NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Unlike its cold counterpart ice hockey, ordinary hockey isn’t commonly thought to involve any water.
However, enthusiasts of the ball and stick bonanza – which is among the many sports featured at the Commonwealth Games – may have noticed, when watching a game closely, that the pitch is soaking wet.
And we’re talking about all year round, not just when the weather’s rainy.
Why in the world would a hockey pitch have water all over it?
Here’s what you need to know…
Since the 1970s, hockey has been played on artificial turf. The surface of the pitch has to be totally even and normally it’s either blue, green or turquoise.
More surprisingly, whenever you watch a semi-pro, pro or international hockey match, it will be played on a water-based pitch.
Staff at the grounds have a responsibility to soak the pitch before a match, or there are automated sprinklers installed.
This is because when the pitch is wet it allows for a much better quality and speed of play, preventing the ball from bouncing up and hitting the players.
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The water removes the high level of friction between the synthetic fibres and the ball, as well as the players’ feet which means they don’t trip, slide and fall over so easily.
Some alternative hockey pitches, mainly laid for schools, use a fine layer of sand instead of constant watering as a more cost-effective option.
Sand-based pitches are also chosen because they can be used for other sports like football.
But sand massively slows down the speed of the game.
The Commonwealth Games runs until August 6. Catch live coverage over on BBC One daily from 9.15am.
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