It’s the sporting season and a perfect opportunity to find out all there is to know about artificial grass and sports pitches or MUGAs (Multi-Use Games Areas). Fake turf has become more common in fields and stadiums across the globe, with most of the top teams training and playing on fully artificial or partially artificial grass fields.
A fake turf field can be used all year round – that means more practice sessions, more matches and more opportunity for your team to play together. There’s no waiting for the pitch to recover after games or bad weather so your fields can be used all the time.
It’s great if more than one team want to use the pitch because one team’s game will not affect the other’s ability to use it afterward. It’s also an opportunity to promote your team, school, or community centre as a place that values games and sports and encourages people to be active.
What are the main considerations?
Q: Is there a priority sport?
If it’s a general sports area for a community centre or school then you will want something suitable for a variety of games. That means a grass with a pile height that isn’t too long, is in-line aesthetically with the surrounding areas, and will be installed with a reliable draining base. A football pitch for example can have a grass height of up to 40mm but this is probably too long for a hockey pitch. If it is designated for athletics then there are many games to consider.
Q: Do I need an in-fill or non-infill pitch?
An in-fill pitch uses materials added to the top surface to help the grass remain vertical as well as weigh it down. A grass with a longer pile height might need some extra help to keep the grass upright. They can also give added bounce to a surface for high impact sports.
Non-infill grasses tend to be lower maintenance because you do not have to replace the in-fill. In-fill is generally not needed if there is a realistic thatch present in the grass which can help support the blades. These are also secured and pinned down rather than weighed down by material.
Q: How is it installed?
Infill or non-infill is a question often linked to the installation method, and the drainage process of the grass. You can see our typical non-infill installation method here. Drainage is one of the most important considerations when thinking about having an artificial field or pitch. We support our grass by laying and compacting a stable aggregate base of type 1 limestone and grano dust that allows water to easily pass through.
Q: Do I need shock pad?
Sports pitches can install shock pad if there are competitive contact sports like rugby played on the pitch. It is generally found in schools to provide what is called a critical fall height for small children and climbing equipment but it can be used in a sports environment. (Though it has been known to affect the way the game is played).
Trulawn have a range of grasses available for sports and fields so get in contact if you would like to know more about costs or would like to arrange a site visit 0800 2100 461.