![CSF Decides In Favor of Hybrid Systems for Competition Pitches]()
by Shelby Becker
After years of indecision, the Canada Soccer Federation gives natural and artificial hy
brid grass systems the green light — some restrictions may apply
The Canada Soccer Federation is now adopting hybrid systems for pitches that would host FIFA member-affiliated associations or international club competitions.
Emphasis is being placed on the “wholly” strategy, meaning the pitches cannot be patchwork of natural and artificial turf — the two must be wholly integrated together.
Previous editions of FIFA’s Laws of the Game have stated that if artificial surfaces are used in “competition matches…or international club competition matches,” the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA. The latest edition of the Laws adds the following:
“The field of play must be wholly natural or, if competition rules permit, a wholly artificial playing surface, except where competition rules permit an integrated combination of artificial and natural materials” (otherwise referred to as a hybrid system).
If the previously installed turf doesn’t satisfy these requirements, its use should be restricted to recreational competitions in order to keep playing surfaces as consistent and high-quality as possible.
A contractor in Quebec has purchased an order of Xtreme Grass and will provide installations in 2017. Act Global’s Xtreme Grass hybrid reinforces natural grass’ playing properties combined with the durability of synthetic turf. The synthetic turf fibres help stabilize and protect the natural grass to reduce damage, wear and tear, and divots. The premium system is easy to install and maintain for full field installations or to reinforce target areas with high wear.
About Act Global
Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf technology, with manufacturing facilities on three continents and sales in more than 70 countries. The company carries a full range of products for sports (Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Grass), landscaping (Xtreme Lawn), aviation (AvTurf) and land reclamation (LiteEarth). Act Global is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, a Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, a World Rugby Preferred Turf Producer, FIH Preferred Supplier, and holds ISO 9001 Certification. Its products have undergone hundreds of independent laboratory tests for quality, durability, safety, environmental soundness and performance. For more information, visit http://www.actglobal.com
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
![CSF Decides In Favor of Hybrid Systems for Competition Pitches]()
by Shelby Becker
Act Global delivers Panama’s first FIFA Certified synthetic turf pitch to country’s top football stadium.
September 6, 2016 – San Francisco Fútbol Club players just got a home turf upgrade, with the recent FIFA Certified synthetic turf installation at Estadio Agustín Muquita Sánchez in Panama.
The pitch is the first in the country certified to FIFA Quality Pro, the highest ranking for artificial football turf. With the certification, the professional training grounds meet top criteria in quality and sports performance as one of the region’s finest playing surfaces.
Estadio Muquita Sánchez is central to the Panama sports community, hosting both professional and local club matches, including highly ranked professional San Francisco F.C. The team has won nine championships in the top tier Liga Panameña de Fútbol (Panamanian Football League), the third highest total of any team since 1988.
The new sports turf, called Xtreme Turf DX, was manufactured by Act Global at their USA facility under ISO 9001 quality standards. Featuring an exclusive monofilament yarn blend, the DX system lends an ideal balance of performance, durability and player comfort to meet the needs of this elite sporting facility.
Guillaume Loubersac, technical director for Act Global, said the company is dedicated to constant research, testing and product development to ensure their playing surfaces deliver top performance. And as a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football turf, Act Global’s Xtreme Turf systems are expertly designed to meet the particular needs of the sport and its players.
“We continue to see demand grow for better performing artificial sports turf, as buyers recognize that higher quality products produce longer lasting fields, with better performance and safety,” said Loubersac. “Through our commitment to the best synthetic turf technology, combined with trusted partners, we can deliver the best playing surfaces to players around the world.”
“We are honored to have top football players from San Francisco F.C. on Xtreme Turf”, said Loubersac.
The pitch was completed with regional partner Tecnología Sintética Deportiva (TSD, S.A), a leading synthetic turf installer in Panama. TSD performed all site construction and installation, including removal of existing turf, leveling of the base, installation of the turf, and finishing the pitch with infill.
[WATCH: Estadio Muquita Sanchez installation video.]
Labosport, a FIFA-accredited testing laboratory, completed final on-site evaluation to verify pitch performance. Measurements were recorded against natural grass benchmarks for shock absorption, pitch consistency, traction, ball behavior and more. The football pitch passed on all measures to achieve FIFA Quality Pro Certification.
Act Global and partner TSD will co-host a FIFA Seminar September 5-6 in Panama City, with a portion held at Muquita Sanchez. FIFA representatives will be on site to help lead the 2016 Seminar Training of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf, covering basics for tendering, system design, pitch construction, testing and maintenance.
About Act Global
Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf technology, with manufacturing facilities on three continents and sales in more than 70 countries. The company carries a full range of products for sports (Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Grass), landscaping (Xtreme Lawn), aviation (AvTurf) and land reclamation (LiteEarth). Act Global is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, World Rugby Preferred Turf Producer, FIH Preferred Supplier, and holds ISO 9001 Certification. Its products have undergone hundreds of independent laboratory tests for quality, durability, safety, environmental soundness and performance. For more information, visit http://www.actglobal.com
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
![CSF Decides In Favor of Hybrid Systems for Competition Pitches]()
by Shelby Becker
After being in paralyzed in a nearly fatal car crash, ex-footballer George Dowell had to give up playing the game he loved. But he refused to leave it completely.
Upon hearing Worthing FC, the team he used to play for, was in financial difficulty, he knew he had found his next focus. At age 22, Dowell would use his compensation money from the crash to save Worthing. With a five-figure investment and 75 percent stake, he bought the Club less than a week before it risked going under.
For the start of 2015 season, the club installed a beautiful Xtreme Turf surface with a bright red surround, certified to FIFA Two Star. Worthing FC have been able to use the new pitch as a hub for community engagement, as well as additional revenue generation. The Club had a great first season on the surface, and are now ramping up for this year’s games.
While Dowell settled into his progress with the Club, he began to face another hurdle—dating. He had never been on a first date–he had dated only his childhood sweetheart–and was becoming nervous of how he could meet women. Just then he found an online flier advertising auditions for Season 5 of The Undateables, a reality documentary show which helps people with disabilities and learning difficulties to find love. Dowell applied and was chosen to participate.
Dowell’s Undateables episode aired earlier this year, during which the club owner accumulated quite a fan base! As Worthing opens its second season on Xtreme Turf, the TV star continues to focus on the club’s progress and success.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
![CSF Decides In Favor of Hybrid Systems for Competition Pitches]()
by Shelby Becker
Netherland football club selects Act Global Xtreme Grass for two high performing hybrid turf pitches. The pitches have been built by head contractor partner Sallandse and Hofmeyer.
Eerbeekse Boys, the amateur football club from the Dutch village Eerbeek, will soon be playing on new premium hybrid turf pitches.
The hybrid system, called Xtreme Grass, is an ideal solution to reinforce natural grass with the durability of synthetic turf.
Xtreme Grass features synthetic grass fibers interlocked to a strong, open weave backing. Natural grass will grow upwards between the synthetic fibres, as roots will easily penetrate downward through the woven back. The synthetic and natural components become integrated into the pitch, to result in a high-performing, natural sports surface—which offers significantly more playing hours than unreinforced grass alone. This is due to the fact that synthetic fibres helps stabilize and protect the natural grass to improve root development, promote thicker, healthier growth, and reduce playing damage to the field.
At Eerbeekse Boys, the Sallandse and Hofmeyer construction team removed the existing natural surface in order to create a new, stable sand subbase, as the existing surface contained too many stones. Next, the crew installed a growth medium layer, to provide proper soil and nutrients into which the natural grass roots can develop. The Xtreme Grass synthetic turf rolls were then laid out and sewn together atop the growth medium layer.
[WATCH: Xtreme Grass Construction Timelapse at Eerbeekse Boys]
The crew seeded with two types of native natural grasses, which have varying seasonal growing patterns to maximize natural grass density for a longer playing season. The pitch was then topped with more growth medium top finish construction and begin natural grass growing phase.
After just a short time, the pitches at Eerbeekse began to experience healthy initial natural grass growth. Xtreme Grass creates an ideal micro-climate that facilitates quicker germination and thicker, more uniform grass distribution.
The system will be fully grown in and ready for play in August 2016.
Act Global has worked with leading agronomy research universities and testing labs to validate Xtreme Grass’ impact on natural growth, durability and sport performance. When compared to unreinforced natural grass, Xtreme Grass performed better in shearing and tearing resistance tests. This means that when the players foot a field, their feet will not tear into the natural grasses as severely.
For more information regarding Xtreme Grass, see http://www.actglobal.com/hybrid.php.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
Professional water-based synthetic turf system offers the optimal playing surface for field hockey stadium in Malaysia.