| Long Pile Turf - Rubber Crumb Pitches |
| The MRHA Council met last week and considered the use of LPT's (Long Pile Turf - rubber crumb) pitches for hockey.
Below is an extract of the Minutes of the Council meeting regarding the use of the LPT at Loughborough University. "No advice had been sought from England Hockey, or the Regional Office and the problem occurred when it was realised that the LPT surface was not approved by EH or FIH, despite the manufacturers stating that it was an 'FIH Approved' surface. EH requested copies of the Pitch Test report and this was obtained and forwarded to FIH. The response from FIH confirmed that the LPT pitch did NOT fulfil all the FIH test criteria and was deficient in two major areas. FIH confirmed that the LU LPT carpet had not previously been submitted for approval and that their opinion in view of the Test Report was that the LU pitch was not suitable for 'competitive' hockey. The Hon Sec explained that in consultation with the Mens and Womens League Committees it was decided that all League matches under the jurisdiction of MRHA were deemed to be 'competitive' and therefore the LU pitch was unsuitable for any league matches and clubs ought not to be expected play league matches on that pitch." The MRHA Council decided that a much stronger directive was required and decided to mandate both the Midland Men's League Committee and the Midland Women's League Committee not to allow any hockey to be played on the LPT pitch that comes under MRHA jurisdiction. Council agreed that the following should be included in the League Rules with immediate effect. " The surface of the pitch shall not be of a type that is not recommended by FIH for adult competitive hockey" |
