Artificial Football Turf Materials and Installation Guide

What is artificial turf for football fields?

Artificial turf for football fields is a synthetic fiber turf system specifically designed for football. By mimicking the performance and appearance of natural grass, it provides a high-intensity, all-weather football field. Artificial turf for football fields is environmentally friendly, durable, soft, and resilient, effectively reducing the risk of player injuries.

Compared to natural grass, its biggest advantage is its immunity to weather conditions, maintaining excellent performance in any climate, and its low maintenance costs. It has become the mainstream choice for modern football field construction, widely used from professional competitions to school and community pitches.

Classification of Artificial Turf Types for Football Fields

Based on different usage requirements and technical configurations, artificial turf for football fields is mainly divided into the following categories:

1. Classification by Infill Method

• Infill-type Grass: This is currently the most common choice for professional venues. It adopts longer grass fibers with a length of approximately 50 mm. Quartz sand and rubber granules need to be filled at the base of the grass fibers to provide stable support. This structure delivers optimal shock absorption and sports feedback, making it highly suitable for professional competitions and high-intensity training grounds. It also helps ensure ball roll and bounce closely resemble those on natural grass.

• Infill-free Grass: It uses shorter grass fibers around 30 mm in length. These fibers are relatively straight or curved with high density. No infill materials are required; the upright position and elasticity are maintained solely by the structure of the grass fibers themselves. The grass fibers are usually crimped or specially woven. Featuring easy installation and low maintenance costs, it is ideal for indoor five-a-side football pitches or low-intensity recreational venues.

• Hybrid Infill-type Grass: It combines the advantages of both infill-type and infill-free turf. A small amount of eco-friendly TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) granules are typically used as infill. This type not only ensures excellent sports performance but also offers easier maintenance compared to traditional infill-type turf.

2. Classification by Material Combination

• Pure PE Turf: All grass fibers are made of polyethylene (PE). With high softness, PE material delivers a touch closest to natural grass and boasts strong UV resistance, making it the top choice for high-end professional venues.

• PE+PP Hybrid Turf: Polypropylene (PP) is used at the base to provide structural support, while PE is adopted for the upper grass fibers to ensure softness. This cost-effective combination is suitable for training grounds with budget constraints.

• Natural + Artificial Hybrid Turf: Artificial fibers are implanted into natural grass, combining the excellent tactile feel of natural grass with the durability of artificial turf. It is commonly used in top-tier professional competitions.

3. Classification by Grass Fiber Structure

• Monofilament Turf: Each grass fiber is an independent strand, offering extremely high simulation degree, excellent wear resistance, and anti lodging performance, as well as good drainage. It is the standard configuration for professional competition venues.

• Net-filament Turf: The grass fibers form a mesh structure. It is relatively low-cost but has lower simulation degree and durability, making it suitable for venues with low usage frequency.

Materials and specifications of artificial grass

The backing fabric for turf is typically made of PP or PVC material to ensure stability and durability. Higher grass fiber density enhances abrasion resistance, making it more suitable for professional soccer fields. Artificial turf rolls for soccer fields are generally sized at 4×25m. Custom turf rolls can be tailored to the actual field dimensions to minimize seams and improve installation stability.

The Structure of Artificial Turf

A football field artificial turf system consists of four main parts from top to bottom.

1. Grass Wire Layer

This is the most crucial part. For professional fields, the grass wire height is typically between 50 and 60 mm, which is the FIFA recommended standard. Amateur fields can have a height as low as 40 mm. In terms of density, professional fields usually require 10,500 to 12,000 tufts of grass wire per square meter to ensure sufficient abrasion resistance and uprightness. The fineness of the single filament is typically around 11,000 Dtex to provide sufficient toughness.

2. Substructure

The substructure usually consists of two layers. The first layer is the primary backing, made of high-strength polypropylene (PP) woven fabric with high tensile strength; the second layer is the secondary backing, usually a latex or PU coating, used to ensure the grass wire is firmly fixed to the substructure and prevent it from falling off.

3. Buffer Layer

Lay between the base of the turf and the subgrade, it is usually made of rubber or foam. Rubber is approximately 3-5mm thick, while foam is about 5-10mm thick. Its main function is to provide additional elasticity and shock absorption, further reducing the risk of player injury.

4. Subgrade

This is the foundation of the field, typically consisting of a 10-15cm thick layer of gravel for load-bearing and drainage. A permeable geotextile is laid on top of the gravel layer to prevent soil from clogging the drainage system. The entire subgrade must have a good drainage slope to ensure no water accumulation within 20 minutes after heavy rain.

Material Properties

• Polyethylene

Advantages include high softness, good feel, strong UV resistance, and environmental friendliness (non-toxic); disadvantages include relatively high cost. It is mainly used to make the main body of grass fibers.

• Polypropylene

Advantages include high hardness, good bending resistance, and low cost; disadvantages include poor elasticity and susceptibility to aging. It is mainly used to make bottom backing or as support fibers.

• Nylon

Extremely abrasion resistant, but its high hardness can easily burn skin; it is now rarely used on sports surfaces that come into direct contact with the skin.

• Rubber Granules

Mainly used as a filler material. Traditional SBR granules have good elasticity, but environmentally friendly TPE granules are gradually becoming mainstream because they are safer and more durable.

• Quartz Sand

Used as the bottom layer material of the filler layer, its main function is to fix the roots of the grass fibers and provide basic support; it is relatively inexpensive but lacks elasticity.

FIFA Technical Requirements for Professional Football Stadiums

To ensure fairness and safety in matches, artificial turf for football stadiums must meet stringent performance standards:

(1) Ball Rebound Rate: The standard requires a ball dropped freely from a height of 2 meters to bounce between 110 and 130 centimeters. This simulates the rebound characteristics of natural grass, directly affecting players' ball control.

(2) Coefficient of Friction: The ideal range is 0.4 to 0.6. This ensures that players will not slip during sudden stops and turns, nor will they suffer injuries due to excessive friction.

(3) Shock Absorption: The standard value is 55% to 70%. This means the field can absorb most of the impact force, effectively protecting players' joints and ligaments.

(4) Vertical Deformation: The standard is 5 to 10 mm. This provides a suitable feel underfoot, neither as hard as concrete nor as sinking as sand.

(5) Abrasion Resistance: High-quality turf should withstand at least 50,000 abrasion tests to guarantee its lifespan.

(6) Drainage rate: Must reach more than 100 mm per hour to ensure that the site does not accumulate water on rainy days.

How to install artificial turf for football field?

1. Pre-construction Preparation

(1) Design and Planning

• Accurately measure the site dimensions and calculate the required area of ​​artificial turf (considering approximately 5% wastage).

• Determine the turf type, fiber height, density, color, and infill type (quartz sand, rubber granules).

• Plan the drainage direction to ensure the base slope (usually 0.5%-1%) facilitates drainage.

(2) Materials and Tools List

• Materials: Artificial turf, connecting strips, special adhesive (water-based), U-shaped nails or fixing nails, quartz sand, rubber granules (for sports fields).

• Tools: Cutter, steel tape measure, string line, lime powder, heavy-duty turf brush, sander, stiff brush or scraper, large shovel, compactor, mixing bucket, notched scraper.

(3) Base Inspection and Requirements

The base must be a solid, flat, well-drained layer of concrete, asphalt, or compacted graded crushed stone.

• Flatness: Check with a 3-meter straightedge; gaps should be less than 5mm.

• Drainage slope: Ensure it meets design requirements and has no water accumulation areas.

• Cleanliness: Thoroughly remove oil, moss, and debris from the base surface and ensure it is completely dry.

2. Turf Laying and Fixing

(1) Laying Out Lines and Turf Distribution

Based on the design drawings, use lime powder to mark the laying positions of each roll of turf on the field.

Unroll the artificial turf rolls along the marked lines, ensuring the grass fibers are aligned. Usually, the grass should face the main field area or spectator stands. Let the turf rest in the sun for 2-3 hours to allow it to stretch naturally and eliminate transport curling stress.

(2) Cutting and Trimming

Use a sharp knife to cut along the field boundary lines or pre-reserved seams. Leave a slight margin of 1-2 cm for trimming. Ensure the cut edges are neat and free of loose grass fibers.

(3) Joining

• Alignment: Align the edges of the two rolls of turf to be joined tightly, ensuring the grass fibers are aligned.

• Folding: Fold the bottom woven fabric (bottom) of both sides of the turf upwards approximately 30-40 cm along the seam.

• Lay the connecting strip: Place the special connecting strip (approximately 30cm wide) with the green side facing up in the center of the joint.

• Apply adhesive: Apply the special adhesive evenly to the connecting strip and the woven fabric at the bottom of the lawn on both sides. Use a notched trowel to ensure the adhesive is applied evenly and in the right amount, avoiding applying too thickly or too thinly.

• Bonding: Wait for the adhesive to dry slightly until it is no longer sticky but still tacky, usually 5-15 minutes, depending on the weather. First, lay one side of the lawn down and press it firmly onto the connecting strip, then carefully lay down the other side, ensuring there are no gaps or overlaps in the middle.

• Compacting: Press down on the joint with a heavy object or step on it manually to ensure a firm bond. Wait for the adhesive to fully cure.

(4) Perimeter Fixing

Use U-shaped nails or fixing nails to secure the lawn perimeter, driving them into the base every 15-20cm. At the joint, additional reinforcement is required. When fixing, drive the nails completely into the bottom of the lawn, ensuring the grass fibers cover them.

3. Infilling and Finishing

(1) Initial Combing and Sand Spread

Initial Combing: Use a heavy-duty lawn brush or power brush to stand all the grass fibers upright against the direction of the grass fibers.

Spreading Quartz Sand: Use a sand spreader or manually to evenly spread dry quartz sand on the lawn.

Infill Amount: Usually 20-30 kg/m², adjusted according to grass height and intended use. A standard football field (50mm grass height) requires approximately 28-32 kg/m².

Combing into the Grass: Use a lawn brush to repeatedly comb the grass in multiple directions, thoroughly sweeping the quartz sand into the base of the grass fibers to ensure even distribution.

(2) Watering and Settling

Use a sprinkler system or watering can to evenly, in small amounts, and repeatedly wet the entire field in a "drizzling" manner. This allows the quartz sand layer to settle and compact naturally under the influence of gravity, forming a stable base. Excessive irrigation that could lead to water accumulation or soaking is strictly prohibited.

(3) Filling with Rubber Granules

After the quartz sand layer is completely dry, perform a second comprehensive combing. Evenly spread environmentally friendly rubber granules, typically at a rate of 5-10 kg/m². Use a grass brusher to carefully comb again, ensuring the rubber granules are evenly distributed from the middle to the top of the grass fibers, providing cushioning and protecting the grass fibers from standing upright.

(4) Final Combing and Cleaning
Perform a final comprehensive combing to ensure the grass fibers are fully upright and the filler is evenly distributed. Thoroughly clean the site, removing all tools, excess materials, and debris.

4. Acceptance and Maintenance

(1) Acceptance Standards

• Smooth surface, without bulges, depressions, or seam marks.

• Consistent grass fiber color, uniform direction, and no obvious color difference.

• Uniform filling material, without exposed or piled-up areas.

• Smooth drainage, with no water accumulation areas.

• Neat boundaries and secure fixing.

(2) Initial Maintenance

• After installation, it is recommended to allow it to stand for at least 24 hours before use.

• Conduct regular initial inspections. If localized settlement occurs, add a small amount of filling material and comb through the grass.

• Perform routine cleaning and periodic deep combing to maintain optimal performance.

Installation and Construction Costs

Besides the turf material itself, the installation cost of artificial turf includes site preparation, drainage system construction, turf laying, and optional facilities such as fencing and lighting. Labor costs vary by region.

The following are estimated installation costs for artificial turf football fields, based on international standards and adjusted for labor costs in different regions worldwide.

Artificial turf football field maintenance

The daily maintenance of artificial turf football fields is relatively simple, but the following work still needs to be done regularly to extend its service life and maintain optimal sports performance:

Daily cleaning: Regularly clean the surface of the court, remove fallen leaves, dust and other debris to keep the lawn clean.

Supplementary filling particles: For sand-filled lawns, it is necessary to regularly check the distribution of rubber particles and appropriately supplement them to maintain the uprightness and cushioning effect of the grass.

Check the joints and bonding areas: Check the joints and bonding areas of the lawn regularly. If looseness or detachment is found, repair it in time.

Avoid severe friction and sharp damage: Avoid high-intensity friction or contact with sharp objects during use to avoid damaging the grass.

Regularly comb the grass: Use professional equipment to comb the grass to keep it upright and improve the aesthetics and sports performance of the court.

Artificial turf football fields have become the preferred solution for modern football field construction due to their excellent wear resistance, low maintenance costs and high cost performance. When purchasing and installing artificial turf football fields, you should choose the appropriate turf type and construction plan based on the purpose of the field, budget and frequency of use to ensure the best sports experience and long-term durability.