Benefits of Artificial Sports Turf

Artificial sports turf also known as Astroturf was co-invented in 1965 by James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright, employees of Monsanto (good details, what is Monsanto?). The original artificial sports turf was a short pile synthetic turf, while current products incorporate modern features, such as antimicrobial protection, rubber infill, backing systems, and nylon yarn fibers.

Synthetic sports pitches offer many advantages over natural grass sports pitches. These advantages are as follows:

• Synthetic sports turf is a safe playing surface, as it offers cushioning to players through its shock absorbent layer.


• It has low maintenance costs. A natural grass pitch has a playing capacity of approximately 300 hours per season. On the other hand, artificial sports turf can easily treble that. There is also less playing damage to the synthetic grass, even when used extensively. In fact, despite more frequent use, it does not need any more maintenance than a standard natural grass pitch.


• It is an all weather pitch. So, it can be used all year round.

Artificial turf can be modified to suit the exact requirements of different games. For instance, artificial sports turf manufactured for football usually compromises a long pile carpet filled with sand and rubber granules to give the same performance and feel as natural grass turf. While, a hockey playing surface requires a shorter pile carpet dressed with sand only and no rubber.

Why Are Artificial Sports Pitches So Popular?

An artificial hockey pitch has been a permanent feature of the professional hockey world for some decades now. With the introduction of artificial sports pitches in the 1970s, the game of hockey has become much faster, more exciting, and consequently more popular.

The artificial hockey pitch is a synthetic turf pitch made from synthetic fibres. These man-made surfaces are made to have the same look and feel as that of natural grass.

A hockey playing surface requires a shorter pile carpet dressed with sand only. Shorter fibres with lesser sand-fill offer more speed to the movement of the ball. Such an artificial hockey pitch allows the players to make fast passes whilst retaining ball control. Artificial sports surfaces also ensure the safety of players. The cushioning offered by artificial outdoor sports surfaces prevents serious injuries to players from slides or falls.

An artificial hockey pitch displays uniform playing characteristics, predictable ball behaviour, and optimal grip, making the surface ideal for hockey. The artificial turf also stays constant in quality even after years of use.

Artificial turf pitches that are suitable for competitions at world-class level have earned FIH Global Quality Approval.

Artificial Sports Area Suitable For Multitude Games

Artificial sports surfaces have found a prominent use in Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) where a variety of games are played on the same surface. Artificial sports surfaces are manufactured from synthetic materials, polypropylene and sometimes, polyethylene. They are an excellent improvement on natural grass pitches or playing fields, as they can be used all year round, and are a money saving option too, as they require much less maintenance than natural grass.

An artificial surface does not require regular watering, draining, mowing, application of fertilizers, weeding, like natural grass. This is one of the reasons why artificial sports pitches are becoming increasingly popular with sports clubs and other sports facilities providers.

An artificial sports surface, be it a synthetic football pitch, athletics track or a MUGA, can help in protecting players from injury when they slide or fall on the surface. This is possible because artificial sports surfaces may be equipped with a “shock absorbent layer” just beneath the top layer.

Artificial sports surfaces are available in a choice of colours. Furthermore, court markings can be made in different colours for different sports on the same surface.

One can easily find a number of artificial grass and synthetic sports surface suppliers in the UK to cater to the diverse requirements of a wide range of clients.

Opt For An Artificial, All-Weather Pitch

How do you feel when a much awaited game of soccer or hockey is cancelled due to the poor condition of the pitch? Matches cancelled due to bad weather cause disappointment and frustration and also disturb the training sessions planned for the players. An all weather pitch is the solution to this problem. The advances made in this field have gifted us the latest artificial grass sports pitches, which very closely resemble natural grass and can be used in all weather conditions.

An artificial, all weather pitch is devoid of puddles, mud, or bald patches. The drainage system of such a sports surface is effective enough to keep it in optimum playing condition even after heavy showers. The long dry summers, too, cannot alter the quality of the surface. You can find an all weather pitch ready for the game even in freezing winter conditions.

With an all weather pitch, you can be sure that your game will carry on smoothly to the end. Players too, are happy to be able to make the most of scheduled training sessions, irrespective of the weather. With proper maintenance, an artificial hockey pitch or any other synthetic sports surface can last for 10-15 years. All this while, it can be used for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and right through the year. Isn't that great?

Which Artificial Football Pitch Would You Love To Play On?

Artificial football pitch has started gaining prominence in both professional and recreational arena. Offering the same playing characteristics as that of natural grass fields, these modern sports pitches require minimal maintenance. Also, while natural grass sports pitches cannot be used in all weather conditions, an artificial football pitch offers optimum playing conditions irrespective of the weather.

The numerous benefits of man-made, synthetic football pitches have compelled even FIFA and UEFA to endorse these surfaces. Depending upon the level of play and also the budget, the sports pitch for football can vary. For instance, at recreational level, artificial grass with sand infill and needle-punch carpets are the best choice. Such a football pitch features a "shock pad" just beneath the top layer. This pad protects the players from injuries.

Elite level football is played on third generation artificial grass. In this case, the grass fibres are made of a soft material known as polyethylene. These fibres are dressed with a mixture of rubber crumbs and sand. Such an artificial turf offers the same playing qualities as that of natural grass. However, you can alter the playing characteristics by varying the length and the density of the fibres. FIFA favours more thinly spaced longer fibres for their soccer turf. Similarly, there are different types of artificial hockey pitch, each with different playing characteristics.

Why choose a synthetic games area?

Synthetic games areas have replaced natural grass sports pitches at many sports facilities. These surfaces are made of polypropylene or polyethylene fibres, and could be either sand-filled, sand dressed or water based.

A synthetic games area made of artificial grass offers the same playing characteristics as that of a natural grass sports field. However, unlike the latter, they can be used all round the year. This is because they are unaffected by all kinds of weather conditions.

The sub-base of an artificial grass pitch is made up of an impermeable material, which together with an effective drainage system, ensures that the pitch is always ready for the play. So, no more cancelled matches due to water logged fields!

An all-weather pitch is the perfect solution for areas where it is difficult to maintain natural grass sports surfaces. The durability of these surfaces makes them ideal for use as a multi use games area where a wide variety of sports are played.

A synthetic games area also offers protection to players from injuries. This is because an elastic layer made from bonded rubber is laid over the foundation at a depth of approximately 10 cm. Being just underneath the surface of the pitch, this layer provides the necessary shock absorption and energy rebound ensuring the safety of players.

Athletic events are also increasingly played on artificial surfaces owing to their tolerance to intensive use. Synthetic athletic surfaces can be made of liquid polyurethane and rubber crumb. This non-porous surface is the most expensive amongst all types of athletic surface. If you are looking for a cost-effective solution, you can opt for porous surfaces. There is also a third variant, known as sandwich surface, which is a combination of the other two.

Types of Synthetic Athletics Tracks

Gone are those days when athletic events were held on grassy fields or even on bare earth. Today, modern synthetic athletic surfaces are increasingly used by a majority of sports associations at all levels. And why not?

These athletics tracks not only look good, but also enhance the performance of the athletes. A synthetic athletics track could be installed as per the guidelines laid down by the I.A.A.F (International Association of Athletics Federation). This would ensure safety for athletes as well as provide a durable surface which can be used all year round.

There are three different types of synthetic athletics track, namely Solid Polyurethane (PU) Surface, Porous Surface, and Sandwich Surface. All these three surfaces are built on a similar foundation and offer “slip resistance' to the athletes. However, they differ in their performance with respect to durability and costs involved in their installation.

A Solid PU track surface is a competition level track that offers a fast running surface. It is made up of two layers of cast polyurethane mixed with rubber granules. In addition, there is a top layer that is made up of a coat of polyurethane mixed with red EPDM rubber granules. It is popular for its durability and impervious nature.

The second type, known as the porous system, consists of a rubber base mat made of black granules and binder followed by a top coat of texture spray. The porous nature of this surface allows water to soak through the track. As this surface is soft, there are less chances of injury.

The sandwich surface is a mixture of the other two types. It consists of a soft porous base with a hard top layer. Such a surface is perfect for training tracks, as they are cheaper when compared to the porous and solid PU surfaces.