installation
Xtreme Turf Earns Another FIFA 2-Star Installation
ACT Global Sports welcomes their 27th FIFA certified field with the Hooglanderveen Stadium in The Netherlands
The football club Hooglanderveen, located in Amersfoort, Netherlands installed the newest generation of football turf from ACT Global Sports. This Xtreme Turf exceeds other synthetic turf systems in the market with its unique combination of top stadium-level performance and a new level of durability.
Both the performance and durability are proven as the installed system meets the top two-star performance requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept. Additionally, the artificial grass fibers have been tested to 50,000 Lisport cycles which represent intense use over multiple years.
For more information please read the full article here.
Environmental Benefits of Synthetic Turf
Issued by Synthetic Turf Council – 2011
Landscape
1. Saves Water – A Resource in Short Supply
- According to the EPA, over one-third of residential water is used for lawn irrigation nationwide, totaling over 4 billion gallons of water a day.
- The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that every square foot of natural grass replaced saves an additional 55 gallons of water per year. The average lawn is 1,800 square feet, so the average home with synthetic turf saves 99,000 gallons of water each year.
- The average U.S. Household can save up to 70% on their water bill, or $500.
- Earns LEED points for Water Efficient Landscaping
2. Eliminates the use of lawn mowers
- According to the EPA, a 3.5 horsepower gas-powered lawn mower releases the same amount of air polluting emissions in one hour as a new car driven 340 miles.
- Over 17 million gallons of gas and oil are spilled each year from refueling lawn equipment; that is more oil than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez.
3. Eliminates the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers
- The EPA has identified runoff of toxic pesticides and fertilizers as a principal cause of water pollution. Synthetic turf eliminates the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
Sports Fields
1. Saves Water – A Resource in Short Supply
- One full-size synthetic turf sports field saves 500,000 to 1,000,000 gallons of water each year. For example, the El Paso Independent School District estimates its 10 new synthetic turf sports fields will save 80 million gallons of water each year, and $832,000 in water, mowing, repairs, and general maintenance.
- Earns LEED points for Water Efficient Landscaping
2. Recycles tens of millions of used tires annually to be used as crumb rubber infill
3. Eliminates the use of billions of pounds of toxic pesticides and fertilizers
- The EPA has identified runoff of toxic pesticides and fertilizers as a principal cause of water pollution. In Florida alone, the EPA estimates that about 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, 350,000 acres of lakes and 900 square miles of estuaries are impaired by runoff of pesticides and fertilizers.
Act Global Sports is a proud member of the Synthetic Turf Council.
Information gathered from www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
The Rufaro Stadium – The Zimbabwe “Theatre of Dreams”
Reprint of feature article in recent Turf Roots IV, 2010– Courtesy of FIFA
FIFA Win in Africa Project by ACT Global Sports
BACKGROUND
It is apt that a football stadium with such a rich history is named “Rufaro”. The word “Rufaro” originates from the indigenous Shona language (a Zimbabwean ethnic language), which means “happiness”. This proud happiness is openly displayed on the faces of the locals when enquiries are made about their new football turf stadium. FIFA funded the renovations of the Rufaro Stadium from a natural turf stadium to a football turf stadium under its Win in Africa with Africa initiative. FIFA has so far funded the construction of 52 of these football turf facilities in Africa as part of its development initiative and in line with their three core objectives to “develop the game, touch the world and build a better future”. In the majority of the African countries where this type of synthetic pitch has been laid, it has given African associations an opportunity to use these football turf facilities as their national football stadiums, something they did not have in the past as most national stadiums were used for political rallies and other military parades.
The Rufaro Stadium has hosted world-famous artists such as reggae star Bob Marley, and when Diego Maradona visited this stadium he was taken aback by the overwhelming welcome he received from the football-crazy Zimbabweans. This football shrine, which is situated in the centre of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, has a capacity of 35,000 people and is home to eight of the 16 professional football teams in Zimbabwe. The new football turf at the Rufaro Stadium was opened on 26 June 2008.
RATIONALE
Structured interviews were held with various football stakeholders in Harare to determine the attitudes towards and their perceptions of the new football turf at the Rufaro Stadium. The stakeholders who were interviewed included football administrators, players, referees, medical doctors, managers of professional teams, Harare city council members, the media and football spectators. The Rufaro Stadium is presently the home of all “Zimbabwe Warriors” national football teams, including the national women’s football team.
RESOURCES
The political and economic situation in Zimbabwe made it virtually impossible to focus on the development of sports facilities. The football administrators who were interviewed stated that the unstable political situation and the declining economic situation had cascaded down into the organisation of sport as there were far more urgent challenges the government had to channel the resources into. One administrator commented that the laying of the new football turf at the Rufaro Stadium had been the most positive development for Zimbabwean football in many years. One positive impact is that the new football turf stadium can now generate a form of income for all of the stakeholders. The city council of Harare receives a certain percentage of the weekly gate takings as the custodians of the Rufaro Stadium, which can be used to further upgrade the football facility. The teams receive a percentage of the gate takings to be used for the development of their clubs, and the Zimbabwe Football Association earns a percentage from national team games to further develop the game among their affiliates.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
An important contribution that FIFA intends to make to African football is to help all African footballers play on decent pitches. Climatic conditions in Africa, however, make it extremely difficult to sustain high-quality natural grass pitches. The climate in Zimbabwe does not allow for the sustainability of a natural grass pitch at international level. Heavy summer rain and dry winters make it difficult to maintain quality grass pitches in Zimbabwe. A case in question, in Harare, is the Independent Stadium, which had to be closed because it was difficult to maintain the grass field and too costly to renovate given the political and economic challenges the country is facing. Heavy summer rain caused flooding to the natural grass football pitches, which led to the abandonment or postponement of important league and international games. This also resulted in a backlog of fixtures and incomplete leagues. The reconstruction of the Rufaro Stadium into a football turf facility has answered many of the challenges facing Zimbabwean football such as usage, watering and maintaining the same condition of an international football pitch all year round. The drainage system at the new Rufaro Stadium makes it possible to continue with games after heavy rainfall.
POSITIVE IMPACT
When interviewed, Zimbabwean football administrators, players, referees and spectators unanimously agreed that the new Rufaro Stadium had definitely had a positive impact on all of them. They stated that the green pitch all year round had created a psychological feeling of wanting to play. This has had an impact on player development as the quality of the pitch psychologically brings out the best in players. A female supporter commented that: ” … seeing the pitch for the first time, I felt like running onto the pitch as a player.”
All stakeholders, when interviewed, agreed that the general appearance of pitch now encourages people to watch more games and it has given the game of football a more professional image. The players’ technique has improved and the game seems faster. One coach commented that his players had a more positive attitude when playing on the Rufaro Stadium surface. His players seemed to be enjoying the game more on the smooth football turf surface than when they played away from home on an uneven, bumpy natural grass surface.
TECHNIQUE
Coaches, players and spectators all agreed that the players’ technique was better on the Rufaro Stadium surface than on the natural grass pitches in Zimbabwe. Players find it easier to control and pass the ball on the football turf pitch than on the natural grass pitches. Players have complained that the natural grass pitches in Zimbabwe were hard and in most cases uneven, which makes it difficult to control and pass the ball. The referees who were interviewed from the Zimbabwe referees association commented on how well the game flowed and said that they too were happier to be part of the game at the Rufaro Stadium.
The referees further commented that the markings on the football turf pitch do not fade and are clear to both referees and players, which makes it easier to handle the game, especially when the ball is out of play. The clear markings allow the referees to see an infringement from a distance, unlike on natural grass pitches, on which the markings fade and make it difficult to judge when the ball is out of play or whether they were right in awarding a penalty when a player is fouled in the penalty area. One coach commented that the players’ enhanced technique will lead to more of them receiving lucrative football contracts with foreign teams.
DEVELOPMENT
The new football turf at the Rufaro Stadium has led to the field being used more for youth development. Schools are encouraged to use the pitch when the professional teams are not training. Junior teams of professional clubs play games in the morning and the professional teams play in the afternoon. This has helped to fill the huge youth football development vacuum that existed before Zimbabwean football had a football turf pitch.
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE RUFARO STADIUM
The new Rufaro Stadium was reopened on 26 June 2008 and the new home of Zimbabwean football has been put to full use. Activity on the pitch thus far has been; 4 International games; 14 CAF Club competition games; 190 Training sessions for local teams; 103 League games; 16 Cup games; 12 Friendly games. This does not include the usage by schools and youth groups that also use the football facility.
CONCLUSION
This evidence proves that the new Rufaro football turf has contributed to the development of football in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean football administrators have acknowledged that the new Rufaro Stadium has helped to instil a more professional approach to the preparation of national teams and they have alluded to the fact that more football turf facilities will be needed in other provinces in Zimbabwe to fast track the development of the game in the country. This would increase the number of people playing the game and help to take Zimbabwe back to their former football glory.
The manager of one of the top professional clubs in Zimbabwe commented:
“ZIFA (Zimbabwe Football Association) should appeal to FIFA to lay another artificial field in Zimbabwe. The new concept of artificial pitch has allowed the Dynamos to grow in terms of their fan base and football strength. Now that we are using the new Rufaro Stadium as our home field, we reached the semi-finals of the African Club Championship, which we had not done for many years. ”
For more information regarding FIFA’s Football Turf testing standards please visit the FIFA website.
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/pitchequipment/footballturf/index.html
Crusaders F.C. play on Xtreme Turf at Seaview Stadium
The top Irish professional club, Crusaders F.C. plays in the IFA Premiership. Due to the harsh winter climates, the club needed a synthetic turf alternative to natural grass at its Seaview Stadium.
The club also demands a surface that performs like natural grass and protects the players from impact and lower extremity body movements. After a careful review of the many turf systems, Crusaders F.C. selected the latest Xtreme Turf for its professional players.
The transition to this synthetic football turf at Seaview will be fruitful for the club. The matches at Seaview Stadium in Northern Ireland will be the only field to survive the harsh weather conditions over the winter period. It also allows the stadium to expand its potential uses especially after earning the important FIFA Two-Star certification. This FIFA Recommended Pitch enables Seaview to host international competitions as the FIFA field test confirms the highest playability, safety and performance.
Here you can read the full article : Crusaders F.C. Selects Xtreme Turf for Stadium Pitch
Dutch national team opens Cruyff Court in Johannesburg township
FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, ACT Global Sports is pleased to have supplied Xtreme Turf for the mini-football pitch installation for the Cruyff Foundation.
“We are grateful to be involved with this exciting event. The field will benefit the community by encouraging teamwork and boost the spirits of all the young children.” -Director Chris Clapham
Published on www.cruyff-foundation.org
To great interest from journalists from all over the world, the players of the Dutch national team opened the Orange Cruyff Court Hillbrow today in Johannesburg (South Africa). The football pitch with changing rooms and a WorldCoaches office is a gift from the players to the youth of the disadvantaged neighbourhood of Hillbrow. Over the next few years, the pitch will be used to get the township’s youth involved in sport.
The opening was performed by the entire Dutch national squad, together with Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit (President of The HollandBelgium Bid) and Henk Kesler (CEO Professional Football of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB)).
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Lasting legacy for South Africa
“The opening of a Cruyff Court is always a special moment, especially with such a delegation in such a special location,” said Johan Cruyff. “However, the opening is just the start. As with every court, we have a multiyear plan for getting the local youngsters involved with the Cruyff Court. In Hillbrow, we work closely with local organisations, such as the Witwatersrand University and Madulammoho Housing Corporation. KNVB’s WorldCoaches will use the court for years after the FIFA World Cup to give the township’s children football training and educate them with life skills – on the basis of my 14 rules that have a place at every Cruyff Court. This means that the Cruyff Court is a lasting legacy for the country.”
The players of the Dutch national team have donated a portion of their match fees to raise the funds of 1 million rand (about € 100,000) needed to build the facilities. The Orange Cruyff Court Hillbrow is a collaboration between the Dutch national team players, the KNVB, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, the Dutch embassy in Johannesburg and the local Witwatersrand University and Madulammoho Housing Corporation.
Here you can read more about the Orange Cruyff Court Hillbrow in Johannesburg.
CPSC Staff Finds Synthetic Turf Fields OK to Install, OK to Play On
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff today released its evaluation of various synthetic athletic fields. The evaluation concludes that young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in these fields.
CPSC staff evaluation showed that newer fields had no lead or generally had the lowest lead levels. Although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of some older fields, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children.
Lead is present in the pigments of some synthetic turf products to give the turf its various colors. Staff recognizes that some conditions such as age, weathering, exposure to sunlight, and wear and tear might change the amount of lead that could be released from the turf. As turf is used during athletics or play and exposed over time to sunlight, heat and other weather conditions, the surface of the turf may start to become worn and small particles of the lead-containing synthetic grass fibers might be released. The staff considered in the evaluation that particles on a child’s hand transferred to his/her mouth would be the most likely route of exposure and determined young children would not be at risk.
Although this evaluation found no harmful lead levels, CPSC staff is asking that voluntary standards be developed for synthetic turf to preclude the use of lead in future products. This action is being taken proactively to address any future production of synthetic turf and to set a standard for any new entrants to the market to follow.
As an overall guideline, CPSC staff recommends young children wash their hands after playing outside, especially before eating.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC’s web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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