NFL-Level Turf Standards White Paper | Act Global
White Paper 06 — NFL-Level Expectations for Synthetic Turf Systems What professional-level performance standards actually measure — and what any field owner can learn from them. "NFL-level turf" is often used as shorthand for the highest quality bar available in...
FIFA Quality vs. Quality Pro Turf Explained | Act Global
Understanding the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf FIFA Quality and FIFA Quality Pro are the two primary certification tiers within FIFA's Quality Programme for Football Turf, the industry's most recognized third-party standard for artificial football...
Player-Surface Interaction White Paper | Act Global
White Paper 02 - Player-Surface Interaction: How Modern Turf Supports Athlete Movement How footing, traction, energy return, and surface consistency shape performance - and what field owners should specify for their sport. Most conversations about synthetic turf focus...
White Paper – Synthetic Turf Safety & Performance: A Science-Based Framework
White Paper 01 - Synthetic Turf Safety & Performance: A Science-Based Framework The measurable properties that define a professional-grade synthetic turf system — and how to verify them independently. "Safe" and "high-performing" aren't marketing adjectives at Act...
Can Irrigation Cool Down a Turf Field? | Act Global
Executive Summary Our review of Singh et al. 2024 covered how much hotter synthetic turf runs compared to natural grass. This study, from Penn State University's Center for Sports Surface Research, asks the practical follow-up question: once you know a field runs hot,...
Sprint Performance: Turf vs. Grass Study | Act Global
Executive Summary Most turf-versus-grass research focuses on injury. This 2019 study, published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance by a research team spanning Tunisia, Germany, France, and the UK, focused instead on athletic performance...
15-Season Study: Fewer Surgeries on Turf | Act Global
Executive Summary Most injury research compares how often injuries happen. This 2024 study, published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine by researchers at Idaho State University's Human Performance Laboratory, asked a different question: once an injury...
MLS 4-Year Injury Study: Turf vs. Grass | Act Global
Executive Summary Published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2019, this study from the Kerlan-Jobe Institute analyzed four consecutive seasons of injury data across Major League Soccer — one of the more rigorous professional-league surveillance studies...
Turf Maintenance & Long-Term Field Safety | Act Global
Safety Doesn't End at Installation — It's a Lifecycle Question A synthetic turf field that tests perfectly on installation day can still become inconsistent, harder, or less safe over time without proper maintenance. This is one of the most consistent themes across...
Synthetic Turf Infill Options Compared | Act Global
Infill Isn't an Afterthought — It's a Core Specification Decision Infill is one of the most consequential, and most under-discussed, decisions in a synthetic turf system. It affects how a field feels underfoot, how it manages heat, how it drains, how long it lasts,...
How Architects & Engineers Evaluate Turf Systems | Act Global
Specifiers Need Data, Not Marketing Claims Architects, engineers, and facility planners evaluate synthetic turf differently than the general public — and differently than most turf marketing is written for. A specifier isn't asking "is turf good?" They're asking...
Turf vs. Grass: Why Consistency Matters Most | Act Global
The Real Question Isn't "Which Surface Is Better" — It's "Which Surface Stays Consistent" Most public debate about synthetic turf versus natural grass frames it as a binary choice between two fixed categories — as if every synthetic field performs identically, and...
What Makes a Turf System Suitable for NFL Use? | Act Global
"NFL-Ready" Isn't a Single Credential - It's a Set of Measurable Standards Field owners outside the NFL often ask for "NFL-level turf" as shorthand for the highest quality bar available. But NFL suitability isn't a single stamp of approval a manufacturer either has or...
Surface Heat & Temperature on Synthetic Turf Explained | Act Global
Why Surface Heat Is a Legitimate Question, Not Just a Perception Anyone who has walked across a synthetic turf field barefoot on a sunny afternoon already knows the answer to "does turf get hot?" What's less well understood is how much hotter, why, what actually...
Female ACL Injury Risk on Turf vs. Grass in Soccer | Act Global
Executive Summary This 2022 meta-analysis from Stanford University School of Medicine addresses a specific, important question that broader turf-versus-grass studies often average away: does ACL injury risk on artificial turf differ by sex? The researchers were...
Meta-Analysis: Football Injury Rates, Turf vs. Grass | Act Global
Executive Summary Most reviews of turf-and-injury research summarize findings narratively — this 2023 study, published in eClinicalMedicine (a Lancet-family journal) by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and Tampere University, is notable for being the...
53-Study Review: Turf vs. Grass Injury Rates
Executive Summary Individual studies on turf and injury risk can pull in different directions depending on sport, competition level, and turf generation studied. This 2023 systematic review from MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and Georgetown University set out to step...
NCAA Knee Injuries: Turf vs. Grass, 10-Season Data | Act Global
Executive Summary Not every study in this library confirms a favorable picture for synthetic turf, and this is one Act Global believes deserves a direct, unhedged review rather than a quiet skip. Published in 2019 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, this...
Concussion Severity: Turf vs. Grass in Youth Football | Act Global
Executive Summary Most research comparing synthetic turf and natural grass on concussion has focused on a single question: which surface produces more concussions? A 2024 study from UT Southwestern Medical Center asked a different, arguably more clinically useful...
Surface Temperature and Heat Stress on Synthetic Grass – Review of Singh et al. (2024)
Executive Summary Surface heat is one of the most common concerns raised about synthetic turf, and it's a fair one, anyone who has walked barefoot across a field on a hot afternoon has felt the difference. In 2024, researchers from Southern Cross University, Central...
Tire Crumb Rubber and Human Exposure on Synthetic Turf Fields – Review of the EPA/ATSDR Federal Research Action Plan (2019 & 2024)
Executive Summary In 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched the Federal...
Infill Weight and High School Football Injuries – Review of Meyers 2019
Executive SummaryMeyers (2019) examined the relationship between synthetic turf infill weight and injury rates in high school football players across multiple seasons. The study found that fields with higher infill weights, indicating denser, more compacted infill,...
NFL Lower Extremity Injury Rates on Synthetic Turf vs. Natural Grass – Review of Mack et al. 2019
Executive SummaryMack et al. (2019) examined lower extremity injury rates among NFL players on synthetic turf vs. natural grass over a ten-season period using data from the NFL Injury Surveillance System. The study found that non-contact lower extremity injuries —...
ACL Injury Risk on Synthetic Turf vs. Natural Grass – Review of Howard et al. 2020
Executive SummaryHoward et al. (2020) examined ACL injury rates among NCAA soccer players competing on synthetic turf vs. natural grass over a multi-season period. The study found that female soccer players experienced statistically higher rates of ACL injuries on...
Energy Restitution Explained – Performance and Fatigue in Synthetic Turf
Energy restitution is the performance counterpart to force reduction. Where force reduction measures how much impact energy a surface absorbs, energy restitution measures how much of that absorbed energy the surface returns to the athlete as elastic rebound. Together,...
Force Reduction Explained – What It Measures and Why It Matters in Synthetic Turf
Force reduction is one of the most practically significant safety metrics in synthetic turf, and one of the least frequently explained in plain terms. It appears in FIFA certification requirements, ASTM standards, and independent test reports as a percentage value,...
Vertical Deformation Explained – Surface Stability and Foot Support in Synthetic Turf
Vertical deformation is the synthetic turf metric that defines how a surface responds to the vertical load of an athlete's foot. It measures how far the surface compresses under weight, and that compression determines foot stability, energy expenditure, fatigue...
Rotational Resistance Explained – Traction and Lower-Extremity Injury Risk in Synthetic Turf
Rotational resistance is the synthetic turf safety metric most directly linked to lower-extremity injury risk, ACL tears, ankle sprains, and knee ligament damage. It defines the balance between two competing athletic requirements: enough traction for explosive...
HIC Explained – Head Injury Criterion in Synthetic Turf
Head Injury Criterion (HIC) is the most comprehensive single metric for evaluating traumatic brain injury risk from falls onto athletic surfaces. It appears alongside Gmax in field certification requirements and independent test reports, yet it is less frequently...
g-max Explained – Surface Hardness and Impact Attenuation in Synthetic Turf
Gmax is the most widely referenced safety metric in synthetic turf - and one of the most misunderstood. It appears in field specifications, certification requirements, and procurement documents across the industry, yet few field owners or specifiers can explain what...
What Makes Synthetic Turf Safe? A Science-Based Definition
Safety in synthetic turf is not a marketing claim, it is a measurable, testable, and manageable system-level outcome. It depends on the interaction of multiple variables: fiber type and density, infill material and compaction, shock pad specification, backing system,...
What the UN Global Compact Means, and Why Act Global Joined?
Executive Summary The United Nations Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative — a voluntary, principles-based framework through which businesses commit to aligning their strategies and operations with universal responsibilities in the...
Inside Act Global Testing: What Independent Verification Actually Means?
Executive Summary The synthetic turf industry is filled with performance claims. What separates a credible claim from a marketing statement is one thing: independently verified, accredited, published test data. This article takes viewers inside Act Global's...
What the NFLPA Survey Results Really Mean for Field Safety
The NFL Players Association surveyed its membership of approximately 1,700 professional players and found that 92% prefer to play on high-quality natural grass, 6% are indifferent between surfaces, and only 2% prefer synthetic turf; a group composed predominantly of...
Safest Highest Performance Artificial Turf for Sports Fields
When selecting an artificial turf system for elite sports, schools, training facilities, or community fields, buyers often ask the same question: What makes one turf system safer and higher performing than another? The answer goes far beyond appearance. The safest,...
Player Safety, Player Performance: Why Turf Design Matters
Player safety and player performance are directly influenced by sports surface design. High-performance artificial turf systems are engineered to optimize traction, shock absorption, energy return, and surface consistency, helping athletes move confidently while...
Act Global Commends the Homeless World Cup on a Remarkable 2025 Tournament
Leading synthetic turf firm celebrates 10-year partnership with HWC AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2025 – /EINPresswire.com/ -- Act Global congratulates the Homeless World Cup (HWC) on the successful conclusion of its 2025 tournament, hosted in Oslo, Norway....
Act Global Celebrates 20 Years of Building Communities Through Synthetic Turf
AUSTIN, TX – Act Global, a global leader in synthetic turf solutions, marks two decades of excellence and innovation. Since 2004, Act Global has made significant strides in impacting communities worldwide, with thousands of installations in more than 90 countries,...
Act Global Scores Big with Softball Sensation Jocelyn Alo in Exclusive Partnership
AUSTIN, TX – Act Global is proud to announce an exciting collaboration with softball great Jocelyn Alo. This partnership marks a significant stride for Act Global, as it joins forces with one of the most dynamic and influential figures in softball. Jocelyn Alo, player...
The Act Global Manufacturing Plant Takes Part in Operation Clean Sweep
Our US manufacturing plant is now a zero-plastic waste facility. The Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) campaign is dedicated to helping every plastic resin handling operation achieve zero pellets, flake, and powder loss. OCS is a product stewardship program of the American...
How to Skip the Bidding Process on Your Next Project
Cooperative purchasing is a fast and easy way to purchase a synthetic turf field for education, government, and nonprofit agencies. Act Global is an approved vendor of the TIPS and AEPA purchasing cooperatives. These agencies offer various benefits including: Time and...
Turnkey Solutions Customized for Private Institutions
Act Global is proud to offer custom turnkey solutions to help private schools and institutions plan, design, and install a synthetic turf sports field that fits their budget and satisfies their athletic and community needs. We understand the unique challenges and...
DICK’S Sporting Goods New 100,000 Square Foot House of Sport Features Act Global Synthetic Turf
Located at the Eastview Mall in Victor, NY, the store has an indoor batting cage, three virtual golf bays, and a 32-foot-high rock-climbing wall and is designed for customers to test out equipment before making a purchase. DICK’S House of Sport is the largest of its...
Act Global Wins Synthetic Turf Council’s 2020 Philanthropy Award
The STC announced this Monday that Act Global is the recipient of the Philanthropy Award, which recognizes an STC member company that demonstrates support of charitable causes and community outreach. The core of Act Global’s social culture is giving back. Over the...
Act Global Turf Installed at Little League Memorial
Richmond, KY—Richmond Little League is celebrating 60 years of operation by creating a memorial that honors a team player, a family, or anyone who has been a part of Richmond Little League. Act Global partner Vescio SportsFields not only installed the synthetic turf...
Act Global Installs Indoor Practice Field at Round Rock High School
Round Rock, TX—The Round Rock Dragons football team upgrades their practice field to artificial grass. The Xtreme Turf installed at Round Rock High School is Act Global's DXT system. The DXT incorporates a layer of thatch fibers to help lock infill in place, and...
Act Global Sponsors Dresses for Dreams Annual 5K
Act Global’s corporate office is participating in Field of Dream Uganda’s Dresses for Dreams 5K. There are 3 race hubs this year located in Cabool and Higginsville, Missouri, and Evansville, Indiana. Around 700 runners are registered for the race in the US and over...
Tampa Bay Rowdies on their way to USL Championship
The Tampa Bay Rowdies beat Louisville City FC 2-1 this Saturday becoming USL Eastern Conferences champions. The Rowdies will face the Phoenix Rising on Nov. 1 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our Florida partner, Burke Construction, installed Act...
Act Global Wins Synthetic Turf Council’s 2020 Sustainability Award
The STC announced this Monday that Act Global is the recipient of the Sustainability Award, which recognizes an STC member organization that consistently, and through innovation, utilizes sustainable materials and processes. The STC acknowledged our commitment to...
Act Global Wins Synthetic Turf Council’s 2020 Philanthropy Award
The STC announced this Monday that Act Global is the recipient of the Philanthropy Award, which recognizes an STC member company that demonstrates support of charitable causes and community outreach. The core of Act Global’s social culture is giving back. Over the...