Thierry Weil dropped a small bomb final November in his very first FIH congress that has gone unnoticed principally by hockey followers and -media. Talking concerning the taking part in floor Weil introduced principally two parts:
- He referred to as upon suppliers for turf, ball and footwear to work collectively in the direction of the objective of a dry synthetic turf by Paris 2024. The FIH desires no extra waterbased pitches by 2024 in occasions the place water is a scarce useful resource world wide.
- Hockey could be performed on any floor! Right now elite hockey requires waterbased pitches. that necessities has been abolished, although for the key international occasions it is going to nonetheless be upheld.
Media and hockey followers heard solely the second comment and translated this into “hockey could be performed on pure grass once more”. Creating false hope amongst Pakistani and Indian hockeyfans eager for the nice ol’ days of their supremacy on grass world wide.
The important thing of Weil’s message – in my view – was by no means a few return to pure grass however moderately hockey could be performed on any floor. Waterbased pitches aren’t the one and solely possibility anymore for aggressive occasions. That is one thing we will all agree upon I feel. It’s frequent sense.
His first comment nevertheless is considerably extra controversial. No extra waterbased pitches by Paris 2024 for the elite occasions is a noble objective, however possibly not a really reasonable objective.
Let’s hearken to his phrases from this announcement through the FIH international congress in New Delhi, India from November 2018…
So following this message from the FIH CEO Thierry Weil, we determined to search for an business skilled to inform us extra on their new developments concerning infrastructure. Arnoud Fiolet from The Netherlands is an entrepreneur behind a number of hockey associated companies. He’ll clarify his firm Leisure Programs Worldwide has 6 divisions, all associated to sport and most additionally to hockey. Take heed to our podcast (roughly half-hour of your time) with Arnoud Fiolet with the hyperlink under… or learn on 😉
Synthetic turf was first launched through the Olympic Video games in Montreal in 1976, so over 40 years in the past already. In 1986 the FIH determined all main elite occasions have been to be performed on a waterbased pitch. However nonetheless immediately nearly all of hockey video games world wide are nonetheless being performed on grass, pure grass or a mud pitch that after was a grass pitch.
So why do elite gamers want the waterbased pitch?
- A moist floor will transfer the ball extra rapidly on the floor.
- Excessive velocity abilities will result in extra 1v1 eliminations.
- A extra constant ball roll with much less surprising deviations permitting for extra abilities.
- It is going to permit for particular abilities such because the drag flick.
- It permits for gamers making a sliding with out accidents.
- Constant play throughout dry warmth or wet climate.
- Higher shock absorption resulting in much less accidents.
- Decrease floor temperatures in sizzling climates for a extra snug taking part in expertise.
What are some the FIH necessities for the floor of the longer term?
- Comparable efficiency to present waterbased pitches all world wide.
- Comparable taking part in situations in a sizzling and dry local weather to moist wet climate.
- No additional danger for accidents.
- Recycling prospects with much less impression on the setting.
However most all what’s necessary to the FIH is the necessity to develop the game globally so as to keep away from a brand new scare of being faraway from the Olympics as we needed to endure in 2013 after the London Video games. Hockey wants it’s Olympic standing!
As Weil professed the FIH wish to play in Paris on the Video games from 2024 on a dry floor. However to ensure that our sport to stay Olympic in 2028 when the Video games will probably be held in LA, a area on the earth troubled by extreme water points ánd a area the place our sport will not be well-known it appears to be crucial to have an answer by 2028.
Two different causes for questioning waterbased turf would the additional price wanted to construct these installations and extra points concerning upkeep. Additional prices in comparison with turf with none water (which means our present sandy synthetic grass fields) would on common be between €50.000 and €100.000. Annual upkeep efforts would even be extra advanced due for instance to the well-known algae issues in these moist environments…
Options anybody?
It’s not well-known, however the FIH requested the identical query to take away water from the equation to turf suppliers earlier already. In 2004 the FIH requested to give you an answer by the 2012 Video games in London.
Nevertheless the FIH request was ignored by the business again then. Primarily as a result of most of their focus went to soccer as a result of their want for synthetic turf was rising very quick in these days. Right now the expansion within the extra necessary soccer market has stabilised and can shift in the direction of hybrid options anyway. However we have to be reasonable, our sport immediately is a distinct segment sport for the business nonetheless. Why would they spend so much in analysis to develop a waterfree resolution with nonetheless all these particular traits solely hockey is asking for? No different sport immediately has this drawback of utilizing an excessive amount of water on their turf, so there is no such thing as a one round to share the burden.
FIH is concerned in a worldwide venture for a so referred to as “one turf idea”, along with soccer and rugby. A multi-purpose resolution match for all sports activities. However let’s not child ourselves, this resolution will probably be primarily for soccer and rugby and fewer suited to the quick paced recreation of hockey. It is going to permit for a slower model of hockey however cannot assure the present quick recreation of hockey. As a result of that’s the important drawback. Turf manufactures and all concerned have to reconcile our very particular calls for concerning each grip and sliding. If hockey could be prepared to decelerate our recreation to the velocity of soccer much more is likely to be doable however then we’d be betraying our recreation the place velocity and abilities are what makes our sport distinctive.
So what now… is our name for a dry turf, appropriate for hockey, destined to fail? Most likely… however what is feasible is to scale back the necessity for water considerably!
Eliminating water appears inconceivable, however much less water may very well be the best way to go.
Present turfs use as much as 18.000 liters of water per recreation per pitch. Which is a gigantic quantity and cannot be accepted all through many of the world. However new turf options immediately have managed to scale back the quantity of water wanted drastically already to roughly 6 to 7.000 liters/recreation/pitch. It isn’t inconceivable to go even additional and scale back the necessity for water to 2 or 3.000 liters/recreation/pitch on common which might nonetheless be an issue for plenty of locations world wide however that is no less than a step in the correct course.
So sure, it’s OK to dream of a dry turf sooner or later for our recreation of hockey with out giving in on specs that make our sport distinctive (velocity) however for now let’s get actual and give attention to lowering the water wanted drastically as a substitute of dreaming of the “inconceivable”…
The true and solely necessary change is the choice to permit any floor for aggressive occasions in hockey. Although clearly the primary occasions globally ought to nonetheless be performed constantly on the identical floor… and for now this stays a waterbased pitch. The most important benefit is for these nations or areas on the earth with difficulties to supply sufficient infrastructure as much as worldwide requirements. They’ll now select to play their occasions, nationwide and worldwide, on any floor. Synthetic turf, pure grass, panel techniques, sand, concrete, hardcourt, gravel,… indoor or outside, no matter is obtainable. The message is: hockey needs to be performed anyplace anytime. This can assist develop the sport of hockey!
Particular due to Arnoud Fiolet from Leisure Programs Worldwide to share his experience with us on these issues. Make sure to check out a few of his different options to assist develop the sport of hockey, corresponding to air domes, sports activities panels, ability parks, and so on…