FIFA is keen to stress the importance of continued
completed, either annually or as a minimum every second year. This process is designed to get much deeper into the carpet pile, removing any dust, debris and broken-down carpet fibres that have migrated lower into the rubber infill.
maintenance in order to ensure that Football Turf continues to fulfil its strict requirements on criteria such as ball roll and bounce, stud slide and
deceleration, and shock absorption
As with all synthetic grass carpet systems, moss and weed growth can create problems on 3G pitches and must be tackled on a regular basis. Failure to remove this material will soon increase contamination levels, leave the pitch looking unsightly and, most importantly, pose health and safety risks to players in the form of slip hazards.
FIFA and the launch of Football Turf
When maintained correctly, a 3G pitch offers a consistent playing surface for sports such as football, at all levels of the game. The benefits of artificial turf, in climates where natural grass is unsustainable, and the increased amount of use such facilities can support in comparison with natural pitches, led to FIFA launching their Quality Concept for Football Turf in 2001. Identifying a growth in popularity of synthetic sports pitches, football’s world governing body wanted to promote a recognised international standard for artificial grass, or ‘Football Turf ’. The manufacture, installation and maintenance of Football Turf is subject to intense scrutiny, and a
designed to mimic professional football surfaces as closely as possible, and guarantees an artificial pitch that can host top level UEFA and FIFA competitive matches. Recommended 2* Football Turf must, above all, provide a consistently high level of playability throughout its life. Neglecting to properly look after the pitch serves to undermine any original investment, by shortening the projected life of the installation. Not only that, but FIFA will revoke the Recommended status of any Football Turf field that fails to meet its ongoing maintenance requirements. FIFA is keen to stress the
importance of continued maintenance in order to ensure that Football Turf continues to fulfil its strict requirements on criteria such as ball roll and bounce, stud slide and deceleration, and shock absorption. Facility operators of FIFA
Recommended 2* pitches must demonstrate to FIFA that appropriate maintenance equipment is available on site, or supply photographic evidence of such equipment if maintenance is completed by a third party, such as Technical Surfaces.
The New Saints FC - a synthetic pitch success story
FIFA recommends a series of simple, yet effective, principles of maintaining an artificial football pitch to achieve longevity, a profitable return on an initial investment and, above all, player satisfaction. Central to this is the fundamental rule that prevention is better than the cure. This sentiment has been adopted by Welsh Premier football club, The New Saints FC, whose own 3G Ligaturf pitch is accredited with FIFA Recommended 2* status.
The pitch at Park Hall Stadium, Oswestry, where The New Saints play their home games, is maintained on a regular basis, which has helped to preserve the playing characteristics of the facility to FIFA-approved standards
synthetic pitch must pass a series of laboratory and field tests before being awarded FIFA Recommended status. While the FIFA Recommended 1* artificial surface is intended mainly for community use, the Recommended 2* certified pitch is
Installed by Polytan Sports Surfaces in 2007, the pitch at Park Hall Stadium is maintained on a regular basiswith a combination of Power Sweeps, decompactions and remedial works has helped to preserve the playing characteristics of the facility to FIFA-approved standards. While The New Saints’ league record at home in the 2009-10 season (played 17, won 14, drew 3, lost 0) cannot be attributed solely to the quality of the playing surface, it does show that an artificial pitch is no hindrance to playing competitive sports, and can even be a positive factor. “Our team enjoys playing good, technical football, so the artificial pitch is perfect for us,” explains Mike Davies, Team Manager of The New Saints FC. “The surface suits our method of play and allows players to get the ball down - above all, it gives us a consistent playing field that reflects our players’ abilities.” Whilst opposing teams might feel at a disadvantage playing on artificial turf, it can just as easily be argued that teams such as The New Saints face a similar, if not worse, situation when
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