ON DRY HOCKEY, NOT JUST DRY TURF…
The purpose is to shift, not simply to dry turf, however to dry hockey. Each Polytan and the FIH have at all times been constant on this.
Whereas we’re advancing our Poligras turf know-how as a lot as we are able to, it’s extra advanced than simply the turf. For dry hockey to completely develop, it is going to require improvements in sticks, balls, goalkeeper gear, footwear, clothes, in addition to changes in abilities, techniques, and maybe even the principles themselves. As a world hockey group, we want greater than two years to attain this.
ON THE TURF THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP…
The World Cup will probably be performed on the newest Poligras dry turf. It’s simply that the FIH has chosen to irrigate the turf to equalise efficiency and to make it honest for all groups.
In the course of the dry turf studying course of, hockey has found how water equalises the turf efficiency and moderates the floor temperature for participant welfare and efficiency.
ON EQUALISING PERFORMANCE….
Equalising efficiency means preserving the floor the identical for each participant, at every stage of the sport. Hockey shouldn’t be like cricket, tennis or golf the place floor variations are a key a part of the narrative of the sport. For over 40 years, hockey has been attempting to make the floor excellent for everybody, each time.
What we now have found throughout the two Hockey5s check occasions, is {that a} dry turf performs in a different way relying on the time of the day, the temperature, atmospheric moisture and direct daylight. That is basically as a result of, with out water, the turf temperature will increase and the warmer the turf will get, the softer the fibres grow to be. This makes the turf really feel heavier for the gamers as friction is elevated. Water retains the turf temperature in keeping with the ambient temperature, and generally, retains the turf cool.
On most events this will probably be fantastic. It should most likely not matter if the turf properties change throughout a Saturday of membership hockey. However a stage taking part in discipline and consistency is paramount at a World Cup.
Take the instance of the hosts taking part in within the night. That is the norm. Additionally it is when a dry turf is more likely to play higher, with extra moisture more likely to be current within the environment. Different groups taking part in their video games throughout the day, in hotter situations, are more likely to expertise a drier turf which might really feel heavier and enhance participant fatigue. This might have an unfair influence on how the match performs out.