Isn't it frustrating when the football match fixture you have been looking forward to all week, is cancelled due to the muddy condition of the pitch? Or you are cooped up indoors in school when the playing field is too soggy? Particularly in the winter, when it is mostly wet and cold, pitches just take too long to dry.



Instead of depriving yourself of playing and viewing pleasure all winter, why not go for a modern synthetic outdoor sports surface? No more will you have to cope with the disappointment of cancelled practice sessions or matches.

A whole variety of sports surfaces, both outdoor and indoor are available, to suit different purposes and budgets. Not only are artificial pitches suitable for year round use, they are also cheaper to maintain. The technology of artificial sports surfaces is highly advanced and the playing characteristics of a sports surface depend on how it interacts with the player and with the ball.

Most commonly used in school play areas is a macadam surface. This is a hard and durable surface that is suitable for use in all kinds of weather. Dense macadam is non-porous and therefore prone to developing puddles, and may therefore be unsuitable for use in wet weather. A porous variety of macadam is also available which allows drainage of surface water. Macadam is a cheaper alternative, and requires very little maintenance; however, it is a hard, unyielding and abrasive surface which could lead to injuries due to falls. This surface is also popular for Tennis, Basketball, Netball etc.

Polymeric synthetic sports surfaces are made from rubber granules combined with a binder. They are porous and provide greater degree of shock absorption, and are therefore safer for players. Such surfaces also require another layer of a colour coating to make them slip resistant. Polymeric surfaces are suitable for football, athletics etc.

Artificial grass with sand infill, and needle-punch carpets, are commonly used for football at the recreational level. Beneath the artificial grass or carpet is a layer of shock-pad, which helps protect players from injuries. The artificial grass may be sand-dressed or sand filled, giving the surface differing qualities of ball bounce and speed.

Third generation artificial grass is the latest type of artificial grass, and most closely resembles the playing qualities of natural grass. ?Grass? fibres are made from polyethylene, which is softer, is dressed with a mixture of rubber crumb and sand, giving it greater ?cushioning?. Again, by varying the length of fibres and the density of fibres, the characteristics of the playing surface can be altered. Third generation artificial grass is popularly used for tennis, football, rugby etc.