Synthetic turf for use in sporting applications has been around since the 1960s, but the turf of today is lightyears beyond the old rug-like surfaces. Not only has the product improved, but the number of uses has grown dramatically. Most people are aware of turf being used on large stadium and field applications but the indoor speed and agility market is a rapidly growing segment of the industry. Colleges and universities are converting spaces that rarely get used, such as a racquetball court, into a functional fitness area complete with non-infill synthetic turf. With the commitment and energy put into fitness and healthy lifestyles these days, it is no surprise more and more facilities are moving toward synthetic turf for their flooring.
Synthetic turf for functional fitness is designed to handle any drill or exercise movement that can be performed on traditional hard rubber flooring. The product should be rugged enough to handle weights being dropped, sleds being pulled or tires being flipped on it, yet skin friendly enough for pushups, sit-ups and burpees without the dreaded “rug burn.”
As with any purchase a recreation department is contemplating, it is important to have a quality manufacturer that can deliver products that will perform at a top level. Campus recreation facilities are in almost constant demand, sometimes 24 hours a day, with students and faculty so it is understandable they would need a quality-flooring surface. When sourcing synthetic turf for your functional fitness or speed and agility space, it is always a good idea to look into the actual manufacturer of the product as opposed to just the company or vendor selling the product out of a catalog.
Synthetic turf is the ideal choice for a wide range of applications including, but not limited to:
- Speed and Agility Training
- Football
- Soccer
- Baseball
- Indoor Gyms
- Field Hockey
- Landscape
- Playgrounds
- Golf Tee Lines
- Putting Greens
- And many more…
To ensure synthetic turf works for your desired application, it is important you purchase from a quality manufacturer. Manufacturers should have invested in the training of its employees, as well as purchasing the latest and most accurate testing and analysis equipment. Going a step beyond ISO is the goal in delivering peace of mind to each owner.
By Matt Riggs, the SporTurf business director. Matt Riggs was hired in 2006 by TenCate straight out of college into the position of management trainee. In this position, Matt worked in every stage of fiber production. Matt also spent several months working in the management side of production as well as in the Research and Development department eventually ending in sales. Matt held the position of Senior Account Manager for 4 years where his duties included technical presentations to architects and keeping turf companies up to date with the newest technology and product information. Matt also spent a lot of time inspecting and studying synthetic turf fields. During his years with TenCate he inspected over 225 fields across the United States and Canada gaining extensive real world turf knowledge. Matt earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Tusculum College while playing football and baseball. Matt completed 1 year of his Masters in Organizational Management before taking the job with TenCate.
