Sports Technology

Consultant and synthetic turf expert Martin Sheppard is to present a series of free industry workshops in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

As Sheppard (pictured) explains, "ongoing drought, unsafe ovals and reduced availability of pitches due to overuse, means Government, schools and sporting associations are having to look for alternative options to natural turf for their sport and recreation surfaces.

"In order to preserve Australia's great sporting tradition, and the valuable community and health benefits team sports foster, it is crucial that operators are aware of all the options available when considering the construction of new ovals, the upgrading and resurfacing of existing surfaces, or installing synthetic turf."

Sheppard believes that operators and facilities planners consider:

• What do they want the pitch for? (recreational use, training, matches)
• How often will they be used? (to determine the type and level of pitch)
• How can they complement existing the natural pitches?
• Will the pitch align with the national sports standards (and do they need to?)

In an effort to assist operators gain a better knowledge to answer these and many other questions surrounding the rapidly developing synthetic turf systems offered by various suppliers, Smart Connection is conducting a three hour workshop in the following cities:

Perth - Friday 13th August at the WA Department of Education
Melbourne - Tuesday 17th August at the Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Sydney - Thursday 19th August at the Dougherty Community Centre
Brisbane - Monday 23rd August at the University of Queensland.

Each workshop commences at 10am.

The workshop will provide operators with information that should allow them to make a much more informed choice of surface type, including hard or acrylic surfaces, as it will discuss the different types of surfaces for different sports, the criteria for playing surfaces for each sport, the market and guidance on lifetime costs for comparing synthetic surfaces to natural surfaces, synthetic surface suppliers, and the importance of regular and correct maintenance procedures.

Martin Sheppard wrote on the latest developments in synthetic surfaces in the May/June 2010 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

To register your interest in attending these workshops contact the Smart Connection Company on 03 8696 7500 or click here to contact the business through its entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

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