Feb. 17, 2023 — The FIH does the equal of a punt

I wrote this three weeks in the past.

This story got here out two days in the past.

The outright ban of water-based turf in worldwide subject hockey — however solely after the 2024 Olympics — goes to have a significant affect on the game in locations the place there’s high infrastructure, reminiscent of Holland and the USA.

The U.S. is certainly going to should make changes at locations the place worldwide matches are more likely to happen within the close to future — Bessant Area in Charlotte, Shelton Area in Chapel Hill, and the U.S. coaching facilities in Chula Vista, Calif. and Virginia Seaside, Va.

However the query is, will the U.S. schools which have already spent hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on moist turf and a watering system fork over much more cash for waterless turf? I feel there are some long-term plans on the subject of the substitute of current turfs, however I’ll have an interest to see if elite gamers used to water-based turf may have hassle on the waterless model.

I assume we’ll see when the primary waterless pitches are put in.