 Historically , the pitch dimensions were imperial and were replaced by metric equivalents in 1998 . The first recorded rules represented what London clubs were using at the time . Surbiton Hockey Club 's minutes from 1876 stated that pitches were to be " 100 – 150 yards ( 91 – 137 m ) long and 50 – 80 yards ( 46 – 73 m ) wide " . Rules by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified " 100 yards long by 55 to 60 yards ( 50 to 55 m ) wide " . In 1905 , the International Rules Board allowed the width of the pitch to be " up to 66 yards ( 60 m ) " but this decision was reversed in 1909 . In 1975 , the current width of 60 yards was written into the rules . 
