How does synthetic turf compare to natural grass?
ACT Global Sports completed a natural grass study at Texas A&M University to find out how their brand of Xtreme Turf compares to natural grass with the focus of sport performance. Kyle Field at Texas A&M was selected as it is well-known for being one of the top natural grass football stadiums in the United States.
As North American buyers seek sport performance benchmarks for American Football, additional research has been needed to also understand the relationship of international synthetic turf standards as established by FIFA and a top natural grass field for American Football. FIFA utilizes natural grass benchmarks in areas including foot stability, traction, shock absorption and ball interaction to create its synthetic turf standards. These benchmarks have led to safer, better performing synthetic turf fields.
The results for Xtreme Turf by ACT Global Sports, fall within the same range as the FIFA Quality Concept standards for synthetic turf for the conducted tests against natural grass.
To read the full article please visit http://actglobalsports.com/ACTGlobal_NaturalGrassStudy_press.html.
‘Bull’ CAF match to be played on artificial turf
By Bodwa Mbingo 29 January, 2010 10:00:00
Posted by the Swazi Observer
SOCCER – The country’s Orange CAF Confederations Cup representatives, Mbabane Highlanders, will play their first leg match against Zimbabwe’s Caps United on the artificial turf of the Rufaro Stadium in Zimbabwe’s capital city of Harare.
The match will be played on Saturday, February 13 and kick off time is 3pm. Rufaro Stadium is one of Zimbabwe’s multi-purpose stadiums currently used mostly for soccer matches and has a capacity of 35,000 people.
Sponsored
Just like the country’s MECCA, Somhlolo National Stadium, the stadium benefited from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) through it’s GOAL programme that sponsored the renovation of the stadium’s natural grass pitch into an artificial football pitch installed by ACT Global Sports.
Referees for this encounter will come from Botswana while the Match Commissioner will come from Lesotho. The second leg match will be played at the Somhlolo Stadium on February 27. Highlanders’ Public Relations Officer (PRO) Dumisani ‘DU’ Sibandze yesterday confirmed the venue and date of the match. He urged all the team’s supporters to gear up for the trip to Zimbabwe as they will need them in their numbers. He said judging by the stadium’s capacity, the team’s players could be overwhelmed by the home supporters hence the need for the Highlanders fans to also travel with the team to rally behind them.
“We have to do well in Zimbabwe to make sure that we advance to the next stage of the tournament. We have a good record in the CAF tournaments and our return now should not be outdone by an early exit from the tournament. All the team’s supporters should prepare for the trip as we’re planning to leave Zimbabwe exactly after the match to be in time to watch the Swallows match against South Africa’s Supersport the following day. This is now a war for all the Swazis and we have to stand by each other as the country’s representatives,” he said.
Synthetic Turf Council Certification was awarded to ACT Global Sports
ACT Global Sports’ dedication towards innovation, quality and value was recognized by the Synthetic Turf Council in December of 2009. The leading synthetic turf producer proudly accepted the Synthetic Turf Council (STC) Certification as a Material Manufacturer and Supplier, reinforcing its place as a top manufacturer of artificial turf. This recognition comes on the heels of FIFA selecting ACT Global Sports as a FIFA Preferred Producer for football turf.
The STC’s certification program was established for customers to have assurance that the product they are receiving will exceed the STC’s quality guidelines, and that the company’s representatives will follow the STC’s code of professional and ethical code. This certification process included a due diligence review and reference check by the Synthetic Turf Council.
Please visit ACT Global Sports’ News page to read more about the Synthetic Turf Council Certification.
ACT Global Sports becomes a FIFA Preferred Producer
In October of 2009 FIFA, the world governing body for football turf selects ACT Global Sports to join the FIFA Preferred Producer Initiative. The FIFA Preferred Producer Initiative was launched to further meet the demands of top quality playing surfaces. FIFA recognizes synthetic turf as an alternative to the maintenance and durability limitations of natural grass pitches and included artificial turf in the Laws of the Game.
ACT Global Sports is extremely proud of their achievement and will continue devotion to research and development, to deliver a higher quality football turf for users throughout the world.
Please go to Act Global Sports’ news page to read more about their acceptance as a FIFA Preferred Producer.
The 2009 leading global trade show, FSB Cologne
Considered the leading global trade fair for sports facilities, the 2009 FSB took place once more on October 28th – November 30th in Cologne, Germany. The three day event was full of networking, promotion, and social activities. The trade show’s industry focus was towards amenity areas, sports and pool facilities. The worldwide synthetic turf producer, ACT Global Sports attended the event once more to showcase their line of artificial turf products and sports field equipment.
ACT Global Sports welcomed their partners, dealers and attendees from all over the world including Thailand, Australia, Brazil and Europe during the event. Directors Wil Ditzel, Chris Clapham, and John Baize were very pleased with the number of attendees. Recently accepted by FIFA as a FIFA Preferred Producer, ACT Global Sports proudly showcased their new logo along with a new lines of synthetic turf including the new ‘S’ series (spine fiber).
This is the third time ACT Global Sports participated during the FSB. Each time, the synthetic turf producer increased their presence among their fellow exhibitors. Their booth was visually appealing and was considered a great success, fulfilling its purpose to draw in new customers and potential partners. Throughout the space you could see ACT Global Sports’ new marketing efforts to “Be More.” Attendees were eager to hear the advantages Xtreme Turf offered for indoor and outdoors sport fields. Along with sports turf, the extensive landscape range was showcased.
After the event ACT Global Sports hosted a dinner at the Restorante Le Vita, to honor their global dealers. Fine Italian cuisine was served along with an array of red and white wines. Directors Wil Ditzel, Chris Clapham, and John Baize made speeches, announcing their gratitude for their dealers hard work and support. Hurrah’s and clinks of the glass were made to embrace a successful event.
For more information on the FSB please contact ACT Global Sports at info@actglobalsports.com or visit their website at www.ActGlobalSports.com.
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Review Verifies Safety of Synthetic Turf
Issued Friday, October 30, 2009, Toxic Treadmill
/PRNewswire/ — Representing the latest convincing data on the safety of synthetic turf, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency, released a report last week dated July 2009 which indicated there is a negligible human health risk from inhaling the air above synthetic turf. The OEHHA summary also stated “it is unlikely that the new generation of artificial turf is itself a source of MRSA.”
OEHHA searched the available literature related to the safety of new generation artificial turf fields, those which contained crumb rubber infill. They analyzed whether these fields emitted levels of chemicals or particulates into the air that are a health risk when inhaled, and also any potential risk factors for MRSA infection. Based on the data from two 2009 New York studies and a 2006 report of indoor fields, they found that “Both reports concluded that these fields did not constitute a serious public health concern, since cancer or non-cancer health effects were unlikely to result from these low-level exposures.” Other key findings included:
– Analyzing the chemicals detected above the fields in New York, OEHHA noted that “many of these occurred at similar concentrations in the air sampled upwind of the fields” – which suggests that the source of these chemicals was not from the turf fields.
– Cancer risks are negligible, lower than many common human activities. OEHHA created a test scenario to determine the exposure and health risks of an athlete playing on an artificial turf field from age five until age 55 for nearly 100 chemicals. The results showed an exposure to five chemicals with a lifetime cancer risk above one in one million, which is considered a negligible risk. As OEHHA explains “these estimated risks are low compared to many common human activities.” To give context, their website states that the cancer risk of breathing California air (in 2000) due to diesel particles was 540 in one million.
– Synthetic turf is not a source of MRSA. OEHHA stated that “It seems unlikely that the new generation of artificial turf is itself a source of MRSA, since MRSA has not been detected in any artificial turf field.” That conclusion is consistent with the findings of the Penn State January 2009 study conducted on the lifespan of staph on grass and synthetic turf, which was sponsored by the STC and the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council.
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2016 Summer Olympic Games
It was announced on October 2, 2009 that Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was awarded to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. This is another major victory for hosting major sports events for Brazil as Rio hosted the 2007 Pan American Games and Brazil will also host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the storied history of the Olympic Games, South America has never hosted the Olympics and surely this is a major reason in the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC gathers bids and issues a report ahead of the vote. Considerations include a review of the venues, transportation factors, financial package, and public support.
ACT Global Sports is pleased to be involved in the development of synthetic turf in Brazil. Its Xtreme Turf has achieved the first FIFA certified field in Brazil at the famous club Corinthians Paulista in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As part of its development program managed by the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf, FIFA has engaged ACT Global Sports to install its Xtreme Turf at a national training center in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Xtreme Turf in Action
Extreme sport performance and training requires Xtreme Turf. This training session demonstrates the confidence and safety a soccer goal keeper as well as players have on the latest synthetic turf or artificial grass surface by ACT Global Sports. Filmed at the training center of professional football club La Liga.
Zimbabwe: Fifa Happy with Rufaro Artificial Surface
The Herald, Published by the government of Zimbabwe, 10 July 2009
Harare — WORLD football governing body Fifa are happy with the condition of the artificial surface at Rufaro and the effort that is being put in the maintenance of the field.
Two Fifa officials were in Harare this week to inspect the artificial surface that was installed by the world football governing body.
“The turf is being well taken care of by the groundsmen,” said Fletcher. “It has had a positive impact on the players and coaches because the players enjoy playing there. “The football turf is different from other artificial surfaces because it was developed with football in mind and it is not affected by the weather,” he said.
Zifa technical director Nelson Matongorere was happy that they have managed to maintain the turf to the standards that have been hailed by Fifa. “We have managed to maintain the turf and the officials were impressed and they have said they are going to use it as a case study.
“Other member associations were given the turf but failed to maintain it and I can say we have done well as Zimbabwe. “They also got a lot of positive responses from the stakeholders. We have the capacity of having Fifa making more donations to the country,” said Matongorere.
The Fifa officials, who left Harare yesterday, also handed over 10 adidas footballs to community clubs in Mbare.
Independent Tests Show No Health Concerns from Crumb Rubber Infill
Issued by Synthetic Turf Council – June 2009
(New York, NY) – In response to the public’s desire for more scientific data, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Department of Health (DOH) released a new study on May 29 which validated the safety of synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber infill. The findings, available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/46856.html, concluded that “crumb rubber material used in synthetic turf fields poses no significant environmental threat to air or water quality and poses no significant health concerns.”
“This report provides compelling new scientific evidence about the safety of synthetic turf that should help answer the responsible questions being asked by parents, legislators and community activists,” said Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. “Increased playability, safety, low maintenance and significant environmental benefits have made synthetic turf an increasingly popular option.”
The New York State DEC and DOH conducted a series of studies to collect laboratory and field sampling data to “assess the potential impact to both surface and ground waters due to leaching of chemicals, assess potential public health impact from air release of chemicals and evaluate surface temperature and indicators of heat stress.” Other recent findings verifying the safety of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill include a March 2009 air quality study by the NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and a May 2008 independent review of available research commissioned by DOHMH into the potential exposures and health effects due to inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. These documents and more are available at - http://www.syntheticturfcouncil.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=91.
In July 2008, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Staff report also concluded that ‘young children are not at risk from exposure to lead [used in certain pigments to color synthetic turf fibers] in these fields.’” To further the long-term objectives of the Environmental Protection Agency, CPSC, and Centers for Disease Control to eliminate the use of lead in all products where feasible, the Synthetic Turf Council announced in July 2008 its commitment to voluntarily reduce lead levels in accordance with the same strict standards that Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 imposes on the children’s toy industry.
Synthetic turf fields are affording millions of children and people of all ages the opportunity to be active year-round and in virtually all weather conditions. About half of all NFL teams currently play their games on synthetic turf, and it has been approved by FIFA for World Cup soccer matches. In 2008, growth in all sectors of the industry — sports fields, landscape, golf, municipal parks, and airports – also helped conserve billions of gallons of water, avoid the use of millions of pounds of pesticides and fertilizers, and recycle 25 million used tires that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Act Global Sports is a proud member of the Synthetic Turf Council.
