial-hockey-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/why-choose-an-artificial-hockey-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"\u041f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0438\u0442 \u0432\u044b\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0445\u043e\u043a\u043a\u0435\u044f?"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\nh2 { font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 40px 0 18px; }\nh3 { font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.35; margin: 26px 0 12px; }\np { line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 28px; }\nul { margin-bottom: 28px; padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: disc; }\nli { margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.6; }\ntable { display: table !important; width: 100% !important; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 28px; }\nth { text-align: left; padding: 12px 14px; background: #1a5c2e; color: #ffffff; font-weight: 600; }\ntd { padding: 12px 14px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; vertical-align: top; }\nfigcaption { text-align: center; font-style: italic; }\n<\/style>\n<p><!-- meta_title: Why Choose an Artificial Hockey Pitch? 7 Reasons --><br \/>\n<!-- meta_description: Why choose an artificial hockey pitch? Drainage, ball roll, surface systems, upkeep and water use, with the limits and the specification mistakes worth avoiding. --><\/p>\n<p>A hockey season is decided by the surface long before the first whistle. Frost, standing water and a worn goalmouth turn fixtures into cancellations, and a pitch that cannot hold a true ball roll forces every team to change how it plays.<\/p>\n<p>We build artificial grass rolls on our own extrusion and tufting lines. That keeps us close to the four specifications that decide a pitch: pile height, fibre density, backing and roll width. Seven practical reasons push clubs, schools and municipalities towards an artificial hockey pitch, and a few honest limits deserve equal weight.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-the-surface-decides-the-season\">Why the Surface Decides a Hockey Season<\/h2>\n<p>Hockey is a game of small margins, and those margins sit underfoot. A surface that drains, grips and rolls the ball the same way in October and in March changes how a squad trains, not only where it plays.<\/p>\n<p>The commercial case is simpler than the technical one. A pitch with a fixed specification gives you a fixture list you can sell, staff and insure. That is why schools, clubs and municipal operators treat an artificial hockey pitch as infrastructure rather than as a maintenance line.<\/p>\n<p>Most artificial turf installations for hockey begin on a site that already exists. Natural grass brings a recovery period, a growing season and a repair bill. Choosing an artificial hockey pitch is largely a decision to remove those three variables from the calendar. Our comparison of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/grass-artificial-turf-athletic-fields\/\">grass versus artificial turf on athletic fields<\/a> covers those trade-offs in detail.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"weather-drainage-and-playable-hours\">Weather, Drainage and Playable Hours<\/h2>\n<p>Water is the first test. An artificial hockey pitch goes back into use as soon as the surface drains. Published specifications call for a drainage rate of at least 20 mm per hour to keep a pitch playable through heavy rain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-featured.webp\" alt=\"A field hockey match on a uniform pitch with white markings\" class=\"wp-image-2013\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-featured.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-featured-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-featured-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-featured-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-featured-18x10.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>A field hockey match on a uniform pitch with white markings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Drainage is why cancellations fall. A drained surface recovers in minutes rather than days after a storm. A club then keeps its fixtures, its pitch-hire income and its coaching schedule, and a school keeps its timetable intact.<\/p>\n<p>The base does the work. A level, free-draining build-up with a controlled fall decides whether the surface sheds water or holds it. Our notes on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/artificial-grass-drainage-bases\/\">drainage base build-up<\/a> show what belongs under the carpet.<\/p>\n<p>Playable hours follow. A natural surface needs time to recover from heavy use, while a synthetic pitch takes back-to-back sessions, which matters most to clubs that rent out every evening slot. When clubs plan an artificial turf installation, the calendar is usually the real driver rather than the carpet itself.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"ball-roll-speed-and-stick-control\">Ball Roll, Speed and Stick Control<\/h2>\n<p>A hockey ball is dimpled, small and fast, so it reads the surface closely. On a water-based pitch the water film cuts friction, the ball stays low and travels quickly, and players slide instead of catching a stud.<\/p>\n<p>Sand-dressed surfaces reach a similar standard for clubs and schools. The dense carpet hides the sand that holds the fibres upright, which gives a fast, safe and consistent top without an irrigation system.<\/p>\n<p>Pile height is the control lever. Shorter piles keep the ball on the surface and reward close stick work, while longer piles slow the game down. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/choose-ideal-height-artificial-turf-guide-uses\/\">how pile height changes ball behaviour<\/a> runs through the bands.<\/p>\n<p>Consistency is the quiet benefit. Natural grass wears unevenly, so one area speeds the ball up while another slows it down, and an uneven surface is a safety problem as well as a performance one. An artificial hockey pitch avoids that drift because it holds the same profile all season.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"four-surface-systems-compared\">The Four Surface Systems Compared<\/h2>\n<p>Hockey turf is sold in four systems, and the real differences are infill and water rather than colour. Each one sits at a different level of the sport.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Surface system<\/th>\n<th>Pile height<\/th>\n<th>Infill<\/th>\n<th>Watering<\/th>\n<th>Where it fits<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Water-based<\/td>\n<td>15\u201320 mm<\/td>\n<td>None<\/td>\n<td>Before and during play<\/td>\n<td>Elite and international competition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sand-dressed<\/td>\n<td>18\u201322 mm<\/td>\n<td>Thin sand top layer<\/td>\n<td>Minimal, occasional<\/td>\n<td>Clubs, schools and national leagues<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sand-filled<\/td>\n<td>20\u201325 mm<\/td>\n<td>Full-depth sand<\/td>\n<td>None<\/td>\n<td>Community, recreational and multi-sport<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Multi-sport<\/td>\n<td>Longer pile<\/td>\n<td>Sand or rubber<\/td>\n<td>None<\/td>\n<td>School and community programmes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Selection follows the brief. Elite programmes want water-based turf for the quickest ball roll. Clubs, schools and community venues get more value from a sand-dressed or multi-sport system that needs little or no water.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-slot1.webp\" alt=\"A player driving the ball across green turf\" class=\"wp-image-2014\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-slot1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-slot1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-slot1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-slot1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fascinating-evolution-of-field-hockey-from-grass-to-slot1-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>A player driving the ball across green turf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Multi-sport briefs are common in schools, colleges and municipal facilities. One pitch can carry football, rugby, tennis and athletics across a week, which is often what makes the investment work for a public budget.<\/p>\n<p>Where a multi-sport build calls for rubber infill, we point specifiers at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/tirecrumb\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">federal research on recycled rubber infill<\/a> before the specification is fixed. Sand remains the usual infill in sand-dressed and sand-filled hockey systems.<\/p>\n<p>Two further choices sit inside the turf itself. Roll width and pile spec decide how many seams an artificial turf installation carries. Our notes on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/choose-right-artificial-grass-hockey\/\">choosing artificial grass for hockey<\/a> and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/best-infill-options-sand-vs-rubber\/\">sand and rubber infill options<\/a> cover both.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"maintenance-that-keeps-a-pitch-fast\">Maintenance That Keeps a Pitch Fast<\/h2>\n<p>Maintenance does not disappear with a synthetic pitch, it changes shape. A hockey pitch needs sweeping, brushing and infill checks, and the work is predictable enough to run on a rota.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Interval<\/th>\n<th>Action<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Daily<\/td>\n<td>Clear litter, leaves and debris, and check for visible damage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Weekly<\/td>\n<td>Brush the surface to lift flattened fibres and check infill distribution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Monthly<\/td>\n<td>Deep brush the pile and rinse a water-based system if dust builds up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Annually<\/td>\n<td>Book a specialist deep sweep and review fibre condition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The cost of ignoring the rota is high, because replacing a surface is expensive. Infill settles and drifts over a season, and topping it back up is far cheaper than losing fibre height in the goalmouths.<\/p>\n<p>Weekly brushing and a specialist deep sweep decide how long a pitch stays fast. Both belong in the maintenance plan for an artificial turf installation before handover, not in a folder that is opened after the first complaint.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lacrosse-and-field-hockey-demand-from-turf-surface-featured.webp\" alt=\"A player on a green pitch with boarding behind\" class=\"wp-image-2016\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lacrosse-and-field-hockey-demand-from-turf-surface-featured.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lacrosse-and-field-hockey-demand-from-turf-surface-featured-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lacrosse-and-field-hockey-demand-from-turf-surface-featured-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lacrosse-and-field-hockey-demand-from-turf-surface-featured-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lacrosse-and-field-hockey-demand-from-turf-surface-featured-18x10.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>A player on a green pitch with boarding behind<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"water-use-cost-and-environment\">Water Use, Cost and the Environment<\/h2>\n<p>Water is where the running costs separate. An 80% reduction in water use is common on an all-weather turf field compared with natural turf, and the irrigation, mowing, fertiliser and herbicide lines leave the budget entirely.<\/p>\n<p>The trade-off sits up front. A synthetic field costs roughly twice as much as natural turf to install. The case rests on the life-cycle view over 10, 12 or 15 years, which the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefield.asla.org\/2014\/04\/17\/how-green-is-your-sport-field-grass\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ASLA figures on water use and life-cycle cost<\/a> set out.<\/p>\n<p>Hockey has its own water question. Only water-based systems are irrigated, before and during play. A club in a dry region can therefore choose sand-dressed or multi-sport turf and take irrigation out of the operating budget.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"specifying-a-pitch-without-rework\">Specifying a Pitch Without Costly Rework<\/h2>\n<p>An artificial turf installation is only as good as the specification behind it. Pile height, density, backing and roll width decide the ball roll, the seam count and the maintenance burden you inherit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-box\" style=\"background-color:#1a2b3c;border-radius:6px;padding:30px;margin:35px 0;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#ffffff;margin-top:0;\">Still Losing Fixtures to a Worn Hockey Pitch?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color:#ffffff;\">Worn, uneven pitches cancel sessions and force mid-season rebuilds. Our own line builds hockey rolls to your pile, density and backing spec. Send your pitch drawings for a matched spec.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/sports-artificial-grass\/field-hockey-turf\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background-color:#1a5c2e;color:#ffffff;padding:12px 24px;border-radius:4px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;\">Compare Hockey Turf Specs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"where-artificial-pitches-fall-short\">Where Artificial Pitches Still Fall Short<\/h2>\n<p>Water-based artificial hockey pitches are the honest exception to the low-water story. An elite system is irrigated before and during play, which costs money and needs a reliable supply, and in a dry region that can outrank every performance argument.<\/p>\n<p>The second limit is capital. A synthetic pitch costs roughly twice as much to install as natural turf, so the decision only makes sense against a whole-life view that includes irrigation, mowing, fuel and chemicals.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Limit<\/th>\n<th>Why it matters<\/th>\n<th>What to do about it<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Water-based irrigation<\/td>\n<td>Running cost and supply risk in dry regions<\/td>\n<td>Choose sand-dressed or multi-sport turf for non-elite hockey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Higher initial cost<\/td>\n<td>Roughly double the install cost of natural turf<\/td>\n<td>Compare whole-life cost instead of headline price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Base and shockpad quality<\/td>\n<td>A poor base shows up as joints, movement and inconsistent bounce<\/td>\n<td>Fix the base and the shockpad before the carpet is ordered<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The third limit sits under the carpet, and it is the one buyers cannot see on a sample square. A base with poor levels, weak drainage or a shockpad laid unevenly shows up later as visible joints, movement and inconsistent bounce.<\/p>\n<p>Replacement sits at the end of that line. A pitch that has lost fibre height in the goalmouths, carries patched seams and rolls the ball flat is telling you it is due. Our notes on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/when-to-replace-artificial-turf-field-expert-guide\/\">signs a pitch is due for replacement<\/a> set out what to check.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/artificial-grass-field-hockey-players-competing-turf.jpg\" alt=\"Two field hockey players competing for the ball on a green synthetic pitch\" class=\"wp-image-2650\" width=\"1120\" height=\"680\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/artificial-grass-field-hockey-players-competing-turf.jpg 1120w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/artificial-grass-field-hockey-players-competing-turf-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/artificial-grass-field-hockey-players-competing-turf-1024x622.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/artificial-grass-field-hockey-players-competing-turf-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/artificial-grass-field-hockey-players-competing-turf-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px\" \/><figcaption>Two field hockey players competing for the ball on a green synthetic pitch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>None of those limits is a reason to keep a surface that cancels sessions. They are the questions to answer before a specification is signed, which is what the next two sections are for.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"common-specification-mistakes\">Common Specification Mistakes to Avoid<\/h2>\n<p>Five mistakes account for most of the disappointment we see in pitch specifications, and every one of them is decided before the turf is ordered.<\/p>\n<h3>Buying a Longer Pile Than Hockey Needs<\/h3>\n<p>Football-grade fibre is too long for hockey. A long pile slows the ball, swallows the stick and uses more yarn, so a hockey brief that borrows a football specification rarely plays well.<\/p>\n<h3>Skipping the Base Survey<\/h3>\n<p>Levels, drainage and the condition of the existing base decide the build-up. Ordering turf before the ground has been surveyed risks a surface that moves, ponds or has to be lifted again.<\/p>\n<h3>Choosing Water-Based Turf in a Dry Region<\/h3>\n<p>An elite water-based system needs a reliable water supply and a running budget for irrigation. Sand-dressed turf gives most clubs the ball-roll benefit without that operating cost.<\/p>\n<h3>Leaving Out the Shockpad<\/h3>\n<p>A shockpad of around 10 mm sits between the base and the carpet and lowers impact stress on knees and ankles. Leaving it out reduces player comfort and can shorten the life of the surface.<\/p>\n<h3>Treating Maintenance as Optional<\/h3>\n<p>Sweeping, brushing and infill top-ups are what keep a pitch quick. A pitch with no maintenance rota loses fibre height in the goalmouths long before its expected service life is over.<\/p>\n<p>Every item on that list is cheap to correct on paper and expensive to correct once an artificial turf installation is finished.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"pre-purchase-checklist-for-buyers\">A Pre-Purchase Checklist for Buyers<\/h2>\n<p>Five questions set the brief, and the answers carry through to the tender, the acceptance test and the maintenance rota.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Plays, and How Often<\/h3>\n<p>Count the sessions, the sports and the age groups that will use the pitch. That count decides whether the brief needs an elite water-based system or a sand-dressed surface for club and school hockey.<\/p>\n<h3>What the Surface Must Do<\/h3>\n<p>Write down the ball roll, bounce and traction you expect, then match pile height, density and infill to those requirements. Figures beat adjectives in a tender document.<\/p>\n<h3>Which Base and Shockpad You Can Build<\/h3>\n<p>A level base with a controlled fall and a shockpad are the parts you cannot change later without lifting the carpet. Fix them first, then order turf.<\/p>\n<h3>How the Pitch Will Be Maintained<\/h3>\n<p>Name the person who brushes the surface, checks infill depth and books the annual deep sweep. An unmaintained pitch loses its speed well inside its expected service life.<\/p>\n<h3>How You Will Verify the Roll<\/h3>\n<p>Ask for samples at the 20 cm by 20 cm standard size, usually three to four pieces. Check pile height, density and backing against the written specification before the order is placed. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/synthetic-turf-sports-fields\/\">synthetic turf systems for sports fields<\/a> pages show how a stated spec maps onto a delivered roll.<\/p>\n<p>Each answer belongs in the documents signed before an artificial turf installation begins on site, because that is the point where changes stop being free.<\/p>\n<p><!-- relyirgate:C1 --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">What pile height does an artificial hockey pitch use?<\/h3>\n<p>Most hockey turf sits between 13 mm and 23 mm, and sand-dressed systems usually run from 18 mm to 22 mm. Shorter piles keep the ball low and fast, which is why elite surfaces stay at the short end.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">How long does an artificial hockey pitch last before replacement?<\/h3>\n<p>Most pitches run for 8 to 12 years, and a well-maintained surface can reach 10 to 15 years. Weekly brushing, infill checks and a specialist deep sweep decide which end of that range you get.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Do artificial hockey pitches need watering?<\/h3>\n<p>Only water-based systems do. They are sprayed before and during play to cut friction, while sand-dressed, sand-filled and multi-sport pitches are played dry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Can an artificial hockey pitch host other sports?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Multi-sport systems carry football, rugby, tennis and athletic training, which suits schools and community venues that need one surface to do several jobs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">How much sand sits in a sand-dressed hockey pitch?<\/h3>\n<p>Sand covers 60\u201380% of the pile height in a sand-dressed system. The sand holds the fibres upright, and the dense carpet hides most of it so the top stays green.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Which roll widths suit a full-size pitch?<\/h3>\n<p>Rolls come in 2 m, 4 m and 5 m widths at 25 m long. A 91.4 m by 55 m pitch needs fewer seams with 5 m rolls, and 4 m rolls remain the most widely supplied format.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"Why Choose an Artificial Hockey Pitch?\",\"description\":\"Why choose an artificial hockey pitch? Drainage, ball roll, surface systems, upkeep and water use, with the limits and the specification mistakes worth avoiding.\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Relyir Artificial Grass\"},\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Relyir Artificial Grass\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-15\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-15\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/why-choose-an-artificial-hockey-pitch\/\"}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What pile height does an artificial hockey pitch use?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Most hockey turf sits between 13 mm and 23 mm, and sand-dressed systems usually run from 18 mm to 22 mm. Shorter piles keep the ball low and fast, which is why elite surfaces stay at the short end.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long does an artificial hockey pitch last before replacement?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Most pitches run for 8 to 12 years, and a well-maintained surface can reach 10 to 15 years. Weekly brushing, infill checks and a specialist deep sweep decide which end of that range you get.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do artificial hockey pitches need watering?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Only water-based systems do. They are sprayed before and during play to cut friction, while sand-dressed, sand-filled and multi-sport pitches are played dry.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can an artificial hockey pitch host other sports?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Multi-sport systems carry football, rugby, tennis and athletic training, which suits schools and community venues that need one surface to do several jobs.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much sand sits in a sand-dressed hockey pitch?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Sand covers 60\u201380% of the pile height in a sand-dressed system. The sand holds the fibres upright, and the dense carpet hides most of it so the top stays green.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which roll widths suit a full-size pitch?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Rolls come in 2 m, 4 m and 5 m widths at 25 m long. A 91.4 m by 55 m pitch needs fewer seams with 5 m rolls, and 4 m rolls remain the most widely supplied format.\"}}]}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" id=\"evo301-geo-ai-block\">\n{\"definition\":\"An artificial hockey pitch is chosen for four measurable reasons: it drains and can be scheduled around in any weather, it holds a consistent ball roll and footing, it needs sweeping and brushing instead of mowing and irrigation, and it can carry several sports from a single surface. Pile height, fibre density, backing and roll width are the four specifications that decide all of them.\",\"data_statements\":[\"A standard hockey pitch measures 91.4 m by 55 m, and rolls are supplied in 2 m, 4 m and 5 m widths at 25 m long, so wider rolls cut the number of seams.\",\"Hockey turf pile height usually falls between 13 mm and 23 mm; sand-dressed systems run from 18 mm to 22 mm, with sand covering 60-80% of the pile height.\",\"Published system data puts water-based turf at 15-20 mm with no infill and pre-match and in-match watering, sand-dressed turf at 15-18 mm with a thin sand layer, and sand-filled turf at 20-25 mm with no watering.\",\"Hockey turf is specified with a drainage rate of at least 20 mm per hour and a shockpad of about 10 mm under the carpet.\",\"Well-maintained hockey turf lasts 10 to 15 years, while most pitches are replaced on an 8 to 12 year cycle.\",\"An 80% reduction in water use is common on all-weather turf fields, and the initial install runs roughly twice the cost of natural turf before it pays back over a 10 to 15 year life cycle.\",\"Relyir produces artificial grass rolls in 2 m, 4 m and 5 m widths at 25 m, with custom pile height, density, colour and PP+Net or PU backing.\"],\"qa_concise\":[{\"q\":\"How long does a hockey pitch last?\",\"a\":\"Well-maintained hockey turf reaches 10 to 15 years, while an 8 to 12 year replacement cycle is typical.\"},{\"q\":\"Does a hockey pitch need water?\",\"a\":\"Only water-based systems are irrigated. Sand-dressed and sand-filled pitches are played dry.\"},{\"q\":\"What pile height suits hockey?\",\"a\":\"Most hockey turf runs between 13 mm and 23 mm, and sand-dressed systems sit at 18 mm to 22 mm.\"}]}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0425\u043e\u043a\u043a\u0435\u0439\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0441\u0435\u0437\u043e\u043d \u0440\u0435\u0448\u0430\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0445\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044e \u0437\u0430\u0434\u043e\u043b\u0433\u043e \u0434\u043e \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u0432\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043a\u0430. \u041c\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0437, \u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0447\u0430\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430 \u0438 \u0438\u0437\u043d\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0432\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0449\u0430\u044e\u0442 \u043c\u0430\u0442\u0447\u0438 \u0432 \u043e\u0442\u043c\u0435\u043d\u044b, \u0430 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435, \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u043e\u0441\u043e\u0431\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0434\u0435\u0440\u0436\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0440\u043e\u043b\u043b \u043c\u044f\u0447\u0430, \u0437\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u043b\u044f\u0435\u0442 \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0434\u0443\u044e \u043a\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f\u0442\u044c \u0438\u0433\u0440\u0443. \u041c\u044b \u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0438\u043c \u0440\u0443\u043b\u043e\u043d\u044b \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0442\u0440\u0430\u0432\u044b \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u043e\u0431\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u044d\u043a\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0437\u0438\u043e\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0438 \u0442\u0443\u0442\u0444\u0438\u043d\u0433\u043e\u0432\u044b\u0445 \u043b\u0438\u043d\u0438\u044f\u0445. \u042d\u0442\u043e ... <a title=\"\u041f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0438\u0442 \u0432\u044b\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0445\u043e\u043a\u043a\u0435\u044f?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/why-choose-an-artificial-hockey-pitch\/\" aria-label=\"\u041f\u0440\u043e\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435 \u043e \u041f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0432\u044b\u0431\u0438\u0440\u0430\u044e\u0442 \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0445\u043e\u043a\u043a\u0435\u0439\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435?\">\u0427\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0434\u0430\u043b\u0435\u0435<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Why Choose an Artificial Hockey Pitch? 7 Reasons","rank_math_description":"Why choose an artificial hockey pitch? Drainage, ball roll, surface systems, upkeep and water use, plus the limits and spec mistakes worth avoiding.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"artificial hockey pitch","rank_math_robots":"","rank_math_canonical_url":"","rank_math_facebook_title":"","rank_math_facebook_description":"","rank_math_twitter_title":"","rank_math_twitter_description":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_aioseo_title":"","_aioseo_description":"","_aioseo_keywords":"","_aioseo_robots_default":"","_aioseo_robots_noindex":"","_aioseo_og_title":"","_aioseo_og_description":"","_aioseo_twitter_title":"","_aioseo_twitter_description":"","aiosp_title":"","aiosp_description":"","aiosp_keywords":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_genesis_title":"","_genesis_description":"","_genesis_canonical":"","_genesis_noindex":"","_genesis_nofollow":"","slim_seo":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-field-turf"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2077"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3285,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077\/revisions\/3285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}