Smart Connection Consultancy releases world leading guidance for synthetic sports surfaces
Melbourne-based Smart Connection Consultancy has released three new Smart Guide booklets on the latest innovations, health and safety guidance and maintenance practices for synthetic sports turf for local government, sport and the education sectors.
Martin Sheppard, the author and Managing Director of Smart Connection Consultancy, recognised globally for his knowledge and study of synthetic sports surfaces which can assist addressing the growing demand on local parks and fields as the Australian population continues to grow, explains “we have seen more than 150 football fields installed in Australia in the past decade with approximately 30 a year being planned and installed annually now.
“With still some confusion on synthetic surfaces safety and environmental impacts and what type of synthetic systems should be used for what sport.
“Bringing together the latest research around the major concerns people have interested in that level of detail.
“I cannot image that for the football codes we will ever see the MCG fully synthetic, but the technology can work with natural grass to provide opportunities for more hours to be played that natural grass cannot cope with. They complement each other."
The Smart Guides will be launched next week at the National Sports Convention in Melbourne, an event expected to play host to over 1,000 delegates, in Melbourne.
The Guides include:
The Smart Guide to Synthetic Sports Fields - The Challenges, Perceptions and Reality
Addressing the key perceptions and challenges around player safety and injuries, surface playability compared to natural turf, environmental impacts, health concerns and heat issues.
The Smart Guide to Synthetic Football Fields - including Hybrid Technology
Exploring the evolution of synthetic football turf and standards for all football codes, including football, AFL, rugby union and rugby league together with the costings, maintenance and design issues discussed.
The Smart Guide to Maintaining Synthetic Sports Turf
Breaking the myth that these fields can be used 24/7 with no maintenance. The latest issue provides increased ideas and support around how to practically maintain the fields to extend the life expectancy of the fields.
Established in 2004, Smart Connection Consultancy as a sport and leisure management consultancy practice, has been providing advice on synthetic sports fields since 2008 and is involved in the majority of synthetic sports surfaces studies and procurement projects in Australia.
Sheppard is the technical consultant on synthetic sports surfaces to various sports codes including:
• Football including: Football Federation Australia (FFA), Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and Football NSW.
• Rugby union, including Rugby Australia
• Rugby league, including the NRL
Sheppard also collaborates with International Federations including FIFA, World Rugby and World Hockey (FIH).
The three Smart Guides can be downloaded from the Smart Connection Consultancy website free of charge as part of Sheppard’s continued commitment to knowledge sharing and advocacy to the industry.
Go to www.smartconnection.net.au
Registration for the National Sports Convention is still open, click here to view details in the Australasian Leisure Management Industry Calendar.
Images: Artificial turf at the newly opened La Trobe University Sports Park (top, courtesy of SPORTENG) and Martin Sheppard (below).
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