EHF Facility expert group meets

Brussels, 8th November 2021: The first meeting of the new expert group met to agree on the strategic priorities for facilities in Europe, these were agreed to provide the EHF and Member National Associations with; 

• a voice (representation) that links into the European Union and European Industry conversations around artificial pitches. (there are several items being rationalized including mitigating the risk on the environment.) 
• helping measure the impact (short and long term) that facilities can/will have on hockey’s ambition to grow.  
• have an ‘independent’ set of technical experts that could support EHF member National Associations technical knowledge. 

During the next stage of conversations, the group will break into technical expertise and strategic subgroups and welcome members from other EHF National Associations. 

Oriol Cortada the Vice President of RFEH (Spanish Hockey Federation) and member of this group was enthusiastic following the formation and start meeting on the new ‘EHF Facility Expert Group’.  

“It has taken off, thanks to the European Hockey Federation and Tom Pedersen-Smith with the participation of Alastair Cox as an International Hockey Federation (FIH) global expert in the field.  

The objective of the group is to address the great challenges in terms of sustainability, regulations, and the development of hockey thanks to the transfer of knowledge between experts and countries. 

Reducing and eliminating water consumption, improving light efficiency, eliminating volatile microfibers, recycling artificial turf, optimizing the maintenance and useful life of surfaces, or achieving approvals for multi-sport fields are just some of the main challenges. 

The technologies to be implemented in the hockey should allow us to be more sustainable, more efficient, and more popular around the world.” 

The Expert group is made up of:

The EHF Solidarity Programmes provide insight and engagement around issues for EHF member National Associations. For more information, you can contact EHF Head of National Associations Tom Pedersen-Smith via development@eurohockey.org