In November 2018 Thierry Weil, the then newly appointed CEO of the FIH, stunned the world of hockey. He introduced the Video games of Paris 2024 can be performed on a floor that didn’t want any water. His major message was hockey could be performed on any floor. A message I help with all of my coronary heart and is a key issue, I imagine, in rising the game worldwide.
That being mentioned… topsport wants consistency and a significant profit from our water-based pitches, moreover the velocity and high quality of play on it, it additionally permits for comparable & secure circumstances in most climates!
In our column from June 2019 we raised our doubts, even once we applauded the initiative in itself. Paris 2024 by no means was a sensible goal. Nearly all consultants doubted any alternative for our water-based turf can be prepared for topsport in 2024 if we wish comparable taking part in circumstances. When the Covid pandemic slowed down growth it grew to become clear to all. Nevertheless, huge strides had been made in decreasing the water we want on the turf. So we’re on the right track. When it grew to become clear Paris 2024 would nonetheless be performed on water, the FIH wanted to set new objectives and, once more with out a lot related concertation, the FIH selected the world cup in 2026 as the brand new objective for a dry synthetic pitch. Or fairly non-irrigated. Making Paris 2024 the final main occasion on a water-based turf.
New objective: World Cup 2026!
Following the task of the brand new world cup for 2026 to each the Netherlands and Belgium, the FIH determined this occasion can be the primary for non-irrigated fields. A lot to the shock (once more) of most concerned. Once we talked to gamers, coaches, excessive efficiency administrators and different related consultants most had been and are very sceptical. I believe all of us agree it’s the approach ahead. Water is a scarce useful resource and we have to discover a answer. But when the timeline for it is a unilateral determination made by directors, with out involving related stakeholders, we think about it might be problematic. So we invited some consultants for an open and clear panel speak in regards to the transfer in direction of dry synthetic grass for hockey.
Panel discuss dry synthetic grass for hockey
In February of 2023 these consultants joined me in a panel speak in regards to the transfer in direction of a non-irrigated floor for hockey. Under this column or on Youtube you’ll discover the total and unedited video of this panel speak. Our panel featured the next consultants:
- Jeroen Hertzberger 🇳🇱, worldwide participant
- Adam Commens 🇦🇺 🇧🇪, former worldwide participant & coach – now excessive efficiency director for Hockey Belgium
- Stephen Butler 🇮🇪, former worldwide participant & co-founder Osaka (stick & shoe model)
- Colin Younger 🇬🇧, international R&D director for Tencate Grass
- Alastair Cox 🇬🇧, Services & High quality Programme Supervisor for the FIH
For the aim of this column I chosen a number of clips about participant welfare, honest sportsmanship, how a lot time gamers & coaches want and a sensible doable timing as urged.
Jeroen Hertzberger: “I don’t see it occurring earlier than 2026”
“So the velocity has been going up and down within the final 20 years. In order that’s one thing I don’t fear an excessive amount of about. Nevertheless, the protection, yeah that’s the large one right here. As a result of there are even gamers now which might be protecting their knees with tights, as a result of even with the water based mostly pitches, generally pores and skin accidents is is a factor. And what we really wish to see in our sport is we wish to see diving tackles. We wish to see gamers diving to the second submit and getting on their abdomen and getting on their knees. And since that’s the feeling of the game.” – Jeroen Hertzberger
“After which there’s one other factor that jumped into my thoughts is that honest play can also be… should you have a look at efficiency everybody wants to have the ability to put together for a World Cup or an Olympics or a Professional League or no matter in the identical approach.” – Jeroen Hertzberger
“I don’t even see it occurring earlier than 2026 as a result of it merely wouldn’t be honest for all of the nations that want to arrange for these huge tournaments, as a result of all of them must have entry to those pitches.” – Jeroen Hertzberger
Jeroen Hertzberger: “Don’t use Hockey 5s for testing”
“From a participant viewpoint often in relation to new pitches and generally you arrive at a match simply talking from expertise and also you’re undecided how new the pitch is you’re undecided if the sector goes to be bouncy. You don’t know if it’s going to be this or that.
And often our conclusion is at all times the identical is that small play, since you gave the instance of fives… In small areas, you’re not gonna discover the distinction as a lot in relation to how a area is performed in comparison with the lengthy distances.
So, often you acknowledge the large distinction between, let’s say, a superb and a nasty pitch. If you’re trying on the longer distance of play. So I discuss lengthy passing, speaking about lengthy aerials, speaking about lengthy one-on-ones the place you really attain a excessive velocity of above 25 kilometers per hour operating after which hitting the brakes after which having to make an inside break, a 90 levels flip.
That’s often one thing that you just don’t get… You don’t get these speeds and distances and also you don’t get this momentum of our bodies taking part in in small areas like for instance, fives. Identical to in indoor hockey, you don’t get these lengthy distance speeds. You don’t get the , the excessive dash meters.
I fear just a little bit as a result of while you wish to check a area, you possibly can really solely check when you’ve got a correct dimension pitch and you may really play 11 on 11 to see how issues work out.
That, that’s the primary factor for me. I simply needed so as to add on as a result of often it’s not the stuff that occurs within the D and it in all probability gained’t be the penalty nook both. Trigger these items, you discover a solution to, to make it occur. However it’s the lengthy stuff bodily and technically that, that might be influenced most by a change in floor.” – Jeroen Hertzberger
Adam Commens: “I would like some ensures”
“If we had been having an increase in accidents, would we simply merely push on and say, no, we’ve made the choice or would we now have a dialogue with the nations which might be concerned in these tournaments.” – Adam Commens
“I’d need some ensures that our athletes and groups are gonna be consulted by way of do they really feel that these surfaces are secure for athletes on the main occasions.” – Adam Commens
Stephen Butler: sneakers will want 2 years
“You’ll want a shoe that does two issues.That may react to completely different circumstances. As a result of doubtlessly it is going to be a dry area, doubtlessly of it rains it is going to be a moist area.” – Stephen Butler (Osaka)
“We wish to make the transition as minimal as doable. (…) However there nonetheless might be some iterations which might be wanted. We don’t need it to be an excessive amount of grip, as a result of that might be harmful. Additionally we don’t need the grip to be too low when it’s moist, as a result of in any other case gamers are goung to be falling over on a regular basis. (…) The suggestions thus far is almost all footwear has been designed to be considered and included inside the system, however inevitably when gamers get onto a full dimension area and get a bit extra dynamic, we’d establish some adjustments there which might be wanted and any recommendation on footwear or different gear might be very welcome.” – Colin Younger (Tencate Grass)
“We simply must certainly get a while on the sector. I believe there’s sufficient know-how now in our product growth that we’ll be capable to discover one thing that may be capable to work below each circumstances. (…) It does take time, however to be sincere, it’s very tough to say.
You get really, what Jeroen mentioned was in my thoughts as nicely, with a full-on check on a full-on pitch, as a result of till you get to that part and then you definitely get by way of your first two prototyping levels. Then you possibly can actually begin with the opening molds and getting the product cycle operating. The minimal is actually 18 months and it usually takes us 24 months for a brand new product.” – Stephen Butler (Osaka)
“We totally settle for that individuals are not gonna convert their major stadium area or the primary area to new know-how. That that’s cheap. However we might want to organize for gamers from the Dutch squad, the Belgian squad, the Australian squad, whoever it might be, to go to those venues to play on them.
And we are going to want the help of the nationwide associations, the excessive efficiency coaches right here, Adam and his colleagues world wide to make sure that occurs. As a result of clearly their expectation is gonna be very completely different to a typical neighborhood participant and we want that prime stage suggestions.” – Alastair Cox (FIH)
State of affairs 1: the dream state of affairs
Most certainly prime gamers and groups will begin testing these new prototype non-irrigated fields solely in direction of the tip of 2024 to keep away from doable accidents and points within the lead as much as the Paris Video games in the summertime of 2024. Which means if (and that’s a giant IF) all goes nicely and nothing main must be tailored, in a greatest case state of affairs nationwide associations may begin utilizing the primary new technology synthetic surfaces in 2024 and perhaps, simply perhaps, the 2024-2025 season might be the primary for use for some actual worldwide testing of the brand new floor.
State of affairs 2: when actuality units in
A extra probably state of affairs, no less than in my view, can be one the place following the primary full-on checks on the finish of 2024 they’ll want some diversifications which may set us again in time. Both in gear (sneakers) or the artificial fields themselves. That means severe aggressive testing throughout Professional League will begin within the 2025-2026 season. And we’d have one thing that really works and is secure simply earlier than the LA 2028 Video games. Which in my view ought to be the true objective for the superb ambition of a full transition to a non-irrigated hockey area.
I perceive there’s worth in pushing for an earlier deadline in getting issues achieved. However as Adam Commens rightfully talked about the gamers, coaches and NA’s do want a assure that issues could be water-based if the gamers don’t really feel secure performing on the highest stage and velocity we’ve come to count on from them.
