The International Hockey Federation (FIH) aims to create a level playing field for hockey players worldwide by embracing Dry Turf surfaces. Its Preferred Turf Supplier, Polytan, has taken this ambition a step further. In addition to the well-known ET-layer, this revolutionary surface is now also available on a pre-fabricated shockpad.
FIH and its national associations expect Dry Turf artificial turf hockey surfaces to provide players with the same experience as water-based synthetic fields—without the need for water. The international hockey governing body has the ambition of making this type of surface the global standard by 2028. By pursuing Dry Turf to be the norm for all international competitions, the FIH aims to promote the sport in regions where water access is limited or reserved for essential needs.
Polytan has further boosted this ambition by introducing the Poligras Paris GT Zero system, and, more particularly, offering the option of having it installed on a ProPlay shockpad or an ET-layer. “Both an ET-layer and a ProPlay shockpad are highly suitable for hockey. However, the pre-fabricated shockpad offers the advantage of simpler and faster installation, as this doesn’t require us to fly in the specialised machines and technicians that we normally use for the installation of an ET-layer. These machines and crews are continually preparing surfaces for tournaments organised by the FIH or any other hockey governing body. The system on a ProPlay shockpad can also be installed by our partners within our global network,” explains Jan Willem Boon of Polytan.
With this development, artificial turf for hockey is now becoming an option for many countries. Previously, the demand for water-based fields at the highest national level hindered the growth of the sport in countries with smaller hockey communities or limited budgets.
Close collaboration with FIH
Polytan’s Poligras Paris GT Zero was developed in close cooperation with the FIH. “In 2021 and 2022, the FIH commissioned Labosport and Loughborough University to identify the key features top players value in artificial turf for hockey. Using that knowledge, we refined our product,” continues Boon.
One of Polytan’s strengths is its complete control over every step in the process of designing, manufacturing, and installing artificial turf systems. The factory in Burgheim, Germany, is the only facility in the world where raw materials are mixed, fibres are extruded, and artificial turf carpets are tufted and finished. “This allows us to respond quickly to feedback from players and stakeholders in the development of new products,” Boon notes. He points to their decision to use an additive to prevent a slippery feeling on the surface, as an example. “Once we had studied the feedback we received, we were able to quickly improve the characteristics of our carpet as we control every step in the process.”
Most sustainable shockpad
The system with the shockpad was developed in close collaboration with Schmitz Foam Products. “Schmitz Foam was one of the first companies to introduce shockpads for sports in the 1990s. Their shockpads are made from residual foam from industries such as the automotive industry. The foams they use are high-quality and fully circular,” Boon explains.
The shockpad is finished on both sides with a non-woven fabric which enhances the surface smoothness, and, as such, the ball roll for hockey. The foam flakes are thermally bonded to the fabric, ensuring durability and the recyclability of the product as no binding agents were used. “At the end of their lifecycle, ProPlay panels can be recycled, and the recovered foam flakes can be reused as raw materials for new shockpad products.” This aligns with Polytan’s vision for a sustainable artificial turf system. The German artificial turf specialist uses a sugarcane byproduct to produce the fibres of the Poligras Paris GT Zero, which, as mentioned before, doesn’t require water at all to still perform.
While FIH requirements for hockey turf used to be fairly straightforward, the hockey governing body has introduced new requirements for Dry Turf products, following the study that was conducted by testing institute Labosport and Loughborough University. “We have adapted our ProPlay Sport13/250 shockpad to meet the FIH’s new requirements, particularly regarding ball bounce,” Ron Lokhorst of Schmitz Foam explains. “Through extensive testing, we adjusted the weight and thickness of our shockpad to meet the requirements for these aspects.”
Easy installation
ProPlay shockpads are shaped like puzzle pieces and weigh under four kilograms each. “This makes them easier to install and less vulnerable to the influences of the wind,” Lokhorst explains.
Expansion slots within each panel makes the ProPlay panels also resistant to temperature fluctuations. The non-woven fabric enhances dimensional stability, ensuring a flat field once installed. To ensure a consistent quality, Schmitz Foam Products produces ProPlay panels per project and in a single production run. “Hockey fields require very high standards, as even minor deviations can lead to bouncing balls. By producing all panels for a particular hockey project in one run, we can ensure the uniformity and thus safety of the surface,” Lokhorst notes.
The panels can last for decades, remaining functional even when the artificial turf layer is renovated for a second time. “And if they cannot be reused, the panels can be returned to Schmitz Foam Products, where we will recycle them for the production of new shockpad products.”
First installation completed
HC Eindhoven had the honour of being the first club in the world to receive both a Polytan Poligras Paris GT Zero field on an ET-layer as well as one on the ProPlay Sport13/250. The fields were handed over to the club in late October. “The future played an important role in our decision for the products,” the chairman of the club, Paul Manders, said. The club primarily consists of young members. “The FIH is moving towards Dry Turf, and we support this idea with our members’ future in mind,” he explains, mentioning that two of the club players won a gold medal during the hockey tournament at the recent Paris Olympics.
The Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) also supports this development, says its director, Erik Gerritsen. “From a societal perspective, it’s no longer acceptable to use water to irrigate artificial turf hockey fields.” A single irrigation session requires nearly 15,000 litres of water per field. Matches at the highest level are usually irrigated twice per match. Gerritsen is adamant that the Dry Turf fields currently available are certainly suitable for recreational sports. However, the artificial turf for elite matches is still being refined. “Top players are very vocal and their modern stick-to-surface interactions make them extremely demanding,” Boon explains.
Alderman Maes van Lanschot expressed pride in the city’s two latest additions. “Thanks to Brainport this region is growing rapidly. However, this also puts pressure on local facilities. That is why we, as a municipality, embrace exciting innovations like this as they can play a societal role, such as reducing our dependence on water.”
For the youth, however, only one thing mattered: the way they experienced the surface while playing hockey. “In the lead-up to the opening of these two new fields, we also heavily promoted the club in the surrounding neighbourhoods. This has resulted in a significant number of new members,” said chairman Manders. Judging by the large number of players on both fields during the opening weekend, it’s safe to say that both the Polytan Poligras Paris GT Zero on an ET-layer, as well as on the ProPlay Sport13/250 shockpad, were well received.