What Is Under Artificial Turf on a Football Field?

Written by Bill Narozanick / Published in Blog

20 and 30-yard line on football field
If you want to update your athletic complex and are choosing artificial turf fields instead of grass, you probably understand the benefits of choosing turf over natural grass. You may still have some questions, though. Working with a team of professionals like American Athletic Track and Turf allows you to have your questions answered and helps ensure a long-lasting result. American Athletic has been installing professional-quality turf in New Jersey and throughout the East Coast, plus, Orlando, Florida, since 1983. Here, our experts talk about what goes under artificial turf on a football field.

Layers Underneath a Synthetic Football Field

You can customize turf to fit your needs and budget. Based on these factors, our experienced team can design an artificial turf system that provides your athletes with an authentic and safe playing surface that allows them to perform their best.

Multi-Material Pile

The pile is the top layer of an artificial turf system and contains the turf fibers, the backing, and the infill. In a synthetic turf system, the backing is a sheet of woven plastic that keeps the blades in place. The perforated holes in this sheet help prevent water from accumulating on the field by providing vertical drainage. If you watch NFL games, you’ve most likely noticed cleats whipping up pellets on the field. These pellets are the infill, an essential part of a synthetic football field. The infill fills in the gaps between blades of your chosen turf material, like how dirt fills in the gap between blades of grass. It also acts as a shock absorber and helps prevent the turf from wearing unevenly.

Safety Shock Pad

Underneath the pile, your contractor will install a shock pad. This shock pad adds a layer of cushioning to help reduce the risk of injury. Most states require shock pads because their support can reduce concussions, regardless of infill depth. Additionally, shock pads can help extend the life of your football field and are available in different thicknesses and types of foam to fit your facility’s needs.

Stable Base

There is a science and art to constructing a safe, level, and playable football field. Your turf needs a stable foundation. Most contractors use gravel or crushed limestone as the base for their turf systems because of its durability and natural drainage properties. To create a smooth playing surface, the base needs to be as flat as possible. At American Athletic, our team uses laser-controlled asphalt paving to help keep your base densely packed, evenly flat, and consistent across the entire surface.

Quality Drainage Systems

While artificial turf affords more natural drainage than traditional grass, we also install professional drainage systems. These engineered systems prevent water from accumulating on the field, helping to reduce the number of times a game is rained out, while also keeping athletes safer in wet conditions.

High-Quality Artificial Turf from Experienced Professionals

At American Athletic, we believe outstanding athletic facilities that exceed expectations require premium materials, which is why we partner with industry-leading brands, such as FieldTurf. We use only the highest-quality material during every step of the installation process and utilize a ground-up technique to help ensure what lies under your artificial turf football field is just as sturdy as the field itself. Our professional services extend beyond installing football fields, tennis courts, and running tracks. We offer repair and maintenance services to help you keep your athletic surfaces in top working order for longer. Our commitment to quality extends beyond our products into our service. With our SmartBuy co-op purchasing program, you can save time and money on your upgrade project. This alternative to the normal bidding process affords you with cost-effective pricing on top-shelf artificial turf.

Upgrade Your Athletic Facility With American Athletic Track and Turf

At American Athletic Track and Turf, we have been installing high-quality synthetic products onto fields and sports facilities for almost 30 years. You can find our award-winning projects throughout New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Florida. When you’re ready to update your athletic facility, our team is here for you. We can answer any other questions you may have about artificial turf installation, what we put under your artificial turf football field, and our other service options. Contact us today to learn more.
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