Natural grass, or modern artificial turf? The heated debate within the football world has been running for many, many years. It’s not a matter of which is superior, more which is the best choice for you.
Goto Lvyi to know more.
At TigerTurf, we’re designers and manufacturers of artificial football turfs So read on to find our top five benefits of playing on football turf!
It is no secret that football is at the mercy of the climate. Blaring hot summers, wet winters, snow, and dusty wind can cause natural football fields to be baked hard or reduced to a pool of mud.
Artificial turf is designed to withstand the ups and downs of all climatic conditions. Gone are the days of spectators being ankle-deep in sideline puddles, and never again will you find yourself caked with mud.
Less impact from the weather = more time enjoying the game you love.
Every year football games are postponed or cancelled due to issues related to the weather. Entire seasons are interrupted, and players miss out on important game time. With artificial football turf, players and spectators can enjoy the thrill of a quality football match no matter the weather, without worrying about taking the pitch home with them.
Read about the success of artificial football turf from SportNZ.
Football turfs provide an even and consistent playing surface, without the obstacles associated with natural grass.
The non-directional surface of artificial turf provides secure footing and consistent ball control so the player can perform at their best.
Variations in natural turfs that impact gameplay include:
Professional players regularly get to enjoy a perfectly manicured pitch, but maintenance can fall by the wayside for amateur and club teams. This is because the high cost and high effort level that is required to keep natural pitches in perfect condition is often unaffordable for small clubs.
With synthetic football turf, a surface that is comparable to well-maintained natural turf can be achieved. This means that players can enjoy a perfect playing surface, every time.
Play the game with speed and accuracy, every time.
Artificial football surfaces are designed with player safety in mind.
The even terrain and consistency of play means players should suffer fewer trips, stumbles, and falls, minimizing the risk of serious injuries that could leave players off the fields for weeks at a time.
The turf system stops players from slipping and sliding everywhere. This minimizes the likelihood of tendon rips or tears, ensuring football players can keep enjoying the game they love without time off.
Injuries related to abrupt stops and stuck cleats are reduced, as players can wear a range of shoes on the artificial turf. Players may prefer to play football in specially designed flat shoes.
To minimize the long-term impact on joints, shock pads can be installed underneath the turf. This provides players of all levels and ages the comfort to continue enjoying football, fitness, and fun.
The surface of an artificial football turf is incredibly durable. Because it’s made of top-quality materials, the turf is unaffected by varying weather conditions.
The durability of artificial turf ensures they can withstand thousands of hours of use without impacting the quality.
Want more information on Artificial Grass For Football Field? Feel free to contact us.
For your club or school, this means players can train at their home pitch consistently. This gives players the opportunity to develop and grow football skills that set your team apart, in an environment that is comfortable and supportive.
Compare the durability of tiger turf artificial football pitches options here.
Due to the lower maintenance costs of the artificial football turfs, clubs and schools can redirect that money back into projects that benefit their community. Additional revenue can be derived from hiring out space to other groups, as it’s accessible year-round.
The additional revenue can be reinvested into:
It all adds up to contribute to players, spectators, and community members’ sense of belonging and pride. This in turn positively impacts your club or school’s reputation.
Read about how a TigerTurf football pitch helped the Uni-Mt Wellington club overcome their declining club numbers.
Artificial turf first came to the public’s attention after being installed in the new Astrodome, way back in the s. It’s come a long way since then. Simply put, today’s product isn’t your grandfather’s artificial turf. If player safety, field reparation and longevity, and accelerated player development are priorities for you, investing in artificial turf for football fields is the right move.
In addition to requiring less upkeep and maintenance, using artificial turf on football fields offers a distinct advantage for athletes – providing greater safety for players. Not only are there far fewer reported injuries on artificial turf than there were in the past, there are even cleats developed specifically for play on these new surfaces, to further decrease the chances of injury. There is also a special shock pad layer that can be inserted during installation to reduce bodily jolting upon impact.
No one likes to play on a beat up football field, with scuffed grass and exposed patches of mud and dirt. Unfortunately, the weather is often uncooperative when trying to repair a field in time for the next game.
In fact, even when the maintenance personnel have managed to get natural grass back in decent condition, all of their efforts could be destroyed by one bad rainstorm coming at the wrong time. With artificial turf, you don’t have to worry about recovery time, and it drains so quickly that you can use it almost immediately, even after a heavy rain.
If you are hesitant about investing in an artificial turf field because the upfront cost is more significant than natural grass, you may want to reconsider. Purchase and installation aren’t the only costs to weigh.
In fact, longevity and maintenance are equally significant factors.
“A new artificial turf football field will not have to be replaced for five years or more. A grass football field, on the other hand, must be maintained regularly if it is going to last more than two years under the wear and tear of practices, games and inclement weather. You will spend a lot more money to maintain a grass football field than you will a modern artificial turf field.”
The cost of watering a natural grass field is obviously substantial. Fertilizers and pesticides don’t come cheap, either. Yet, the most overlooked cost of natural grass fields is often the constant manual labor that is necessary to keep them in shape.
There is a lot to be said for training players under the most optimal conditions possible. A Guardian.com article that examined the pros and cons of artificial turf offered the opinion of Ronny Deila, when he coached Celtic Football Club in Scotland, that artificial turf could improve the quality of play in sports.
“If we are going to develop good young players in Scotland you need to have a good surface to play and train on. If not, you just get fighters. If you want skills and technique, you have to play on better surfaces.”
Between the weather and the damage done to a natural turf field from team activity, it can be almost impossible to give players frequent access to a surface equal to what artificial turf provides.
It may help to know that there is a variety of both turf and shockpad options from which you may choose, so you can install the combination of products which best suits your needs.
There is a wealth of information available about the current generation of artificial turf products available. The Synthetic Turf Council, in particular, offers several short downloadable publications with guidelines regarding infill, performance and more. A beautiful, durable and long-lasting artificial turf football field is a tough investment to beat.
For more information, please visit S-Shaped Sports Turf.