The use of artificial turf athletic fields is a growing trend that has been expanding every year.
In the beginning, only professional arenas used artificial grass due to the cost for installation. Now, however, new technology and the use of repurposed materials has made it possible for schools, community organizations and even homeowners to take advantage of the unique benefits offered by synthetic turf.
As you consider potential playing surfaces for your sports field, keep in mind these five ways that artificial grass is changing the game.
Artificial Turf Athletic Fields Recover Faster
Natural grass tends to take a beating during sporting events, and most natural playing fields require a period of recovery time between heavy play. For coaches and event organizers, this leads to a loss of valuable practice and playing time. Artificial grass, however, is more resilient, which means that you can maximize your time frame by scheduling practices and competitions back to back.
Reduced Injury Risk
Natural grass may be softer than playing on hard dirt, but not by much. Hidden rocks, divots and hills all pose dangers to athletes as they run and leap across the field. Sadly, all it takes is one bad step into a hidden hole to break a player’s ankle and take them out for the season. Since artificial grass creates a smooth, uniform playing surface, busting a knee on a rock is much less likely. Additionally, the lining beneath offers better cushioning than old-fashioned dirt so players can skid, tackle and land with less impact.
Minimal Maintenance
Keeping up with natural grass is a time-consuming and expensive pursuit.
In addition to mowing, sports fields must also be fertilized and seeded to prevent bald spots that are not just unsightly but dangerous as well. Outdoor arenas, especially, require constant upkeep after inclement weather, and they must be cleared of debris such as leaves and branches. Artificial grass simply requires an occasional wash down with a water hose.
That’s it. The time and money you save on maintenance can be better spent towards the team.
Increased Versatility
Sports fields are often a community or school investment, and they can serve more purposes that just as a place to host competitions.
Unfortunately, natural grass just cannot stand up to the wear and tear that certain activities cause. For example, a high school graduation would require chairs that poke holes into the soft ground, and too much traffic will wear a trail right through the middle of a natural field. With artificial grass, however, you can host those special events without worrying about damage.
Maintain Continuity
When you know a sport will continuously be played in your field, then artificial grass is also ideal because it will save you time on setting up.
For example, you can have field lines sewn directly into the grass so that you never have to put out a chalk line again. Since you never have to mow, choosing artificial grass for your field also means that you never have to move goals or cages for mowing purposes again. Keeping continuity on your playing field means the players can focus on the game rather than working around constant changes.
The right surface for a sports field makes a big difference in the final outcome of the game. In addition to improving every aspect of the game for the players, artificial grass just looks plain pretty. This season, give your players and fans the royal treatment by rolling out a field of grass that will always be green.
