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Latest Field Notes
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Experts in Testing Technology for Sport

Operating since 1998 our headquarters are based in Scotland, with satellite offices and laboratories around the world. We are an independent sports technology test house for both lab based testing and field testing in sports, accredited to certify sports surfaces or technology to national and international standards.

We do this adhering to testing protocols for safety and performance. Our laboratory is an ISO 17025 laboratory while we actively contribute to the development of testing standards, ensuring testing protocols are up-to-date with the most current product innovations.

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Field Notes

Field Notes | Global
The Birth of the Field Marshal
The Birth of the Field Marshal

At the time, industry-standard Advanced Artificial Athlete (AAA) systems provided valuable measurements such as Shock Absorption (%), Vertical Deformation (mm) and Energy Restitution (%). However, these systems are heavy, cumbersome and less practical for quick data collection. Simpler devices such as the Clegg Hammer and GMax offered ease of use, but each provided only part of the overall picture in what is effectively a Hardness value. Our ambition was to combine the best aspects of all three systems into a single device.

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Beyond Friction: A New Generation of Skin Injury Testing for Sports Surfaces 
Beyond Friction: A New Generation of Skin Injury Testing for Sports Surfaces 

For many years, skin injury testing for sports surfaces has relied primarily on friction measurements. However, research has shown that athlete–surface interaction is far more complex, involving impact, deceleration, sliding behaviour and temperature alongside visible skin damage.Our latest Field Notes article introduces SLIDE (Sports Labs Injury & Decelerator Evaluator), a biofidelic testing system developed to better represent real player interactions while integrating into existing durability testing. 

The article explains why this approach provides a more representative assessment of skin injury potential and how it can be used to evaluate surfaces throughout their service life. 

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The Hidden Physics That Shape Every Football’s Flight
The Hidden Physics That Shape Every Football’s Flight

Read how Sports Labs' in-house Balance Test Device quantifies the offset between a football's centre of mass and centre of volume to the millimetre.

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WORLD SQUASH: Evolution of Structured Certification
WORLD SQUASH: Evolution of Structured Certification

As squash expands globally and moves towards LA 2028, the World Squash Quality Programme introduces a new era of structured certification, focusing on safety, performance and consistency.

Developed with Sports Labs, the new flooring specification sets clear, internationally aligned standards while supporting innovation and long-term growth across the sport.

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FREE PILE RATIO: How to Monitor it
FREE PILE RATIO: How to Monitor it

In this Field Notes we bring attention to the ability of a field owner, facility manager or maintenance operative to apply a basic pile ratio over time to monitor performance to the point where recovery might not be achievable. We have used a live field case study as an example.

All fields will differ due to construction but change relative to ball roll can always be monitored

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Pitch Ready for the School Year?
Pitch Ready for the School Year?

This Field notes is relevant for facility managers looking for a clear checklist for the new school year, checking the pitch/s are safe and ready for children and users. Note this provides guidance, note not an exhaustive list, for checks to be made. You can also engage with us to support.

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Transparency in Floodlight Testing, Highlighting the FIFA Quality Programme
Transparency in Floodlight Testing, Highlighting the FIFA Quality Programme

This edition of Field Notes will delve into what floodlight inspection entails, why it's crucial, who benefits from it, and the comprehensive services Sports Labs offers in this domain.

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In-House Drainage Design Expertise
In-House Drainage Design Expertise

Within our Sports Labs consultancy team, Project Engineers Calum Hirst and Phil Martin utilise InfoDrainage, a leading software for advanced drainage design.

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Latest Advancements in Certified Artificial Turf
Latest Advancements in Certified Artificial Turf

Artificial turf technology is continuously evolving, and governing body certification ensures that these innovations meet the highest standards for performance and safety. Here are some of the most recent developments in certified artificial turf products.

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Goal Line Technology (GLT) FIFA Testing Manual Updates
Goal Line Technology (GLT) FIFA Testing Manual Updates

FIFA has published the updated Goal Line Technology (GLT) Testing Manual as of July 2024.

If you would like further detail, or have questions please contact us at info@sportslabs.co.uk

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FIFA Field Manual Changes 2024
FIFA Field Manual Changes 2024

The new FIFA manual has gone live April 2024. This Lite version is Field Product Specifc.

If you would like further detail, or have questions please contact us at info@sportslabs.co.uk

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FIFA Laboratory Manual Changes 2024
FIFA Laboratory Manual Changes 2024

The new FIFA manual has gone live April 2024. This Lite version is Laboratory Product Specifc.

If you would like further detail, or have questions please contact us at info@sportslabs.co.uk

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FIFA Manual Updates 2024
FIFA Manual Updates 2024

The new FIFA manual has gone live April 2024. We will summarise the key changes and information you may find extremely helpful over the forthcoming days, firstly with a general overview then a deeper dive into Product testing and one specific to Field testing.

If you would like further detail, or have questions please contact us at info@sportslabs.co.uk

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Sports Labs Hosts World Rugby’s Technical Meeting
Sports Labs Hosts World Rugby’s Technical Meeting

Recently, Sports Labs took the lead in hosting World Rugby’s Technical Meeting, providing Accredited Test Institutes and Preferred Turf Producers with a platform to discuss potential updates to Regulation 22, the Rugby Turf Performance Specification. A key proposal on the table is the adoption of a new test method designed to evaluate skin injury risk on playing surfaces.

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Hockey’s Move To Dry Turf Surfaces
Hockey’s Move To Dry Turf Surfaces

With water becoming an ever-scarcer resource that needs to be used responsibly the FIH recognised that today most approved hockey turfs are designed to use 1 l/m2 each time a field is watered – this equates to 6000 Litres per 10-minute cycle.
To move hockey onto a more sustainable footing the FIH announced their next steps;

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Sustainability and the Industry
Sustainability and the Industry

Legislation, environmental concerns, and sustainability are driving change, but more importantly stimulating innovation in the artificial turf sector. It is a fact that whilst we do need to embrace environmental concerns the industry has had options which are sustainable for many years.

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Glasgow Life: Sustainability Project
Glasgow Life: Sustainability Project

Sports Labs had the privilege of working with Glasgow Life where we advocated for recycling on 4 sites: Glasgow club Donald Dewar (pictured above), Glasgow Club Milton, Greenfield Football Centre and Toryglen Regional Centre.

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Waterless Hockey Pitches
Waterless Hockey Pitches

The FIH are on the search for the holy grail of playing surfaces - a waterless ‘water based’ pitch!

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UCD Thornfield Artificial Rugby Pitch
UCD Thornfield Artificial Rugby Pitch

UCD have just completed a new artificial rugby field on Campus at Thornfield. The full size pitch is part of an ambitious plan to enhance the sporting footprint of the Campus and make it a world class place study and play sport. Sports Labs was very proud to be a part of the team led by Donnachadh O'Brien.

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Yarn Wear: Let’s Keep this in Perspective
Yarn Wear: Let’s Keep this in Perspective

Have you ever walked on an artificial pitch and noticed tiny fragments of yarn sticking to your shoes? This phenomenon is known as yarn wear and occurs as the playing surface ages. Aging in plastic is normal and common but it can lead to materials like the yarns in an artificial pitch breaking into smaller pieces. But don't worry, we have good news!

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Field Notes: Can Artificial Turf Match the Performance of Natural Turf?
Field Notes: Can Artificial Turf Match the Performance of Natural Turf?

As the artificial turf market progresses its shift to more sustainable systems and organic infills become more widely used, it is imperative that the equipment used to measure the surface performance also develops to account for these new challenges.

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Field Notes: Automated Rotational Resistance
Field Notes: Automated Rotational Resistance

As the artificial turf market progresses its shift to more sustainable systems and organic infills become more widely used, it is imperative that the equipment used to measure the surface performance also develops to account for these new challenges.

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Artificial Turf and Fibre Wear: The need for a balanced view
Artificial Turf and Fibre Wear: The need for a balanced view

Artificial Turf and Fibre Wear

The Need for a Balanced View

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‘TestbedNordic’ An Infill Innovation Pilot– Field Notes
‘TestbedNordic’ An Infill Innovation Pilot– Field Notes
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Tokyo National Stadium: A Track Set for Records
Tokyo National Stadium: A Track Set for Records
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Top 10 Questions for FIFA Football Certification
Top 10 Questions for FIFA Football Certification

Here are the answers to the most common questions I receive regarding FIFA certification of Footballs.

1. How much will it cost? Maybe less than you thought, depending on the certification level you want to achieve. The lowest cost option is FIFA’s International Match Standard (IMS) with its administrative fee of 500CHF plus a lab testing fee that is competitively priced.

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Testing Athletic Fields in the United States Market
Testing Athletic Fields in the United States Market

There are many tests available to assess the shock attenuation of your playing surface. The most common currently used in the USA by far is the measurement of GMax utilizing an ASTM F355 missile. This device has not changed much since it was first used back in 1971. It is probably one of the main and often times the only methods of regulating fields currently used. =

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Getting Your Artificial Pitch Ready After Lockdown Ends
Getting Your Artificial Pitch Ready After Lockdown Ends

An artificial pitch needs to be regularly maintained to keep it in a safe and acceptable condition for use. Regular brushing and cleaning ensure the playing surface offers the best performance and safety for users. The current Covid-19 restrictions have meant the vast majority of facilities have been closed to users for many months. This could have implications when users are allowed…

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Recycling End-of-Life Artificial Turf Fields
Recycling End-of-Life Artificial Turf Fields

There is much discussion in artificial turf circles about recycling end-of-life fields. In a nutshell, it is both difficult and expensive because of a significant lack of processing plants available in the right locations - ones that can easily cope with the potential demand. Funding is not targeting recycling as a priority. Many have begun to address these issues in Europe where there are…

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