Once upon a time, in the world of hockey, three companies were leading the way in the development of dry turf: Sport Group, Polytan, and AstroTurf. Their innovations in dry hockey turf were so impressive that the International Hockey Federation (FIH) sought their expertise to spearhead global discussions on the subject. Paul Kamphuis, the General Manager of Polytan Asia Pacific, was chosen by the FIH to lead these discussions with federations worldwide.
Paul had been involved in the hockey industry for two decades and had played a crucial role in the development of turfs for various Olympic Games, including Beijing, London, Rio, Tokyo, and Paris. In the past four years, he had been at the forefront of Sport Group’s dry turf initiatives, working closely with the FIH.
One of the recent milestones in the journey of dry turf was the Hockey5s World Cup held in Oman. It was the first international event to be played on a non-irrigated dry turf called “Poligras Paris GT zero.” The tournament was a tremendous success, with over 900 goals scored, averaging a goal every three to four minutes. Players adapted their skills and even made adjustments to their footwear to accommodate the dry surface.
The success of the Hockey5s World Cup led the FIH to decide that all future Hockey5s events would be played on dry turf. This included the 2026 Youth Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal.
However, there were some negative comments and adverse publicity following the Oman event. Paul Kamphuis believed that these comments were ill-informed and unhelpful to the development of dry hockey. He mentioned that injuries occurred during the tournament, but neither the players nor the medical staff attributed them to the non-irrigated turf.
To address concerns about playing elite international matches on dry turf, the FIH Executive Board made a decision to irrigate the turf for the 2026 World Cup. The decision was necessary to ensure that the surface performance was equalized and fair for all teams. The new World Cup venue in Wavre, Belgium, required a definitive decision on whether or not to include an irrigation system in their construction.
Paul emphasized that the shift to dry hockey was not just about the turf but also involved innovations in sticks, balls, goalkeeper equipment, shoes, clothing, and adjustments in skills, tactics, and rules. It would require time and global testing to fully develop dry hockey.
Regarding the 2026 World Cup, Paul confirmed that it would be played on the latest Poligras dry turf. However, the FIH had chosen to irrigate the turf to equalize performance and make it fair for all teams. Water was found to moderate the surface temperature of the turf, providing consistency and reducing the risk of heat-related issues for players and officials.
Paul stressed the importance of equalizing performance and maintaining consistency throughout the tournament. He highlighted the potential impact of varying turf properties based on factors like time of day, temperature, atmospheric moisture, and sunlight exposure. Water played a vital role in keeping the turf temperature consistent with the ambient temperature, ensuring fairness and player welfare.
He also raised concerns about player safety in hot weather conditions. Without irrigation, a dry turf could heat up significantly, increasing the risk of heat-related health and safety issues. The tight match schedule in major international tournaments like World Cups and Olympic Games made it challenging to postpone matches due to extreme heat.
Paul believed that the shift to dry hockey would require leadership and possibly even legislation. He questioned how far hockey was willing to go and whether top European leagues would allow or require their competitions to be played on dry turf. He also acknowledged that elite hockey represented a small percentage of global hockey, but the impact of dry hockey at lower levels could eventually drive water-saving measures at the elite level.
Looking ahead, Paul mentioned that dry hockey was gaining popularity in various locations worldwide. The first dry hockey turf in Africa was installed at St Andrews School in South Africa, and early reports indicated its positive performance. Other installations were taking place in Namibia and New Zealand, where dry hockey was expected to make a significant difference.
Paul emphasized the importance of testing dry turf in different climates and encouraged the hockey community to experience it firsthand. He mentioned that feedback from over 30 locations where the Poligras Paris GT zero turf was installed had been positive, and the turf was playing exceptionally well with reduced water usage.
In conclusion, Paul Kamphuis and his team at Polytan, along with Sport Group and AstroTurf, were at the forefront of developing dry hockey turf. Their efforts were supported by the FIH, and while challenges remained, the shift to dry hockey was progressing steadily, driven by sustainability, performance improvement, and the needs of the global hockey community.
