Pitch perfect surfaces for a summer of sport by Stuart Chamberlain, Executive Director at O’Brien Contractors
This summer, people from all over the world will come together to watch and participate in a range of sporting events. From Wimbledon to the Euros, the Ashes to the Olympics, the one consideration that crosses every event is that of ground conditions. At the Euros, both UEFA and the German Football Association came under fire for poor pitch conditions at this year’s competition, following multiple incidents of turf being ripped up, being pitted, and unlevel.
However, it’s not just multi-million-pound stadiums that need to keep an eye on their pitches. As the 2024 academic year approaches quickly, now is the time for campus estate managers to start preparing for the new term.
The summer holiday offers the perfect opportunity to make much needed renovations to existing sports pitches, to commence a full design and build project or to start planning for next summer's construction to create pitch perfect grounds. However, the planning stage for any renovation of works can be time critical, meaning education institutions should begin now to hit next summer’s deadline.
To kickstart the pitch project, colleges, universities and other sports clubs will need to have an agreed starting point that reflects their needs and those of their pupils or students. For example, this could be a plan to renovate three full-size football pitches with synthetic turf, or for the installation of a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) pitch. Different types of sports pitches such as hockey and football pitches or tennis and basketball courts, require different materials, design and construction requirements. For contractors to have a full understanding of the materials, labour and equipment required, the project management teams therefore need to ensure they have clearly defined objectives, consistent with an agreed timeframe and budget.
For university campus managers, for example, making decisions about the construction of sports fields can be daunting due to the sheer number of considerations they must contend with. To combat this, universities should consider collaborating with contracting ahead of the planning stage. Having the right people in place prior to project inception ensures that the final goal is properly understood, and that expert advice is easily accessible, ensuring informed decisions are made right through to completion.
By opting to work with an experienced firm, costs are likely to remain steady throughout the project as risks or surprises are accounted for and mitigated. This means a smoother process that is not at risk of being derailed due to unpredictable situations such as lack of labour due to illness, undelivered materials or other delays.
But it’s not just these considerations that must be accommodated when planning a sports pitch renovation, particularly over the summer holidays. While universities have much longer academic breaks than schools, for example, getting the timing right is still essential. For big projects, where multiple areas will be out of use for extended periods of time, running to time is imperative, otherwise universities may find themselves facing a cohort of unhappy sporting societies come September. Factors such as adverse weather conditions, planning around employee annual leave, bank holidays or unforeseen issues with machinery can cause havoc for contractors trying to deliver a project on time. However, early planning can help tackle the risk of an overrunning project, resulting in an earlier kick-off for the project and on-time delivery.
One of the most important factors to consider during a renovation or development of sports facilities is the difference between how each pitch is built. For example, the process of building an outdoor netball or basketball court might use materials such as concrete, asphalt tarmacadam or Ethylene Polypropylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber sports surfacing – with the latter two both having anti-slip properties that are ideal for outdoor sporting use. On the other hand, pitches used for football and rugby are typically made from natural or artificial turf.
A popular artificial turf choice for football pitches is third generation, or 3G. Using synthetic surface technology, its practicality and easy maintenance makes it a popular choice for both universities and sports clubs all over the world. 3G pitches are designed significantly differently to what is expected from a domestic artificial lawn. Project Teams should bear this in mind when considering their direction. The 3G surface is made up of several layers that are designed to simulate the look and feel of a real pitch, whilst minimising the impact of game play and prolonging the life of the product.
For sports such as hockey, water-based pitches are a popular choice for professional and semi-professional play. Water-based pitches reduce friction on the surface, which results in smooth and much faster ball roll. It has also been found that hockey sticks last much longer when played on wet surfaces as they aren't being worn out by sand infill, which is a common feature on dry pitches. This longevity of both pitch and equipment is what makes a water-based hockey pitch a popular choice for consideration by educational institutions, particularly colleges or universities.
Once the pitch has been selected, it’s important to understand the level of maintenance and upkeep required. University playing fields, just like schools, are subject to high levels of footfall, making maintenance and upkeep a necessity to ensure the longevity of a pitch. For sports such as football and rugby, the ground faces considerable stud damage, often with minimal time between games to naturally recover. To ensure pitches are kept at a high standard, it’s therefore essential for universities to employ groundskeepers, and gain a thorough understanding of the maintenance required at the earliest possible stage, as this could influence the type of pitch that is ultimately selected.
Being pitch perfect will not only benefit pupils and students, but it can also bring financial rewards for those that opt to rent out pitches and facilities to the local community. Foundations such as Sports England work closely with schools and universities to ensure that facilities can be accessed by the local community during the evenings and holidays. However, to utilise this, playing fields must be of a good standard and adhere to Football Association (FA) regulations.
Furthermore, the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA), is the trusted industry body that represents and regulates contractors, suppliers and consultants that deliver high quality sports and play facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Appointing a SAPCA member provides clients with full assurance that their sports projects will be delivered by fully competent, pioneering professionals to the latest industry standards. SAPCA’s thorough formal auditing process and rigorous membership criteria also ensures that sports and play facilities are carefully maintained to enhance durability, performance and longevity.
With so many different sports pitches and materials available, picking the one that will benefit an establishment and stand the course of time can feel overwhelming. Working closely with innovative construction leaders can help to alleviate confusion and secure the right solution. For universities that are looking to make changes to their existing or develop new sports facilities, now is the right time to begin planning for September 2025.