Getting Your Artificial Pitch Ready After Lockdown Ends

With COVID-19 restrictions set to continue it looks like the sports that use artificial pitches are going to have to wait a lot longer before they can get access to play their chosen sport.

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 back onto the pitch to commence games. Surely, the pitch will be fine for use, I hear you say. But the lack of use may have resulted in a buildup of vegetation, animal activity, other contamination to the surface - or worse still -vandalism. This could mean that, as a minimum, a deep brush will be required. But worse still, an intensive clean could be needed. These types of maintenance activities could be carried out in-house or devolved to a third-party specialist maintenance company. But one thing is certain - you must check the playing surface prior to allowing users back in the facility. A simple check-list approach will flag up most potential issues which need to be addressed. Here are some examples of the questions you will need to address.

• Is the infill uneven and pile flat?

• Is there animal activity on the playing surface such as birds or foxes, etc?

• Is the infill low in the turf?

• Are the goals are broken?

• Did someone burn the turf in the goalmouth?

Sports Labs have a simple check list for operators to download, one which covers most eventualities and uses a Red-Amber-Green (RAG) rating approach to flag intervention in a sensible, prioritised fashion. This tool will allow you to make a decision on what type of maintenance activity you need to carry out.

Get ready for opening
There are many reasons why you should start getting ready now for ease of restrictions. Don’t leave it until the week before you need the pitch. Start planning. If you need to effect repairs, order equipment, or hire an outside agency to perform the maintenance, expect the capacity will be limited in the network. Leaving work to last minute risks getting left at the back of the queue. If you perform your own maintenance, then check the plant and brushes you have are up to the job? If you need to order chemicals, then check what is suitable for application on your artificial pitch because not all are compatible.

What Do You Need To Do Right Now?

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST
NOTE: This check list may indicate problems that would require the following interventions (listed below).

Light brushing
Drag Brushing of a synthetic pitch is the main maintenance operation for most artificial pitches. 3G surfaces should be brushed and decompacted frequently, aligned to the use of the pitch. Where compaction has been identified, then the use of tines can be considered to loosen infill and return the infill to the correct levels. All other artificial pitch surfaces should be, as a minimum, brushed. As the facility has been closed for some time, the priority here is to clean the surface and get it ready for play.

Vegetation
The lockdown may have resulted in an increase in the formation of moss, weed and algae growth. As we were in lockdown during spring, a great deal of blooms, leaf covers, and young leaves have been shedding and adding to the level of contamination. Manual removal of this type of contamination is probably necessary to be effective, with some localised weed suppression measures added, like the application of chemicals. At this stage there may need to be a number of visits made to get the vegetation under control. In extreme circumstances, the advice of a specialist should be sought.

Deep brushing
Your facility may require deep brushing and intensive maintenance with specialist equipment. In this case we recommend you engage a specialist company to carry out this service for you.

Topping up
Pitches which have not been used for a long period of time can appear to be lacking infill. A simple check on the level of infill can be done to determine free pile height against manufacturers recommendations. If you do not know how to do this, please check with a specialist. Topping up infill is not something we recommend doing without the assistance of a specialist, as incorrectly applied infill can bury the pile and affect the play and look of your playing surface. Correct infill levels protect your asset and it is an important aspect of maintenance.

Cleaning
Removing unwanted contamination from birds and animals is a priority as these could increase the risk of infections occurring from player/surface interface, especially if associated with skin injuries. Once cleaned, it is recommended that a disinfectant is applied to the area of the entire pitch.

Disinfecting
Following cleaning and removal of droppings in particular, then an application of disinfectant should be used. Where there are specific concerns relating to the transmission of known micro-organisms including E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, MRSA, Hepatitis B/C and Influenza A, there are a number of companies supplying appropriate disinfectant to deal with these types of pathogens. Specialist assistance should be sought as needed.

Vandalism/repairs
Whilst we have been on lockdown it does not mean that vandalism is not possible. The main issues are cuts and burns in the turf, goal structure damage and damage to fencing. Exceptionally, vehicles could have been brought onto the playing surface. Clearly essential repairs may need to be carried out purely from a safety standpoint. All issues with the playing surface should be referred back through your supplier as there may be warranty implications if you do not.

Warranties

It is very unlikely that a period of inactivity on your 3G pitch will result in an invalid warranty. We have checked with a number of manufacturers and the answer we have received is that lack of use will not result in a cancellation of your warranty. You need to check this with you supplier, however. Another important check is when you apply disinfectant to your pitch. You must clear this with your supplier as some chemicals can damage fibers and/or the backing of your turf.

Covid-19

Disinfecting
There are disinfectants which are 100% effective against coronavirus. Cleaning and disinfecting to remove pathogens is a recommended strategy for all facilities to reduce risk and build public confidence.

Testing effectiveness of disinfecting
It is possible to test for the effectiveness of cleaning and the disinfecting process. For further information contact Sports Labs on corona@sportslabs.co.uk.

Additional Information

Sport England - https://www.sportengland.org/
SAPCA - https://sapca.org.uk/
The International Hockey Federation - http://www.fih.ch/