Posts Tagged ‘Surfaces’

Artificial grass sports surfaces

Technology has given mankind the opportunity to live life in the comfort of advanced gadgets and equipment. Sport, an integral part of our lives, whether as viewers or players, is also touched by the advancements made in the field of technology. Artificial grass sports surfaces are an example of technology blending with sports.

An artificial sports surface may be made of synthetic grass which is made from polypropylene, lubricated with silicone. Such surfaces are ideal for sports such as football, hockey, tennis, and many more. They are also suitable for Multi Use Games Areas where a variety of sports can be played.

What led to the invention of artificial grass?
As an old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, the same holds true for artificial grass. The problems associated with natural grass, such as soggy or frozen playing fields as well as the heavy expenditure incurred on the maintenance of natural grass sports surfaces, especially in long dry summers led to search for an alternative. The invention of artificial grass put an end to all these problems.

What is an artificial grass sports surface?
An artificial grass sports surface is basically a man-made turf ‘carpet’, with an infill layer of some particulate material evenly spread. Usually sand-filled, the surface gives differing qualities of ball bounce and speed. There is also a layer of shock pad just beneath the artificial grass. This helps in protecting the players from any kind of injury. Artificial grass sports surfaces are also available in a choice of colours. This allows court markings to be made in different colours for different sports on the same surface.

In some cases, the synthetic grass surface also includes a synthetic grass warning track having different tangible properties to alert a player stepping thereon that he is approaching an obstacle.

Technology has now come up with another latest development in the form of Third Generation Artificial Grass. In this case, the grass fibres are made of polyethylene, a softer material. Dressed with a mixture of rubber crumb and sand, this latest variety of artificial grass offers greater cushioning to the players. What is even great about it is its adaptability to various playing conditions. With this new artificial grass, you can alter the characteristics of the sports surface simply by varying the length and density of the fibres.

Outdoor Sports Surfaces: High in performance, low in maintenance

Artificial outdoor sports surfaces are becoming quite a trend at sports facilities – be it at club school or professional level. With international sports associations like FIFA and UEFA approving artificial sports pitches, the sports facilities – both big and small around the world are opting for artificial or synthetic surfaces for playing a wide range of sports.

Outdoor sports surfaces could include football, rugby or hockey pitches, athletics tracks, tennis, basketball or netball courts etc. In some cases, the same surface could be used for a variety of sports. Such a sports pitch is known as a Multi-use Games Area (MUGA). These are quite common in clubs and schools.

Artificial turf, is being increasingly used as outdoor sports surface for a variety of sports, including football or soccer, basketball, netball, hockey, and many more. Also known as synthetic turf, these are man-made surfaces that are made to give the same look and feel as that of natural grass. Artificial turf is made of synthetic fibres with varying pile height. There are usually three varieties- unfilled, sand-dressed and sand-filled, available. And any one of these can be chosen depending on the requirements of the games to be played on them and of course, the cost involved. For instance, unfilled pitches are ideal for hockey, as they are not filled with sand or rubber, and hence protect players from injury by minimising the abrasive effect caused by sand. These artificial outdoor sports surfaces are also known as water-based pitches, as they require wetting at regular intervals.

Many sports facilities install artificial turf that is sand-dressed. These surfaces are not only cost-effective, but also give the same look as that of an unfilled pitch. In this case, the turf pile is filled with fine sand, but only up to 5-8mm from the tips of the fibres. Sand-filled outdoor sports surfaces are rough and harder compared to the other two types. The pile, in this case, is completely filled with sand.

The length of the fibres and the degree of sand-fill can be altered to meet the specifications and requirements of different sports. For instance, hockey pitches are made up of shorter fibres when compared to football pitches. Shorter pitches with lesser sand-fill offer more speed to the movement of the ball.

Whatever be the type of the artificial turf chosen, it offers the best playing conditions for the players. Besides offering firm grip, it may feature a “shock pad” that protects the players from serious injuries when they fall. Low in maintenance, these artificial outdoor sports surfaces can be used in all weather conditions. So, no more worries in long dry summers, frozen winters, or heavy rainfall. The pitch will be ready for the play as well as practice sessions all year round.

Related Websites

• Artificial Sports Pitches: Giving sports a new definition – Top News, Music, and Sports – The Blog Conglomerate
• Artificial turf meets Wichita public schools board
• A Mom in Lodi » Blog Archive » Take the kids out to the ballgame
• MLB.com At Bat 2010: Worth the $15? – MacSlice
• Nearshore Journal | Where Outsourcing, Tech and Capital Markets Meet » Ottawa-Area Residents Pronounced Samsung’s Ultimate Mobile Explorers at 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games
• Media Menu: Creighton @ MVC Tournament | White and Blue Review
• Netball Coaches Needed » Just Local
• Paulton B Vs Queensway KO CUP Semi Final — Paulton Rovers Netball Club
• Extended Early Bird Period! « STM Netball Club
• at a swimming gala : Corporate Athletes | Decide.Commit.Succeed.
• Artificial Outdoor Sports Surfaces – Top News, Music, and Sports – The Blog Conglomerate
• Artificial Outdoor Sports Surfaces · Bloggles
• FIFA | Artificial Outdoor Sports Facilities Require Lesser Maintenance
• Everything To Consider About Sport Sunglasses | ArticleBanter
• Valeo MB10 10-Pound Medicine Ball | Sports & Outdoors
• Outdoor Sports Surfaces Lure Adolescents Off the Couch | Get out and about
• Fine Art becomes Rug Design/Interview with Danielle Grinnen | Artsy Shark
• Apple Green Flowers Modern Designer Home Rug 160×230cm – TJP Home Goods
• Andes Area Rug by Capel Rugs – 3′x5′ Rectangular – Chambray/Slate | Rugs For The Home
• “I Know What I’m Doing!” | Carpet Mill Outlet Stores Blog

Artificial Outdoor Sports Surfaces

The popularity of synthetic sports surfaces in the 1970s all across the USA and Canada prompted many sports facilities around the world to opt for them.  Artificial sports surfaces could be used for football and hockey pitches, tennis courts or for synthetic athletics tracks.  They have also found prominence in Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) where a variety of games can be played on the same surface.

Manufactured from synthetic materials, polypropylene and sometimes, polyethylene, an artificial sports surface offers the same playing characteristics as natural grass surfaces. However, there are many advantages that they enjoy over natural grass. First, an artificial sports surface is usable all year round. This means whatever be the weather, you can always enjoy the scheduled football or hockey match.  Wet or frozen winters cannot stop you from enjoying your favourite game.

Another advantage of opting for artificial sports surfaces is their low maintenance costs. In fact, it is one of the main reasons for the artificial sports pitches being favoured by sports clubs and other sports facilities providers. By installing a synthetic sports surface, they can do away with many activities like regular watering, draining, mowing, applying fertilizers, weeding, and so on of grass pitches. This could considerably bring down their annual outlay on maintenance, which can be used for other productive activities.  

An artificial sports surface, be it a synthetic football pitch or an athletics track, can be so designed as to minimise the risk of injury to players when they slide or fall on the surface. This is possible because such an artificial turf is usually equipped with a “shock absorbent layer” just beneath the top layer. Also, water-based or unfilled artificial sports surfaces, a variant of synthetic sports pitches and used for playing hockey, protect players by minimising the abrasive effect caused by sand in-fill. Similarly, the artificial athletics surfaces are specially built to offer the benefit of slip-resistance to the players.

Artificial sports surfaces are also available in a choice of colours. This allows court markings to be made in different colours for different sports on the same surface. This is particularly true in the case of MUGAs. Synthetic athletics tracks also allow the use of multi-coloured striping and event markings. This allows the same track to be used for multiple events besides enhancing the look of the tracks.