Sports surfaces
From a playing perspective, the sports surface is probably the most important item of equipment in any sport facility.
From a playing perspective, the sports surface is probably the most important item of equipment in any sport facility.
For some ‘specialist’ single sport facilities it may simply be a question of selecting the ideal surface for that sport.
Generally facilities are multi-use and can make the selection of the playing surface far more complex. There will be a need to consider carefully the range of sports, levels of play, extent of use and the objectives and proposed programming of the facility.
Other factors include resources available to maintain the playing surface and funds available for replacement at the end of its life.
Standards Australia produces two documents to assist in determining what surface is applicable to a particular sport. These documents are Handbook Sporting Facilities Manual Part 2: Sporting Surfaces SAA HB49.2 1993 and Synthetic Sporting Surfaces Part
1 General Principles AS 3541.1 1988.
Outdoor sports surfaces
Traditionally sport has been played on natural grass surfaces. Natural grass sports surfaces were developed on open space sites set aside for recreation as towns and cities evolved. The nature of the sporting activity determined the requirements
for the sports ground in relation to size and surface characteristics.
The use of synthetic turf playing surfaces is becoming more widespread in Australia and Internationally.
The department has produced a publication Natural Grass vs Synthetic Turf Decision Making Guide. The purpose of this decision making guide (the guide) is to help organisations make an informed choice on surface type - natural grass v synthetic
turf for sports grounds specifically football, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, soccer, rugby, tennis, and other relevant multipurpose facilities.
This guide provides an outline of the considerations that need to be taken into account. A detailed report Natural Grass v Synthetic Turf Study accompanies this guide and provides extensive information
on each of the key considerations.