6 Myths About Synthetic Turf

6 Myths About Synthetic Turf

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Despite the fact that third-generation turf has been tested for over 20 years, there are still many myths about artificial turf. Many of the following myths originated in the 1960s, when the first primitive types became popular. Since then, the industry has seen rapid technological advances, backed up with scientific studies on the safety and efficacy of synthetic turf. Here are six of the most persistent myths and the truth behind the claims.

Myth 1: Turf is Only for Sports

rock in rio, xtreme lawn, act global, artificial turf

Photo credit: aLive Coverage

Truth: Turf is used to replace natural grass in yards, pool areas, rooftop decks, commercial and event spaces, and more.

Most people first heard of artificial turf when professional sports leagues started to adopt the surface in the 1960s and 1970s. However, now that the technology behind the surface is even more advanced, artificial turf is also popular in residential and commercial spaces. More and more homeowners are turning to synthetic turf for an easy-to-maintain lawn that looks good every day of the year. Businesses are using turf in landscaping. Airports have increasingly adopted turf as a safer surface technology for safe-zone areas around runways and taxiways.

Myth 2: Turf is Bad for the Environment

Truth: Artificial grass is non-toxic, uses less water and reduces your carbon footprint.

Turf does not use herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. Unlike traditional grass, turf uses much less water. For example, if a high school installs a 100-yard football field, it could save up to 1 million gallons of water per year just from the reduction in watering. The football field would use up to 20,000 recycled tires for infill, saving the tires from sitting in a landfill. Similarly, switching to a fake grass lawn will save the average homeowner 100,000 gallons of water each year. Synthetic turf also does not need to be mowed, reducing both noxious emissions and grass clippings. The EPA reports that a push mower emits as much pollution in one hour as 11 cars and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars.

Myth 3: Rubber Infill is Not Safe

Truth: Rubber infill, often referred to as “crumb rubber”, is not toxic.crumb-rubber-black

Crumb rubber is made from pulverized tires. When turf with rubber infill was first introduced, it was heavily scrutinized by health researchers. Hundreds of independent studies have verified that rubber infill does not pose a health risk to people or pets. Studies have focused on toxicities from possible ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact, but no links between rubber infill and cancer or disease have been found. For more information about the safety of rubber infill, visit the Synthetic Turf Council’s research page.

Myth 4: Turf Causes More Injuries

Truth: Turf actually reduces the number of impact injuries.

Studies conducted using the new generation of fake grass demonstrate that there is no greater injury risk from playing sports on synthetic surfaces. Studies from Sweden and Norway which followed players over a four to five year period found the injury rate is no greater on artificial turf. Studies conducted by soccer’s governing body, FIFA, also found little difference in the incidence, nature and cause of injuries observed in games played on turf versus games played on natural grass.

Myth 5: All Turf Looks Alike

PrintTruth: Turf comes in many different varieties, and the quality is dependent on the manufacturer.

Artificial turf comes in a variety of styles for location, performance and budget.

Myth 6: Turf is Too Hot to Play On

Truth: Turf temperature is not too warm to play safely on.

Turf temperature is on average higher than natural grass. Watering the fields can lower the temperature by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. While old reports suggested that field temperatures could reach 200 degrees, these reports were faulty. The most recent research on field temperatures suggests that at two feet above the surface, the average temperature differential between artificial grass and natural grass is four degrees. At five feet above the surface, the temperature difference is less than one degree. Act Global’s synthetic grass is engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, giving a playing field a lush green look year-round.

 

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6 Myths About Synthetic Turf

Nation’s Perennial #1 High School Team is Preparing for its Fifth Season on Leading Synthetic Turf

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BGSince 2012, Nevada’s Bishop Gorman has dominated the high school football landscape-earning five Division 1 Championships and three National Championships.  The powerhouse holds a 54-game winning streak that dates back to 2013, the same season the team debuted its new artificial turf field.

Bishop Gorman is a college preparatory academy in Las Vegas with an emphasis on religion, accountability, excellence, leadership, stewardship.  Athletically, the school seeks to produce student-athletes that strive for academic achievement in the classroom, as well as the development of character, maturity and a sense of fair play in athletic competition.  By viewing each student-athlete on an individual level, each player is given the best opportunity possible to strive for the highest athletic standards through the best preparation, motivation and support.

With 11 state and national championship titles in the past 10 years, the Gaels football team has risen to be one of the most prominent athletic programs in the state of Nevada.  In 2012 the team made the move from AAAA to Division 1 competition, winning the title each year.  This season the Gael’s will be competing for it’s possible fourth National Championship in a row and to continue its winning streak that currently ranks second in the nation in longest streaks. maxresdefault

Fertitta Field is the home of the Gaels football team and has been named one of the nicest high school football stadiums in the country.  Since December 2012 the facility has featured a top quality synthetic turf pitch that is part of the Act Global brand, providing a safe and consistent playing surface for the team.  The performance enhancing turf is the same series used by top NFL and NCAA terms, trusted for the safety and durability it lends to athletes.

Act Global is proud to work with a school that is committed to fostering the development of well rounded student athletes and can’t wait for Bishop Gorman’s 2017 season. On Friday, August 25th, the Gaels will be competing at home in a non conference game against DeMatha.  The game will be televised at 9:00 PM EST on NV ESPN.

Learn how our synthetic turf is beneficial to athletes. 

6 Myths About Synthetic Turf

Cal Ripken World Series Being Competed on Synthetic Turf

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Ballparks-of-America

The prestigious international tournament for baseball’s youth teams is currently being hosted at Ballparks of America, a facility with five fields completely outfitted with synthetic turf.

Ballparks of America is a baseball experience that allows youth players to become immersed in the Major League feel.  It started 17 years ago when three dads had a vision to bring back the joy of baseball and the sense of belonging it creates for players and families.  Baseball of America was created to be a destination to learn about the history of the sport and for youths to play it themselves.  The campus features miniature versions of five of the most iconic stadiums across the US: the Saint Louis stadium, the Chicago field, the Boston park, the Detroit field, and the Brooklyn field.  These 2/3 sized pitches were created to perfectly match the dimensions and elements that make each stadium unique.  All of the stadiums are complete with the latest synthetic turf technology that allows for consistent and nonstop play throughout the summer months.  This is crucial for the play-ability of this facility which has held 19 tournaments from March of this year to August.

Today is the final day of one of Ballparks of America’s most notable events- the Cal Ripken World Series.  This tournament is the culmination event of the Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Major/70 Tournament Trail.  Throughout the past week 8 U.S Regional Champions and 8 International teams have been facing off to win the CRWS title, and tonight the two finalist teams will face off.  The game will be streamed live at 6:55 (CT) on the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series facebook page, where Atlantic Beach, FL will be competing against Japan!

We’re excited to see how these boys perform, and couldn’t be happier that this tournament is being played on our artificial grass.  As a company committed to player safety, we’re honored to be the surface for which these teams play on.  We wish the best of luck to both the Japan and Florida team, and would like to congratulate each of the other 14 teams for their hard work this season.

Check out Ballparks of America.

Learn more about how synthetic turf can benefit your baseball team.  

6 Myths About Synthetic Turf

The Safety of Synthetic Sports Field Turf

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Global Sports Stadium 45mm SBR after 0 cycles AThe first iterations of artificial turf were invented in 1964, and was taken to new heights after it was installed at the Houston Astrodome in 1966. In the early days of the industry, synthetic turf saved facilities money and time. More than 50 years later, artificial turf has evolved exponentially. Not only does it look and feel even more like natural grass than ever before, but health and safety experts have given synthetic sports field turf high marks.

Injury Rates

Sports turf fields are made with materials that are designed with the safety of the athlete in mind. Modern turf is designed to meet high standards for traction, rotation, slip resistant, surface abrasion and stability. This includes taking into account the requirements of major sports leagues and federations around the world.

There have been many studies confirming the safety of synthetic grass for athletes. Three recent long-term studies by research teams in Norway and Sweden compared acute injuries on synthetic turf and natural grass. The studies considered the location, type and severity of injuries sustained by players during a four to five year period. Since players and coaches are most concerned with injuries affecting major joints like knees and ankles, in addition to concussions, the research carefully evaluated strains, tears, fractures and concussion. The research concluded that the risk of playing on synthetic sports turf was no greater than the risk of playing on natural grass.

Soccer’s governing body, FIFA asked its Medical Assessment and Research Centre to examine the incidence and severity of injuries sustained on synthetic sports turf and real grass during two FIFA Under-17 World Championships. After analyzing these two global events, FIFA concluded “The research showed that there was very little difference in the incidence, nature and causes of injuries observed during games played on artificial turf compared with those played on grass.”

A similar study by the NCAA among schools in America compared injury rates between natural and artificial grass found the injury rate was slightly lower on synthetic turf (3.5%) than it was on natural grass (4.4%).

Playing Time

Synthetic turf fields increase playing and practice time since athletes can train daily, without concern about whether. The fields do not degrade in wind, rain or snow, which makes for a more stable playing surface. The fields are also consistent season after season.

Sports field turf managers are able to utilize synthetic fields for 3,000 hours a year without rest, whereas natural fields can only be used for around 20 hours a week, which amounts to 680 hours a year.

Crumb Rubber

Since the early 21st century, may artificial turf surfaces contain crumb rubber, which are tiny black crumbs made from pulverized car tires. When poured between the grass blades, this rubber infill adds bounce and cushioning for athletes, which help prevent serious injuries. According to the Synthetic Turf Council, more than 11,000 synthetic turf sports fields are in use in the U.S, many with crumb rubber. Numerous studies have found no elevated health risks from crumb rubber, meaning there is no evidence that crumb rubber is harmful to athletes.

Suitability for Sports

Sports field turf is suitable for any kind of sport. Many facilities already use sports field turf for putting greens and driving ranges. Baseball and football fields are hardier and more versatile when artificial grass is used. Artificial turf is an alternative for tennis facilities that want to offer players a grass surface without the taxing upkeep of grass court tennis. Many track and field events now take place on a synthetic grass infield. Playgrounds and multi-purpose centers are also using sports turf effectively.

Benefits of Sports Field Turf

  • The artificial grass is visually appealing, it looks green all the time.
  • It is suitable in all kinds of weather, with no additional maintenance needed.
  • It is durable and can last for many years.
  • Artificial grass benefits the environment by saving water and reducing the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers.

 

6 Myths About Synthetic Turf

Florida Private Academy Chooses Act Global’s Synthetic Turf for their Fall 2017 season

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Work on Mount Dora Christian Academy’s new football field featuring artificial grass is kicking off.

XtremeTurf-logo-2015Mount Dora Christian Academy is a preschool through secondary education school that  strives to help students strengthen their religious relationships, build a foundation of moral character, and achieve academic success.  Since 1945, the school has work to develop well rounded learners in  a positive community with diverse options of extracurricular sports teams, clubs, and volunteer opportunities.  Mount Dora focuses on providing students with an abundant amount of resources so that they can excel in all aspects of their education.  We’re excited to work with an academy that works hard to give back to the community and values such high moral character.

Act Global is installing a new football field for the academy that will have versatility to allow for practices by the softball and baseball teams as needed.  The pitch will feature our BDX 60 with Green Play, a surface that has been engineered with specific components to keep players safe.  We wanted to provide the Bulldogs with a surface that will give them the confidence they need to excel on the field, and our Xtreme Turf line will do just that.

Be sure to keep up to date on this project and more by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Learn more about our Xtreme Turf line.