by Administrator
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.
by Administrator
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.
by Administrator
Natural grass study on American football field
Research by leading synthetic turf manufacturer and Labosport benchmarks sport performance of natural turf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Austin, Texas USA
With thousands of sports fields installed each year throughout the world, the synthetic turf industry has gained acceptance due to the benefits of longer playing hours, maintenance savings and all-weather playability. Buyer demands have also increased with trends towards replicating natural grass in more ways than just appearance or shock absorption.
FIFA, as the world’s governing body of soccer, has led this trend internationally with its significant investments in natural grass and artificial turf research. FIFA utilizes natural grass benchmarks in areas including foot stability, traction, and ball interaction to create its synthetic turf standards. These benchmarks have led to safer, better performing synthetic turf fields. As North American buyers seek similar 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.
ACT Global Sports with cooperation from Labosport and Texas A&M University, engaged the research to understand the sport performance of the natural turf at Kyle Field stadium and compare those findings to the FIFA methods. 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. It previously earned the Field of the Year by the Sports Turf Managers Association and is managed by respected field manager, Mr. Leo Goertz.
The on-site technical assessment was conducted in October 2009 and performed on multiple points throughout the field. Tests included shock absorption, vertical deformation (foot stability), rotational resistance (traction), energy restitution (fatigue indicator) and various ball-to-surface interaction measurements. The testing equipment were the same as is used for FIFA field tests.
The results fall within the same range as the FIFA Quality Concept standards for synthetic turf for the conducted tests.
John Baize, Director of ACT Global comments, “We are very pleased to invest in this study and appreciate the cooperation of both Texas A&M and Labosport. As a FIFA Preferred Producer with multiple FIFA certified installations around the world, it demonstrates to a buyer that our fields can perform to the highest FIFA requirements and one of the best natural grass football fields as well. By simply specifying the FIFA standards and testing, a buyer can expect to get a top playing surface for soccer and football.”
News media, certain buyers and consultants are invited to obtain a complimentary copy of this study by emailing research@ACTGlobalSports.com. ACT Global encourages buyers and consultants to use these findings as a tool when selecting a proven synthetic turf system.
ACT Global Sports is headquartered in Austin, Texas with additional tufting locations in Calhoun, Georgia, Asia and Europe. It services its international clients through offices in The Netherlands, Cyprus, China, Poland, Thailand, UK and France. Local sales and support is offered through an expanding partner network of leading sport field and synthetic lawn contractors in over 50 countries.
by Administrator
Governing body of soccer launches global initiative to enhance synthetic turf quality
Austin, Texas – October 2009
As participation in the world’s most popular sport grows, so do the demands for top quality playing surfaces. Since launching the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf in 2001, the world governing body for football has recognized that synthetic turf can be an alternative to the maintenance or durability limitations of natural grass pitches. In 2004, FIFA approved synthetic turf to be included in the Laws of the Game.
It has now taken the next step by launching the FIFA Preferred Producer Initiative.
ACT Global Sports was selected to join this FIFA Preferred Producer initiative to help research, develop and deliver a higher quality football turf to users throughout the world. FIFA aims to take this next step in performance and safety standards of football turf by working with selected Preferred Producers.
ACT Global has promised FIFA that we will also engage in research and development efforts to deliver similar playing conditions of top natural grass.
Chris Clapham, Director of ACT Global comments, “We fully support this initiative by FIFA. This a major step forward for our company and the football turf industry. Buyers can expect a higher quality and better performance by purchasing from a FIFA Preferred Producer. We are being held accountable to FIFA in addition to our clients and business partners. This accountability and research initiative will translate into a better surface for the users.”
In order to qualify as a FIFA Preferred Producer, ACT Global was evaluated by FIFA according to strict requirements. This included the level of quality responsibility from manufacturing, through installation and maintenance.
FIFA also reviewed the civil engineering and project management expertise, promise for research and development efforts, and a commitment to promote the principles behind the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf.
by Administrator
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.
Chris Fortuin, who is a lecturer for sport and movement and Nigel Fletcher, the manager of the artificial turf programme, assessed the maintenance work being put in at Rufaro and also heard reports from referees, players and coaches who use the surface.
“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.
