G-FORCES

SportsNation takes a look at the history synthetic sports pitches, from 1G to 3G, as well as the current standards for their design and construction

Synthetic sports pitches are a popular choice of surface across a range of sports in the UK – at both elite and grassroots level. The main reason is obvious: the increased amount of playing hours they offer clubs and facility operators, when compared to natural grass. On average, a synthetic turf pitch can be used up to 60 or even 80 hours per week (depending on maintenance and floodlighting), while in a worst-case scenario, a grass pitch can only take around 6 to 8 hours per week. In addition, synthetic surfaces remain playable during the winter months and in inclement weather - while thousands of community grass pitches around the country become unplayable.

From 1G to 3G

Synthetic turf has been used as a playing surface for sports, in one form or another, since the 1970s. The first generation of non-filled products, or “1G”, were used for hockey and American football. The 1980s then saw the emergence of the second generation (2G) pitches, which were sand-filled surfaces used primarily for hockey, but also in multi-sport facilities. These types of surfaces are still being used (and installed) today – they have transformed the sport of hockey from its original natural turf surface and made it the fast-paced, much more dynamic game we see today.

The next major development took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the introduction of third generation (3G) surfaces, designed to replicate natural turf pitches, initially for football but then also for rugby and Gaelic sports. For the past 20 years or so, 3G surfaces have been the ‘go to’ surface for community football in the UK, with an increasing number of semi-professional clubs adopting them on their stadium pitches.

As it stands, we’re still, technically, waiting for the breakthrough of the next generation of pitches. This means that at the moment, in most cases, it is incorrect to describe any synthetic sports pitch as “4G” – or 5G or 6G, for that matter. This is because until there is a synthetic turf product that doesn’t include sports performance infills, we are still in the age of 3G.

It might not be long, however, until we will have 4G pitches to choose from. Work is ongoing to develop synthetic sports pitch products without the need for infills – so watch this space!

Standards

Whether the pitch is 2G or 3G, there are a number of standards to consider and meet, in order to ensure a pitch can be used for official matches. The leading world governing bodies, such as FIFA (football), World Rugby and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have all set standards to which playing surfaces must adhere to, in order for them to be able to host games

In the UK, the Sports and Play Construction Industry (SAPCA) works with governing bodies to provide guidance for those looking to build synthetic pitches. SAPCA has published several codes of practice which act primarily as a guide to ensure standards and quality from SAPCA members by setting minimum construction criteria. The guides can also be used to better understand the up-to-date requirements of installation, to learn about best practice and to study the standards set out by governing bodies.

SAPCA has published several codes of practice which act primarily as a guide to ensure standards and quality from SAPCA members

These include the Code of Practice for the Construction and Maintenance of Synthetic Turf Pitches, which highlights the requirements for both the playing surface and the construction of synthetic pitch facilities. There is also the Code of Practice for the Design, Specification & Testing of Bases for Outdoor Synthetic Sport Areas, which was published in 2020 and offers enhanced guidance on the design of sports pitch bases and drainage systems. Meanwhile, the Code of Practice for the Selection and Use of Sports Performance Infills in 3G Artificial Turf was developed in 2021 as an additional guidance document to offer advice on the different types of infill available in the UK market. All the codes are updated, through periodic reviews, to keep the documents updated with the latest guidance – including governing body standards.

Want to know more about synthetic turf? Or find out about the companies that design, install and maintain the UK’s synthetic pitches? Get in touch: [info@sapca.org.uk](mailto:info@sapca.org.uk)