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![Wisconsin’s Galloping Ghosts Enjoying Their Xtreme Turf Outfitted Stadium]()
by Shelby Becker
Kaukauna High School serves the almost 1400 9th-12th grade students in the eastern Wisconsin town of Kaukauna. The school prides itself on fostering a community of learners that are equipped to succeed and contribute to the changing world by providing a challenging and nurturing environment. This dedication to the development of students translates to the improvement of student-athletes as well. Approximately 70% of the student body takes part in sports and co-curricular activities, and participation continues to grow. In August 2016 Kaukauna School District unveiled its new athletic facilities, including several indoor complexes and an outdoor stadium called the Bank of Kaukauna Stadium. The stadium was outfitted with Act Global’s Xtreme Turf, a professional play system that was selected and installed by ProGrass.
The opening of the new facilities brought in several hundred community members who were excited to see the new home of the Galloping Ghosts. The stadium was not only a new surface of play for several of Kaukauna High School’s sports teams but also a place of gathering for the community to cheer on their local team. On the night of the ribbon cutting, Superintendent Mark Duerwachter exclaimed, “It’s awesome! It’s a great day to be a Galloping Ghost!”
The artificial grass field is an all-weather turf that will remain beautiful for years to come, complete with specifically engineered safety components to be a durable and pristine surface of play for the Galloping Ghosts. The turf offers high-speed play with ideal traction and stability to enhance player protection and is benchmarked against top natural grass facilities to ensure precise engineering. This means that the Galloping Ghosts have a reliable surface for each of their athletic teams for years to come.
Learn how our synthetic turf is beneficial to athletes.
Be sure to keep up to date on all of our turf projects and more by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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
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![Wisconsin’s Galloping Ghosts Enjoying Their Xtreme Turf Outfitted Stadium]()
by Shelby Becker
A recent article by Athletic Business magazine focused on the increasing prevalence of children’s mega-tournaments and the privatization of sports.
Gone are the days of Saturdays spent at the community ballpark or sports facility, sitting on metal bleachers and snacking on concessions foods. Families have traded up packed coolers for plane tickets to travel to professional-grade venues across the country.
According to a study by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, one in five parents spends more than $1,000 per child in a month in sports activities.
Due to a decrease in the emphasis on physical education and reduction in the sampling of sports introduced to their children, parents have turned club teams for competitive sports opportunities. Increased competition has also led to increased economic opportunities for communities that build all-inclusive facilities that host youth tournaments. However, the quality of the venue is vital to its success. The modern mega facility boasts several dozen playing fields and courts, on-site hotels and dining, and easily accessible entertainment.
As parent’s expectations of sporting venues continue to rise, a professional caliber venue has become the norm. For field surfaces, high-quality synthetic turf ensures that games can be played all day, regardless of weather, leading to a smoothly run, reliable operation. Artificial grass fields are an ideal solution for growing sports communities for superior versatility, durability, playability, and safety.
Our synthetic turf is specifically designed for player safety and performance. A FIFA study shows 41% of player injuries can be related to fatigue-including sprains, fractures, bruises and abrasions, and internal organs and concussions. Our surfaces are fast under the foot and provide sufficient firmness to limit fatigue injuries to the lower extremities of the player’s body. Our surfaces are also designed to provide proper Rotational Resistance (traction) to ensure foot stability and to enable quick release of the shoes during rotation and traction movements. These safety features along with fibers embedded with maximum UV inhibitors create the highest performing sports surface system available.
Learn how our synthetic turf is beneficial to athletes.
Be sure to keep up to date on all of our turf projects and more by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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
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![Wisconsin’s Galloping Ghosts Enjoying Their Xtreme Turf Outfitted Stadium]()
by Shelby Becker
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
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 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
Truth: 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.
Be sure to keep up to date on all of our turf projects and more by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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
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![Wisconsin’s Galloping Ghosts Enjoying Their Xtreme Turf Outfitted Stadium]()
by Shelby Becker
The 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.
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
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![Wisconsin’s Galloping Ghosts Enjoying Their Xtreme Turf Outfitted Stadium]()
by Shelby Becker
This month’s issue of SportsField Management, named The Water Issue, looked at the comprehensive management approach to water conservation. We were inspired by the excellent content covered in the issue and support with the notion that we must all take part in the effort to preserve water resources.
Water is the single most fundamental, necessary, and precious natural resource we have available. It spans 71% of the Earth and makes up about 60% of the human body; however, just 1% of water is the usable, freshwater we require. This already limited resource is becoming more and more threatened in the 21st century. As the worldwide population increases exponentially and urbanization grows to match, water is becoming a scarcer and more expensive commodity. With this in mind, it is important for sports turf managers to be stewards of the environment and do all that is possible to prioritize water conservation.
But how exactly do water conservation and sports turf management relate to each other? SFM states, “620 gallons are required to apply 1 inch of water to 1,000 square feet”. This would mean 52,700 gallons are required for an average 85,000 square foot football field, or the equivalent of leaving your shower running for 17.4 days straight. Not only is this an excessive use of water, but according to a survey conducted by SFM, less than half of the operations/facilities who participated are trying to save as much water as possible.
Dr. Jim Baird, an extension specialist in turfgrass management at the University of California- Riverside, states, “As an industry, it’s best to take a proactive approach, to show that sports turf management and water conservation can go hand in hand”. It is important to save water now, before supplies get down to critical levels.
At Act Global, we have created several lines of synthetic turf that both reduce and eliminate the need for watering sports fields. Each of our Xtreme Grass, Xtreme Turf, and UBU products provide a solution to the water issue, while offering a safe surface for the players on the pitch. Xtreme Grass, a hybrid and multipurpose product, reinforces the playability of natural grass while adding in the durability of synthetic turf. By reducing the amount of grass needed to fill a field, Xtreme Grass reduces the overall amount of water used to maintain a field. Both our Xtreme Turf and UBU products are full artificial grass options that do not require watering.
Water conservation is an increasingly pressing issue facing the sports field management sector. It’s an issue that requires facilities to take responsibility and put in the necessary effort for execution. It is our job now to prioritize sustainable turf products and habits to ensure future generations enjoy the same environmental quality as current and past generations.
Check out more on this topic at:
http://www.sportsfield-digital.com/
All photo credit goes to SportsField Management magazine.
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
Kaukauna High School serves the almost 1400 9th-12th grade students in the eastern Wisconsin town of Kaukauna. The school prides itself on fostering a community of learners that are equipped to succeed and contribute to the changing world by providing a challenging and nurturing environment. This dedication to the development of students translates to the improvement of student-athletes as well. Approximately 70% of the student body takes part in sports and co-curricular activities, and participation continues to grow. In August 2016 Kaukauna School District unveiled its new athletic facilities, including several indoor complexes and an outdoor stadium called the Bank of Kaukauna Stadium. The stadium was outfitted with Act Global’s Xtreme Turf, a professional play system that was selected and installed by ProGrass.
The opening of the new facilities brought in several hundred community members who were excited to see the new home of the Galloping Ghosts. The stadium was not only a new surface of play for several of Kaukauna High School’s sports teams but also a place of gathering for the community to cheer on their local team. On the night of the ribbon cutting, Superintendent Mark Duerwachter exclaimed, “It’s awesome! It’s a great day to be a Galloping Ghost!”
The artificial grass field is an all-weather turf that will remain beautiful for years to come, complete with specifically engineered safety components to be a durable and pristine surface of play for the Galloping Ghosts. The turf offers high-speed play with ideal traction and stability to enhance player protection and is benchmarked against top natural grass facilities to ensure precise engineering. This means that the Galloping Ghosts have a reliable surface for each of their athletic teams for years to come.
A recent article by Athletic Business magazine focused on the increasing prevalence of children’s mega-tournaments and the privatization of sports.
Truth: Turf comes in many different varieties, and the quality is dependent on the manufacturer.
The 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.