The SMART GUIDE To SYNTHETIC SPORTS SURFACES Volume 2: Football Turf – Synthetic and Hybrid Technology Issue: v2.02 Date: November 2019 The Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces Volume 2: Football Turf – Synthetic and Hybrid Technology Acknowledgements The volumes of the Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces include: Smart Connection Consultancy is extremely grateful to • Volume 1: Surfaces and Standards (2019) the sport peak bodies, valued suppliers and • Volume 2: Football Turf – Synthetic and Hybrid manufacturers who have provided information, Technology (2019) photographs and case studies for this Smart Guide to • Volume 3: Environmental and Sustainability Considerations (2019) Synthetic Football Fields. • Volume 4: Challenges, Perceptions and Reality (2019) Without their support, we would not be able to achieve • Volume 5: Maintenance of Synthetic Long Pile our goal to enhance the knowledge of the industry on Turf (2019) synthetic sports turf fields. We would also like to thank About the Author our colleagues, clients and organisations that we have Martin Sheppard, M.D., Smart completed work for in the sports industry. It is your Connection Consultancy Martin has worked in the sport appetite for change and progress that makes our job so and active recreation industry rewarding. for 40 years, managing a diverse Copyright portfolio of facilities including leisure centres, sports Smart Connection Consultancy Pty Ltd. facilities, parks and open spaces, athletic tracks, All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be synthetic sports fields, golf courses and a specialist reproduced in any form or by any means without the sports and leisure consultancy practice. permission of Smart Connection Consultancy or the author. He clearly understands strategic and the political ISBN: TBC environment of sport, whilst also providing tactical and innovative solutions. Martin is an international speaker Disclaimer whose expertise is recognised for aligning synthetic Smart Connection Consultancy do not accept any liability surfaces and facility development, with player pathways, for the accuracy of the information provided. All supply and demand forecasting and participation material and information that is provided from the third strategies. parties is done so in good faith to assist organisations understand the key issues around synthetic sports Martin is the Technical Consultant for Australia’s leading surfaces. We will continually update the Smart Guide to football codes including: attempt to keep the industry updated. About the Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces Smart Connection Consultancy is committed to sharing knowledge and learnings with the industry and has produced a number of volumes of the Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces which can be downloaded PO Box 5247 free of charge from our website South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3205 www.smartconnection.net.au. t: +61 (0) 3 9421 0133 e: [email protected] w: www.smartconnection.net.au © Smart Connection Consultancy – Nov 2019 Page 2 of 44 The Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces Volume 2: Football Turf – Synthetic and Hybrid Technology Contents 6 Perceptions and Concerns within the Welcome and Purpose ............................................ 4 Community ............................................................ 29 1 Introduction ...................................................... 5 6.1 Introduction ................................................... 29 2 Synthetic Sports Turf Evolution and Benefits ... 6 7 Financial Investment Needed ......................... 30 2.1 Evolution of Synthetic Turf for Football .......... 6 7.1 The Whole of Life Expense Commitment ...... 30 2.2 Benefits of Synthetic Turf Football Codes ....... 7 7.2 Capital Investment and Installation Costs ..... 31 2.3 History of Synthetic Sports Turf in Australia for 7.3 Maintenance Costs ........................................ 31 Football Codes ............................................................ 8 7.4 Replacement Costs ........................................ 31 3 Synthetic Sports Turf System for Football ........ 9 7.5 Income Offset Costs ....................................... 31 3.1 Introduction ..................................................... 9 8 The Importance of Maintenance .................... 33 3.2 Performance System ........................................ 9 8.1 Introduction ................................................... 33 3.3 Civil Engineered Solution ............................... 13 8.2 Key Principles of Maintenance ...................... 33 4 Hybrid Technology for Football Fields ............ 15 9 Design Considerations for Football Fields ...... 36 4.1 What is Hybrid Grass Sports Turf? ................. 15 9.1 The Importance of Masterplanning ............... 36 4.2 Profile Reinforcement .................................... 16 9.2 Multi-sport Designs ........................................ 37 4.3 Types of Systems ........................................... 16 9.3 Field Layout and Lines .................................... 37 4.4 Cost of Hybrid Grass ...................................... 19 9.4 Site Assessment Considerations .................... 37 4.5 Conclusion...................................................... 20 10 Key Australian Contacts .............................. 39 5 Sports Embraces Synthetic Technology .......... 20 10.1 Independent Advisory Services .................. 39 5.1 Importance of Performance for Football Codes 10.2 Key Sports ................................................... 39 20 10.3 Suppliers and Agents .................................. 40 5.2 Governing Body Standards ............................ 20 10.4 Independent Testing Institutes .................. 41 5.3 Sports Standards ............................................ 21 About Smart Connection Consultancy ................... 42 5.4 The Importance of Testing ............................. 29 © Smart Connection Consultancy – Nov 2019 Page 3 of 44 The Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces Volume 2: Football Turf – Synthetic and Hybrid Technology Welcome and Purpose community with opportunities to be more active more The popularity of synthetic sports surfaces used by often. many sports, local governments and within the education sector in Australia has significantly grown in the last two decades to complement their natural turf fields. This enables the local community to participate in sport when the demand on natural fields cannot be accommodated. The key football codes in Australia have all embraced synthetic sports surfaces technology for their community clubs and some for their elite players. Their Photo 1: Football (Soccer) - Gosnells LGA, WA (ABS installation) aim is simply to provide more opportunities for communities to play sport and appreciate that the synthetic sports fields is one way of creating significant additional playing hours in many areas where fields are in short demand. The aim of this Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces: Volume 2 Football Turf – Synthetic and Photo 2: Rugby Union - Latham Park, NSW Hybrid Technology is to provide guidance to (Polytan installation) organisations who are interested in understanding the options available to them for adopting synthetic sports turf technology. It also provides an overview of the key football codes, the required global standards and their approaches in Australia. It is anticipated that this should guide community groups in appreciating the benefits and use of such technology. Photo 3: AFL & Football - ELS Hall Park, NSW (installed by Turf One) Smart Connection Consultancy is passionate about working with organisations that are keen to encourage their community to be more active. Sport is one of the vehicles to achieve this and provides many physical, community and health benefits. Smart Connection Consultancy has embraced the use of sports field technology, whether that be natural, hybrid, Photo 4: Football, AFL and Cricket - St Kevin’s synthetic or alternative sports surfaces to complement College, Vic (installed by Tuff Turf) natural fields, as a vehicle to promote and provide the © Smart Connection Consultancy – Nov 2019 Page 4 of 44 The Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Surfaces Volume 2: Football Turf – Synthetic and Hybrid Technology 1 Introduction The benefits of synthetic sports turf caters for increased The growth of the Australian population over the past playing capacity, often more than 60 hours a week, and 1 21 years has seen an increase of over six million (33%) offering a consistency that is not detrimentally from approx. 18 million to 24 million people. The impacted by drought or excessive rain. Football codes in expected population in the next 15+ years will rise to be Australia benefit from this technology and the growth in 2 over 31 million (approx. 40% increase) and this will synthetics fields for Soccer, Rugby (Union and League), seriously impact on sports field provision and AFL and multi-sports fields, continues to increase. accessibility in many cities around Australia. These synthetic sports fields have evolved over the past This demand will continue to place significant pressure 50 years and are now known as the Third Generation on sports field infrastructure around key cities in fields, or 3G pitches. Many councils and sport are Australia where demands for additional playing fields seeking alternative technology solutions from natural and additional hours per field continue to exceed the and synthetic fields. Many wish to support a more hours