Articles by Steve Nelson on ArticleSnatch.com

Why are artificial Sports surfaces popular?

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

No more cancellations of your favourite matches owing to rain or snow, thanks to artificial sports fields. An artificial sports turf is requires low maintenance and can be used all the year round. By installing a synthetic sports surface, one can do away with many activities like regular watering, draining, mowing, applying fertilizers, weeding, and so on. This brings down the annual outlay on maintenance. With regular maintenance an artificial sports turf can last up to 15 years. An artificial sports field is made from polypropylene grass about 5 centimetres long. This grass is lubricated with silicone and tufted into a primary cloth. The latex is applied to the back of the cloth to give it stability by anchoring in the tufts. The whole thing is then "in-filled" with a 4-centimetre layer of sand and rubber granules, which keeps the fibres upright and makes the shock resistant. Artificial sports surfaces allow multiple activities and sports to be played on a single sports pitch. Depending on the sport you wish to play, the artificial sports surface can be designed and constructed with the appropriate materials such as the type of sub-base, density and length of â€˜grassâ€™ fibre, type of infill etc. **End Summary** Topics: Artificial Grass]]> Artificial Sports Surface]]> Grass Sports Pi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> No more cancellations of your favourite matches owing to rain or snow, thanks to artificial sports fields. An artificial sports turf is requires low maintenance and can be used all the year round. By installing a synthetic sports surface, one can do away with many activities like regular watering, draining, mowing, applying fertilizers, weeding, and so on.

Enjoy hockey round the year with an Artificial Hockey Pitch

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

If you go to cheer for your favourite hockey team, do not be surprised to find players playing on an artificial hockey pitch. Artificial turf has secured a prominent place in various other sports too, not just hockey. International sports associations and governing bodies have approved the use of artificial surfaces for sports like football and hockey and others, which were originally played on natural grass sports pitches. The most commonly used artificial hockey pitch is manufactured from synthetic materials like polypropylene or polyethylene. Made to look like grass, the artificial hockey pitch has become a popular choice for hockey pitches. The introduction of synthetic sports pitches has changed the game of field hockey significantly. The use of shorter fibres in artificial sports surfaces has increased the speed of the ball across the surface; owing to which, the game has become much faster. Artificial surfaces have also brought about a change in the shape of the hockey sticks to allow for different techniques, such as trapping, reverse stick, and hitting. Basically, there are three different categories of artificial turf: unfilled, sand dressed, and sand filled. **End Summary** Topics: Sport Pitches]]> Synthetic Grass]]> Synthetic Sports Surfaces]]> S]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Synthetic sports pitches has changed the game of field hockey significantly. The use of shorter fibres in Artificial sports surfaces has increased the speed of the ball across the surface; owing to which, the game has become much faster. Synthetic Athletic Surfaces have also brought about a change in the shape of the hockey sticks to allow for different te

Artificial Outdoor Sports Facilities require lesser maintenance

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Do you remember the frustration and anger when your favourite football or hockey match got cancelled due to muddy or frozen fields? This was a common phenomenon years ago as most of the outdoor sports were played on natural grass surfaces. It is a known fact that natural grass sports surfaces cannot withstand extreme weather conditions. Due to its delicate and fragile nature, natural grass surfaces also require extensive sports surface maintenance and care. As a result, outdoor sports facilities providers have switched to artificial playing surfaces. Artificial sports surfaces are fabricated from synthetic materials, such as artificial grass with sand or rubber in-fill. Such surfaces were first developed in 1965. Since, these sports surfaces have been in popular use, outdoor sports facilities located worldwide prefer them over natural grass. Not only this, outdoor sports facilities providers opt for artificial sports surfaces because they are more economical in the long run. Even after heavy rains, drainage of the surface water is a matter of only minutes on synthetic outdoor sports surfaces. Different sports have different requirements and the artificial sports surfaces can be so designed as to exhibit different playing characteristics. **End Summary** Topics: Athletics Tracks]]> Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Gr]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Artificial sports surfaces are fabricated from synthetic materials, such as artificial grass with sand or rubber in-fill. Such surfaces were first developed in 1965. Since, these sports surfaces have been in popular use, outdoor sports facilities located worldwide prefer them over natural grass.

The benefits of opting for an Artificial Games Area

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

An artificial games area is made up of synthetic grass in-filled with sand or rubber. There are sports surfaces which are made up of synthetic fibres that require no in-fill. Whether in-filled or not, an artificial games area require minimal maintenance and frees you from worries, such as watering, using fertilizers, removing weeds, mowing, draining, and the like, which are essential in the case of natural grass surfaces. An artificial games area remains lush all through the year and offers the same playing characteristics as that of a natural grass sports field. It can be used all year round because it is undamaged by extreme weather conditions. The sub-base of an artificial games area is made up of impermeable material, which together with a drainage system, ensures that the pitch is always ready for play. The cost effective nature and the durability of an artificial games area make these sports surfaces ideal for being used as a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) where a wide variety of sports can be played. An artificial games area also offers protection to players from injuries. **End Summary** Topics: Artificial Grass]]> Artificial Sports Surface]]> Grass Sports Pi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> An artificial game area is made up of synthetic grass in-filled with sand or rubber. There are sports surfaces which are made up of synthetic fibres that require no in-fill. An artificial games area remains lush all through the year and offers the same playing characteristics as that of a natural grass sports field.

Artificial Football Pitch suitable for all weather conditions

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Grass sports pitches were the popular and only pitches used until some decades ago. They have been overtaken by artificial sports pitches. Artificial sports surfaces have become a popular choice for sports such as football, hockey, tennis, netball and are even used in athletics tracks and Multi Use Games Areas where a variety of sports can be played. The extensive use of artificial grass particularly as a football pitch is the result of numerous benefits offered by them. However, it was not the case initially. In the 1980s, some football clubs in Europe like QPR's Loftus Road, Luton Town's Kenilworth Road, Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park installed artificial surfaces, which they called plastic pitch. However, owing to their hard surface, the artificial grass surface caused more injuries to the players and so their use was banned by English FA in 1988. Today, it is altogether a different scenario. The advancements made in this field have removed all the drawbacks of artificial pitches. For instance, an artificial football pitch offers the same playing characteristics as that of a natural grass soccer field. **End Summary** Topics: Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Grass]]> Artificial Spo]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Grass sports pitches were the popular and only pitches used until some decades ago. They have been overtaken by artificial sports pitches . Artificial sports surfaces have become a popular choice for sports such as football, hockey, tennis, netball and are even used in athletics tracks and Multi Use Games Areas where a variety of sports can be playe

Astro Turf: Never lets you miss your favourite game'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Astro Turf was installed in 1965 in the newly built Astrodome in Houston, Texas. It was then that artificial turf first came to prominence. Astro Turf and similar surfaces gained popularity in the 1970s and were used in both indoor and outdoor stadiums for baseball and gridiron football in the United States and Canada. The first artificial turf or the Astro Turf was a far harder surface than grass and so was prone to cause more injuries to the players when they slid or fell on the ground. Artificial turf or Astro turf was also regarded as aesthetically unappealing to many fans when compared to natural grass sports pitches. This was the reason why the use of Astro turf was then banned by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and by many domestic soccer associations. However, in recent years, both governing bodies have expressed an interest in resurrecting the use of artificial athletic surfaces. This is owing to the fact that the new artificial playing surfaces are far superior to the artificial turf of the earlier decades. **End Summary** Topics: Athletics Tracks]]> Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Gr]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Artificial athletics tracks offer optimum support to the players. It is because these tracks are slip-resistant and therefore protect the athletes from falls and injuries. Also, artificial athletic surfaces or athletics tracks comprise impermeable double compound polyurethane system, which allows for better drainage whilst making the surface uniform and durable.

How to take care of an artificial sports field

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Artificial sports surfaces made of polypropylene or polyethylene fibres are highly durable and can be used all year round. As they require minimal maintenance, the annual expenditure on them is a smaller when compared to what is spent on the maintenance of natural grass sports surfaces. Synthetic sports surfaces also require some amount of care and maintenance, if not as much as that required by a natural grass sports field. A proactive approach is the best way to ensure proper care and maintenance of an AstroTurf. There are many professional firms with the expertise in offering effective care and cleansing for every type of artificial sports surface- be it a synthetic soccer or hockey pitch, an athletics track, a MUGA (Multi-use Games Area), a sports hall, or any other sports surface. An artificial grass sports field requires power sweeping on a periodic basis, which helps it to offer optimum playing conditions for a longer period of time. It is done with the help of a soft cylindrical brush which can lift approximately 2-3mm of sand and pile. The lifted pile is cleaned and is then returned to the surface. **End Summary** Topics: Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Grass]]> Artificial Spo]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Synthetic sports surfaces also require some amount of care and maintenance, if not as much as that required by a natural grass sports field. A proactive approach is the best way to ensure proper care and maintenance of an AstroTurf. Learn More on Artificial Grass Manufacturer & Sport Pitches .

AstroTurf: Redefining the world of Sports

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

AstroTurf was the first brand of artificial turf. Co-invented by James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright in 1964, it became popular as AstroTurf following its use at the Houston Astrodome, Texas. It was originally a short pile synthetic turf. Today, AstroTurfâ€ is used as a generic term for any kind of artificial turf. AstroTurf is manufactured from synthetic materials like polypropylene and polyethylene. These synthetic fibres are lubricated with silicon, and the turf can be either sand-filled or sand-dressed. Rubber granules are also used to keep the fibres upright whilst providing the right level of shock absorbency. An expanded polyethylene base can be found in many artificial sports surfaces. It acts as a shock absorber and prevents injuries in players. Artificial sports surfaces have found a wide acceptance in a variety of sports. There are sports facilities that feature artificial sports pitches for playing as well as practising football, hockey, basketball, tennis, athletics, and many more. Some of the prime reasons for their popularity are their durability, resistance to intensive use, and the need for minimal maintenance. **End Summary** Topics: Athletics Tracks]]> Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Gr]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Artificial sports surfaces have found a wide acceptance in a variety of sports. There are sports facilities that feature artificial sports pitches for playing as well as practising football, hockey, basketball, tennis, athletics, and many more. Learn More on Artificial Grass & Sports Pitch .

Artificial Turf for field Hockey: Changing the face of the game

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Artificial turf is a man-made surface manufactured from synthetic materials like polypropylene or polyethylene. Made to look like grass, an artificial turf has become a popular choice for a wide variety of sports, which were originally played on natural grass pitches. Ever since the first artificial turf, known as Astroturfâ€, was installed in the newly built Astrodome in Houston, Texas in 1965, the popularity of these artificial sports surfaces gained momentum. Today, a variety of sports, including football, hockey, netball, athletics, tennis, and many more are played on these synthetic sports surfaces. Artificial turf has become a permanent feature for field hockey. With the introduction of artificial turf pitch, the game of hockey has become much faster and consequently, more popular. Players can now make fast passes with precise ball control. In fact, some rules have been amended and techniques refined to suit the new pace of the game. For instance, a hockey player can now try techniques like reverse stick trapping and hitting on an artificial hockey pitch. The shape of the hockey sticks has also undergone a change to produce optimum results whilst playing on an artificial surface. **End Summary** Topics: Artificial Grass]]> Artificial Sports Surface]]> Grass Sports Pi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Artificial sports surfaces can be used all year round irrespective of weather conditions. In addition, the shock pad underneath the top layer of an artificial turf offers cushioning to the players. They need not have any worries about injuries whilst sliding and falling during the game. Learn more on Synthetic Sports Surfaces .

Experience the thrill of football with artificial Soccer turf

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Synthetic sports surfaces have found a prominent place in many sports facilities in recent times. A wide variety of sports, including football, field hockey, tennis, athletics, netball, basketball, and many more are played on these surfaces. The immense popularity of artificial sports surfaces is the result of their numerous advantages. For instance, an artificial soccer turf requires minimal maintenance when compared to a natural grass sports field. An artificial soccer turf offers the same playing characteristics as that of a natural grass soccer field. However, unlike the latter, it can be used all year round, in all weather conditions. These surfaces have an excellent drainage system, which makes them ideal for all weather conditions: frozen winters or heavy rainfall. Made of polyethylene or polypropylene fibres lubricated with silicone, a soccer turf features a 'shock padâ€ underneath the top layer. It offers cushioning to players against injuries when they slide or fall on the surface. The synthetic fibres of an artificial soccer turf 'carpet' are tufted into a canvas and a layer of latex is applied on its back. This 'backing' is so strong that moles cannot dig through it. **End Summary** Topics: Athletics Tracks]]> Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Gr]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Synthetic sports surfaces have found a prominent place in many sports facilities in recent times. The immense popularity of artificial sports surfaces is the result of their numerous advantages. For instance, an artificial soccer turf requires minimal maintenance when compared to a natural grass sports field. Learn More on Artificial Grass Suppliers

Synthetic Turf for Tennis

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Tennis is traditionally played on grass courts. Today, of all the Grand Slam tournaments, only Wimbledon is played on grass; the U.S. Open and Australian Open use synthetic hard courts, whilst the French Open is played on clay courts. Although, clay is also one of the popular surfaces for tennis, synthetic turf and hard tennis courts are gaining increasing popularity over grass and clay courts. Clay courts (also known as gravel courts) are made of crushed shale, stone or brick. Clay courts slow down the ball and produce a higher bounce when compared to natural grass or hard courts. Although, these courts are cheaper to construct, the maintenance cost is higher than that of a hard court. Also, the clay courts need to be rolled to preserve flatness. The water content of the clay must be balanced for optimum playing conditions. In case of natural grass tennis courts, the green courts are required to be sloped to allow water run-off. Both grass and clay tennis courts cannot be used all year round. This is the reason why they are increasingly being replaced by synthetic hard courts and synthetic turf courts. **End Summary** Topics: Athletics Track]]> Athletics Tracks]]> Artificial Grass Supplie]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Artificial sports surfaces are also used for other sports like football, field hockey, athletics, netball, and many more. In fact, synthetic athletic surfaces have become a common feature in most of the sports facilities around the world. Learn more on Outdoor Sports Surfaces .

Sports Pitch Care or Ã¢â¬ËCare of Artificial Sports Pitches'

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Artificial grass sports pitches do not require as much maintenance as natural grass sports pitches. However, they do entail some regular maintenance which helps keep them in optimal playing conditions and makes them last longer. Most of the sports facilities rely on specialist firms with professional expertise for the maintenance of their synthetic sports surfaces. Proactive maintenance of a sports pitch is important. This will help not only in extending the longevity of the pitch, but also in minimising the chances of potential injury to players by optimising the playing conditions of the sports pitch. A professional firm can ensure thorough and effective maintenance of artificial sports surfaces by undertaking either full maintenance work or periodic specialist service treatments. Usually, the maintenance contract is developed in consultation with the client. This is done to ensure that the individual requirements of the clients are taken into account whilst devising the maintenance package. Some of the factors that are taken into consideration are climatic conditions, site conditions, usage of the sports pitch, and available budget. A package for complete sports pitch care involves the use of a power sweep. **End Summary** Topics: Artificial Grass Suppliers]]> Artificial Grass]]> Artificial Spo]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Artificial grass sports pitches do not require as much maintenance as natural grass sports pitches. However, they do entail some regular maintenance which helps keep them in optimal playing conditions and makes them last longer .Learn More on Sports Surface Maintenance .

Articles by Steve Nelson on ArticleSnatch.com

Why are artificial Sports surfaces popular?

Enjoy hockey round the year with an Artificial Hockey Pitch

Artificial Outdoor Sports Facilities require lesser maintenance

The benefits of opting for an Artificial Games Area

Artificial Football Pitch suitable for all weather conditions

Astro Turf: Never lets you miss your favourite game'

How to take care of an artificial sports field

AstroTurf: Redefining the world of Sports

Artificial Turf for field Hockey: Changing the face of the game

Experience the thrill of football with artificial Soccer turf

Synthetic Turf for Tennis

Sports Pitch Care or Ã¢â¬ËCare of Artificial Sports Pitches'

Sports Pitch Care or Ã¢â¬ËCare of Artificial Sports Pitches'