FieldTurf - Artificial Turf, astroturf Synthetic Grass

FIFA PRESIDENT SUPPORTS WORLD CUP QUALIFIER ON FIELDTURF

Fieldturf — Wed , 10 Mar 2010 04:11:39 EDT

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter weighs in on synthetic turf used in World Cup qualifiers and provides his full support claiming that it is the ?future of football?

(October 7, 2009) ? Saturday marks an important date for Russia and Germany?s national soccer teams, as they meet in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match from Luzhniki Stadium?s FieldTurf in Moscow.

Germany looks to come away with the full three points to secure its birth into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, whereas Russia sees the confrontation as a must-win, heading into the final stages of qualifying. This critical matchup is one of many 2010 qualifiers to have taken place on FieldTurf?s world-leading, state-of-the-art synthetic turf system.

The turf at Luzhniki Stadium is a high performance surface has an unmatched consistency across the entire field, and is the top-of-line product to replicate the feel and playability of natural grass.

When asked about the validity of playing World Cup qualifiers on synthetic turf, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter offered his support to turf fields such as Luzhniki Stadium, stating that it is the future of soccer and that one day most countries will be converted to these surfaces.

This excerpt is from an article which appeared on 6 October 2009 in 'Die Welt' and was retrieved on FIFA.com.

Even FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has decided to get involved in the hotly-debated topic of artificial turf, after the German Sport University of Cologne published a report into the scientific study of synthetic pitches, which of course Germany must play on next Saturday in their crucial 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa? qualifier against Russia. "The Russia-Germany game won't be decided by the pitch, but by the quality of the two teams," claimed researchers in Cologne. A-state-of-the-art artificial pitch has recently been installed at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

The study, led by Dr. Wolfgang Potthast, concluded that "well-maintained artificial pitches have no measurable effect on the game." It was also discovered that data such as players' shots and crosses only differs from that of natural pitches if the artificial turf is of a poor quality: "With shooting it affects the standing leg, while with crossing it is the kicking leg which is affected more. Changing the surface causes a loss of accuracy and power," it said. Some players have complained of difficulties in "getting their foot under the ball", leading to fewer crosses and use of the flanks.

The results of the report have been supported by other studies and observations, as well as by world football's governing body, FIFA. Germany coach Joachim Low recently stated that artificial turf would be "no excuse" for a poor performance and made his players train on an artificial pitch in Mainz in order to get used to the surface.

President Blatter broke his silence on the topic on German television show 'Inside Sport' on Monday evening, saying that artificial turf is the "future of football," as well as claiming that "most countries around the world will play on artificial turf one day because it can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

FROZEN ROPES MEETS FIELDTURF

Fieldturf — Wed , 10 Mar 2010 04:11:39 EDT

Holistic Sports Meet Sustainable Turf

By Karrie Welborn

Frozen Ropes, an international baseball and softball training organization with headquarters in Chester, New York, recently purchased 140,100 square feet of FieldTurf for their national training center. The outdoor surface will accommodate a combination of sports which include baseball, softball, football, soccer and lacrosse.

The indoor surface will be used for the multiple sports and fitness training as well. This will add a sustainable and healthy component to the already holistic philosophy of the Frozen Ropes brand while expanding it into a true multiple sport training center.

Founder Tony Abbatine?s philosophy is a distillation of the ?body, mind, spirit? concepts that began in the ?70s. By applying these concepts to sports and more specifically to sports training, he has created a unique and powerful training program. Frozen Ropes works with players of all ages and levels of skill, beginning with the ?Born to Play? program, a supervised exercise program for 3-year-olds. There are also programs for adolescents, teens, college students and professional baseball players. Whether one is an amateur or a professional, choosing individual training or group classes, Frozen Ropes has a program to fit the need. The business, named for the phrase that references a straight and hard line drive that goes over the heads of the outfielders, has a franchise program extending across America and overseas.

Numerous Major League teams such as the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies, to name only a few, have hired Frozen Ropes in the last few years.

Attitude is a Decision
It makes sense then, considering the strong foundation of a positive attitude and scientifically sound research that comprises the Frozen Ropes? training procedures that they chose FieldTurf. ?Attitude is a Decision? is a phrase echoed as the Frozen Ropes mantra. It also appears to exemplify the mindset of FieldTurf?s personnel and speaks to the commitment to excellence that is intrinsic to both organizations.
According to Frozen Ropes? Sports Parks National Director Chris Leonard, what separated FieldTurf from competitors was the FieldTurf representative?s in-depth knowledge, which allowed him to answer any question with ease; his professional attitude, which accented the presentation and his excitement for the Frozen Ropes project beyond the sales pitch.

Additionally, FieldTurf?s ?no hesitation? response to Leonard?s request to ?see, touch, feel? FieldTurf product in place was instrumental in the decision process. Leonard said the company?s willingness to take them to any field regardless of its age and amount of play, the open and honest responses and the ability to answer every question was impressive. Seeing the fields at Rutgers and Cornell Universities was a key factor in making the decision. There were seven different fields at Rutgers used for Division One football and baseball as well as fields used for intramural sports. At Cornell there were two fields?one used for Division One baseball and the other a multiple sport field. These were fields that had seen more than a few years of play and were still in very positive shape.

Another vital factor in the purchasing process was FieldTurf?s warranty, which is industry-leading in itself. It has no deductible, no limit per claim, no retention and no retention period. The FieldTurf warranty is the gold standard throughout the industry.

These were the key factors leading to a decision to go with FieldTurf products.

METRODOME MAGIC: TWINS EARN PLAYOFF BIRTH ON FIELDTURF

Fieldturf — Wed , 10 Mar 2010 04:11:39 EDT

October 7, 2009 (Minneapolis, MN) ? After 162 regular season games, the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers needed one more matchup to determine the American League Central Division champion. Both teams delivered a stellar performance in a classic see-saw affair, but it was the Twins that prevailed on their home FieldTurf in the 12th inning.

The game ended with a walkoff single bringing in the speeding Carlos Gomez to home plate, in the first ever AL tie-breaker to reach extra innings. This game also capped off a tremendous rally on behalf of the Twins, who went 10-1 on the Metrodome?s FieldTurf in the last stretch of the season, allowing them to take part in this ultimate matchup.

The city of Minnesota has had two consecutive momentous events take place on their home FieldTurf with this historic tie-breaker being preceded by Brett Favre?s dominant performance against his former team, the Green Bay Packers, one night earlier.

This marks the second straight year that one of the three teams playing on FieldTurf reaches the MLB postseason, and the fourth time in the last six years. Last season the surprising Tampa Rays reached the World Series, whereas the Twins had playoff appearances in 2004 and 2006.

Renowned for its unmatched consistency and playability, FieldTurf?s engineered synthetic turf system has benefited the Twins over the course of 2009, leading them to the second-highest fielding percentage in the American League, one percent back of the Toronto Blue Jays ? another team which uses FieldTurf.

FieldTurf is the only synthetic used in Major League Baseball stadiums.

The Twins will now take on the New York Yankees in the first round of the playoffs. Games #3 and #4 will be played on the Metrodome?s FieldTurf October 11th and 12th respectively.