“Shoes specifically designed for use on an artificial grass surface could add another 20% improvement. So, all in all, there is still much to achieve”
Becoming the norm?
Use of shockpads seems to have become more common these days. “Field installing companies have realised that the thick layer of rubber that they used to use, tends to compact within a few years and, given the fact that this rubber is a recycled material, it is also difficult to predict its performance and durability. By using a shockpad, the shock absorption and energy restitution of a field is guaranteed, but it also allows for a thinner layer of alternative infill material that is produced specifically for its purpose,” Frenk Stoop of Sekisui Alveo points out.
The Swiss company does a lot of
research in comfort and safety of artificial grass fields. According to Stoop, there are various solutions to improve the elasticity of a field. “Some fields make use of a thick layer of lava and rubber, whilst others use a combination of asphalt and rubber. And then you have the foam layers that are specifically produced for this purpose, and which keep in mind the environmental and practical disadvantages of the two existing solutions.” With the introduction of infill material that is specifically produced for its purpose, the artificial grass industry claims that a new era is about to start. “Installing companies call fields that use the combination of a shockpad and
alternative infill material an ‘engineered’ system, as all the specs have been calculated and measured. They know exactly how the field will perform and for how long, thus ensuring that the customer will receive a field according to his or her requirements."
Opening up new markets
Use of a shockpad for football could stimulate the acceptance of artificial grass in rugby. The International Rugby Board’s (IRB) quality standards are close to those of FIFA, except the IRB, being more demanding on the shock absorption of a field, a demand that was hard to be met by FIFA. “It would not be appropriate to prioritise injury types. It
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