Facilities Guidance. For Club Use. UNITING THE HOCKEY FAMILY

Transcription

1 Facilities Guidance For Club Use UNITING THE HOCKEY FAMILY

2 Introduction Facilities are arguably the most important asset a club can have. Hockey is now almost exclusively played on artificial surface and the provision of suitable pitches and supporting amenities are critical if the sport is to continue to flourish. In the past facilities for hockey consisted of a clubhouse on a ground shared with a cricket club, with matches played on a grass pitch. But the evolution of the game onto artificial surfaces has changed forever the nature of a hockey facility. A modern facility will vary; larger clubs are able to develop specialist centres with one or more pitches and a clubhouse. Many other clubs will utilise pitches and changing facilities on local authority owned or school sites, usually travelling to a club base for post match activities. The cost of artificial pitches particularly the unfilled type means that clubs will need to try to find ways of working in partnership with a number of partners to develop effective facilities for the game in future. This document is not intended as the definitive guide to facilities for hockey but as a guidance document to highlight the key issues that should be considered when developing a facility. There is a huge amount of information available from a number of different sources and this document seeks to highlight the key issues, to direct the reader to the correct information and to support them in making informed decisions.

3 Funding If you are applying for funding, Sport England offers a range of funding advice documents. Without exception, applicants will need to demonstrate the right aspirations (e.g. to increase participation in sport and to retain people in sport.) They will need to be accredited (EH Clubs 1st accreditation). In addition, projects must demonstrate that they are realistic, well managed and financially sound. They will be subjected to vigorous assessment against specific criteria on an ongoing basis. Sport England has to balance the needs of a number of different sports and user groups. When considering applications for facilities, local and regional strategic needs are also taken into account, so you are recommended to liaise at an early stage with your local authority and Regional Sports Board. Sport England also use a Facilities Planning Model, which considers a multitude of demographic and socio-economic factors to help assess the need for facilities. Applicants will be expected to provide details regarding a number of issues. These include partners (funding and community links) health and safety, junior development and child welfare. Be prepared for a lengthy and in depth process. Sport England offer advice on how to find partnership funding from a variety of sources including sponsorship, loans and community funds.

4 Funding (continued) It is important that clubs / facility operators when considering their plans make provision for the refurbishment / replacement and any possible future developments. Therefore consideration of the provision of a sinking fund must be made at an early stage of financial planning. It should be noted that the Football Foundation will process applications for which the majority usage will be football. Such applications will often be steered towards installing a long pile or 3rd generation artificial pitch. England Hockey s current policy is that this type of surface is unsuitable for competitive hockey. Community Club Development Project (CCDP) Funding The CCDP is an innovative collaboration between the Government, Sport England and sports governing bodies aimed at improving facilities. England Hockey received 1.18 million of ring-fenced funding for the three-year programme ( ) and it has allocated it to 25 deserving clubs from across the country. The England Hockey projects are capital projects only and range from improving or replacing existing old or damaged artificial pitches to providing flood-lighting to enable more people to take part in our sport. A capital project is a project that is exclusively based on facility development as opposed to revenue generation.

5 The Site Access and location - When planning a site, the ease of access to and the location of the venue should be at the forefront of your thinking, (e.g. proximity to your clubhouse, other users (schools) roads, public transport car parking and safety.) Contact local partners including schools and your local authority planning office! Planning advice about sports facilities is available from Sport England. For a dual use (school / club and community) be aware of access restrictions (e.g. restricted community use during curriculum time). Security Protecting the site, users and the pitch is very important. You should consider the provision of suitable fencing around the pitch / site; also to ensure adequate lighting of all areas, and protection against vandalism / theft. Safety - The effective protection of the site will require consideration of a number of external factors. (For example position in relation to roads, protection against the elements, spectator protection and emergency access.) Tenure- Length of tenure (possession / occupancy) must be confirmed / secured before progressing. Clubs working in partnership on a school site should ensure at an early stage their ongoing rights in this area.

6 The Pitch Access and location A route onto the site from the car parking area and pedestrian access to the pitch will encourage users and spectators into the clubhouse. This route will enable all users to progress to the pitch via a safe, clean and well sign posted route. (Suitable lighting and a pathway to avoid the carry of dirt onto the surface should be provided) Construction and Specification Hockey pitch construction and specification expertise is available from an ever-increasing number of organisations. Guidance information can be obtained from a number of sources. The International Hockey Federation do have a list of approved pitch manufacturers. See and click on Pitches & Equipment.

7 The Pitch (continued) There are different types of artificial turf surfaces available. Filled Surface a playing surface comprising of a synthetic yarn supported by the addition of a filled material (normally sand) Unfilled Surface a playing surface comprised of synthetic yarn not supported or stabilised by the addition of any other material. Water-based (unfilled) a playing surface comprising of synthetic yarn not filled with any supporting material, yet requiring the addition of water for the surface to perform at optimal level. Water-based (filled) a playing surface comprised of synthetic yarn supported or stabilised by the addition of a filling material, which needs the addition of water for optimal performance. Long pile Pitches often referred to as third generation, rubber crumb pitches. They are really designed for football. Long pile pitches are not suitable for competitive hockey and England Hockey strongly recommends that they are not used.

8 SAPCA The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) SAPCA is the UK trade association for the sports facility construction industry. SAPCA represents specialist constructors, manufacturers and suppliers of sports surfaces and related products and plays an important role in the promotion of high standards for sports facilities. With an annual investment in these facilities of over 100 million, the UK sports construction market is one of the largest in the world. SAPCA are a potential valuable source of information and advice. Their website is

9 Security & Technical Security - Pitches must be kept secure, safe from vandalism and unauthorised use. This will have the added advantage of prolonging the life of the carpet. Good quality fencing and locked entrances should be in place. Technical - Information on pitch markings are available on the England Hockey website refer to the Technical section. All new or re-laid / marked pitches must be marked in accordance with the FIH requirements. A dotted 5m line around each circle is required. It should be noted there is no flexibility regarding pitch size and run off requirements for outdoor hockey whereas in the indoor game the pitch specifications allow for minimum / maximum dimensions. This may be particularly important on school sites where pitch proposals may be scaled to fit a particular location on the campus. Whilst this may still be adequate for curricular activities, it is important to point out that undersized pitches are rarely acceptable for competitive hockey, even at a very local level, and this may significantly reduce the potential for income from hire by club sides at the weekend. It is recognised that smaller multi use games areas (MUGA s ) can be effectively used for hockey particularly as satellites to club facilities. In developing these types of facilities it is strongly recommended that the size of the area allows for mini hockey to be played. Mini Hockey pitch markings and the dimensions are also available on the England Hockey website.

10 Fencing The required fencing height for the sides and back of the pitch is 3 metres. It should be noted that the fencing behind the goals (across the back-line for the width of the circles) is 4.5m high. Weld-mesh is recommended rather than chain-link.

11 Safety & Maintenance Safety The safety and well being of your pitch users is of paramount importance. Clubs should undertake a full risk assessment ensuring suitable health and safety procedures are put into place. Medical access and provision is critical. Ambulance access needs to be considered, a suitable first aid kit needs to be available at all times and participants should know the location plus any access requirement. Emergency telephone / mobile should be known by all. Maintenance Pitch maintenance is very important to provide optimal playing conditions, minimise potential for injury and maximise the longevity of the pitch. Pitch cleaning should be done regularly and professionally. Advice on the correct maintenance for all types of pitches is available from the manufacturer. The manufacturer s guidelines should always be applied. All maintenance equipment must be kept in good order and stored securely and only operated by trained persons. For protection against algae on unfilled pitches and moss on filled pitches it is recommended that regular inspections be made. Again, guidelines are available from the England Hockey or the FIH websites.

12 Floodlighting The addition of lighting can make a significant difference to a pitch, adding to the cost of construction on the one whilst creating greater potential usage / income from lettings with increased letting times particularly in the winter months. Technical Information There are many things to consider when planning for the installation of lights, such as levels of illumination; uniformity, glare and design. England Hockey strongly recommends a minimum lux level of 350 for any competitive hockey. The FIH s Guide to Artificial Lighting of Hockey Pitches is a recommended document. It is available on the England hockey website click on Technical. Location The location of a playing facility can be influenced by the potential restrictions placed on the floodlighting. It is critical to consider the impact of floodlights on the local environment and in this respect contact your local planners at an early stage. Contact your local planning authority.

13 Equipment Appropriate equipment will be required at a hockey facility and with a multi- purpose venues there will be the need for a number of self-supporting goal posts both full size and mini in addition to training equipment etc. These should be securely stored and therefore consideration should be given an appropriate secure compound. Harrod UK is the official supplier of goalposts and nets to England Hockey. Visit their website or phone them on

14 Clubhouse A clubhouse provides a venue for the club to develop particularly the social environment, which is critical to the success of a club off the field. Teams having to travel from a pitch to a clubhouse often find the level of commitment is greatly reduced to supporting post match activities and club events. Clubs without their own clubhouse should select a venue, which is easily accessed from the pitch and encourages players and spectators to socialise after a game. Selecting the best location for a clubhouse is not always straightforward. A clubhouse with changing and social and meeting amenities alongside a pitch is of course ideal but access to the clubs facilities by the wider community particularly schools should also be considered.

15 Development To ensure a facility is effectively utilised, a well planned and managed development plan should be prepared at an early stage of planning. The project will undoubtedly rely on a level of income from bookings. Therefore a planned approach will be critical in supporting the day-to-day operation of the facility and in creating a sinking fund to ensure funds are available for refurbishment and future development. Clubs planning to build a facility should consider the following: Club Development supported by appropriate tools (Clubs 1st) playing programme Coaching and competition, junior programmes, school club links. Partnerships with local authority, schools, other sports, local businesses and sponsors. Links to partner programmes regional & county events, CSP s activities, leagues and festivals. Staffing paid and voluntary, social facilities / events, catering / bar income / management.