August 8, 2018
When selecting a synthetic sports turf, it is important to make sure the correct turf is chosen based on your intended use and application and that it meets the expectations of players, coaches and facility owners.
Especially in schools and tertiary institutions, where maximum use is required within a minimum space, the choice of synthetic turf is paramount.
High on the list of priorities for schools is maintaining a dependable and robust sports programme offering key sports such as rugby, football, hockey, netball and tennis. Limited field space, troublesome weather and a school full of keen sport enthusiasts put huge pressure on facilities often resulting in fields being closed due to poor, unsafe conditions.
To help address this problem, TigerTurf are continuously refining and testing its products to ensure we have systems that can meet the needs of schools’ various requirements. One such system is the TigerTurf Atomic Pro 40 multi-sport system. This is a long pile turf system developed around the “One Turf” concept established by FIFA, FIH, World Rugby and documented in the British Standard for synthetic turf sports surfaces; EN 15330-1, to meet the requirements of a range of field sports – rugby, football, hockey and futsal.
This system enables schools to have an all-weather synthetic turf system that is fit for purpose for a range of sports, fully tested and certified, allowing schools to maximise the range of sports on offer, keep sports fields open for play irrespective of hours of use or weather conditions and enable schools to maintain their sports training, playing and curriculum schedules without disruption.
Known as a long pile or 3G synthetic turf system, these types of surfaces are designed to replicate the playing qualities of natural grass and have traditionally been used for football. TigerTurf have developed, and had certified, its Atomic Pro 40 system to allow football and hockey to be played on the same field, providing an acceptable playing surface for community and development level hockey.
When selecting a hockey or a football turf, it needs to meet the requirements of the intended level of play that will take place on the facility. For a hockey turf to be approved, it must be produced by an FIH Preferred supplier or FIH Certified Manufacturer. Installing an FIH approved product is the first step to ensuring a field meets expectations. If, however, it is installed incorrectly or laid on a poorly built base the required levels of quality will not be achieved. Therefore, it is also important to ensure the construction of the facility is undertaken by an FIH preferred supplier or an FIH Certified Field builder. These are companies with a proven ability to build hockey facilities to standards the game requires.
TigerTurf’s Atomic Pro 40 system is a semi filled long pile synthetic turf, laid over the 15mm insitu SBR rubber shock pad. The yarn used in this surface is the TenCate XWR monofilament diamond shaped yarn. The XWR fibre has been designed for extreme wear resistance with a thick (365 micron) fibre that won’t split with hours and hours of play.
When certifying a system, the turf undergoes several rigorous tests to determine it meets a sports’ technical requirements. They look at ball rebound, ball roll, ball roll consistency and deviation, shock absorption, vertical deformation, shoe / surface friction and skin / surface friction..
Durability is also important and so they undertake a series of simulated wear tests. They look at abrasion resistance, carpet strength, directional stability, turf bind and the strength of joins. All the yarns used in these turfs must also meet standards in fibre polymer characteristics, tensile strength, UV tests and toxicology requirements.
Oscar Foundation is a football development non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children and youth in low-income communities in India.
Set on a hilltop with a breath-taking view, this ‘pay n play’ facility has encapsulated the interest of the people of Mizoram.
Altius Sports designed synthetic turf surface for Tashi Namgyal Academy in Gangtok. The first in Sikkim to get the TigerTurf upgrade.
