In recent years there have been many sports fields that have been built using improper methods, followed by a poor maintenance structure, and now are seen to be in conditions that are unfit to be played on. In this article, we at The RS Group would like to highlight the proper steps to be taken when creating a natural turf football field. Firstly before any construction work can begin we must determine the efficacy of the design, a detailed evaluation must be conducted to determine the owner's requirements, the current status of the area, and variables that could cause issues during the construction process or to the longevity of the pitch.
In line with our research, there are nine (9) owners’ requirements that need to be met, they are as follows:
Rapid Draining (Immediate use after a thunderstorm)
Firm (Providing good footing and stability)
Resilient (Cushioning falls and reducing injuries)
Dense (Providing consistent ball roll or bounce)
Uniform (An even playing surface)
Persistent (Lasting the entire season)
Deep-Rooted (Resisting divots or tears)
Wear Tolerant (Withstanding injury from pressure, abrasion, or tearing/shearing)
Compacting (Resistant)
There is a structure that needs to be followed in order to start building a natural turf field. This structure is split into seven (7) segments they are as follows; Type of Sport, Stadium/Surrounding Structures, Grass Selection, Top Soil Selection, Subsoil Drainage, Irrigation, and Maintenance.
In this article, we will go through the nine (9) owner’s requirements in more detail:
Rapid Draining (Immediate use after a thunderstorm) – As an owner, you must be able to use your surface immediately after a thunderstorm or rain. This is related to the efficiency of the drainage system being used, as it must be able to drain the water rapidly or risk damaging the field or reducing playtime.
Firm (Providing good footing and stability) – Depending on the type of sport played on the surface the firmness of the field varies, however the firmness must be accurate to the sport to prevent serious injury due to the instability of the players due to the surface.
Resilient (Cushioning falls and reducing injuries) – The surface must be resilient and cushion any rough or hard falls. This is very important when it comes to body contact sports such as Rugby, where the players will inevitably take very hard falls after being tackled.
Dense (Providing consistent ball roll or bounce) – The density of the turf used on the surface directly influences the consistency of play. We test this using the ball roll or bounce technique at various locations on the surface, this will ensure that when the surface is in use the quality and consistency of play is guaranteed to satisfy the players.
Uniform (An even playing surface) – The surface must be uniform not only to be aesthetically pleasing but to also ensure quality of play. A surface that is not uniform will have uneven areas that will directly affect the stability of players or the direction of ball roll.
Persistent (Lasting the entire season) – The turf used must be able to last entire season of play, be it competitions, tournaments, or league matches. The surface must be designed to be able to take high amounts of use and have a quick bounce back period.
Deep-Rooted (Resisting divots or tears) – When in heavy use, the surface will be under heavy foot traffic from cleats or other types of shoes with studs or spikes. This inevitably leads to divots or tears in the surface; therefore, the surface must be deep-rooted in order to withstand the potential damage.
Wear Tolerant (Withstanding injury from pressure, abrasion, or tearing/shearing) – Over time and heavy usage, surfaces will experience some form of wear and tear. Therefore the correct turf must be selected for the needs of the client to ensure the surface does not succumb to wear and tear quickly.
Compacting (Resistant) – When a surface is in use, the heavy foot traffic causes the rootzone to become compacted, however the type of rootzone determines how quickly it becomes compacted and requires aeration. A compacted surface is harder and a fall onto it can result in injury.
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