Outdoor Sporting Facilities for the Community

There was a time when sports outdoors meant running off to the nearest playing field with friends for a game of footie, or to the local cricket club for matches with neighbouring clubs in the long and lazy summer months. 

Sadly, over the years many playing fields have been swallowed up by the need for housing. 
It is now a government priority to encourage and increase participation in sport by providing both indoor and outdoor sports facilities that are accessible to more and more people.  Local authorities, as well as schools can apply for funding to add to or upgrade their sports facilities. 
And what an amazing range of sports equipment and facilities is there to choose from.

With the aim to providing an all-weather facility for year round use, popular choices for outdoor sports surfaces include synthetic grass, bitumen macadam and polymeric surfaces.  Such surfaces are particularly suited for Multi Use Games Areas where a variety of sports such as tennis, netball, basketball, 5-a-side football, and hockey etc can be played.  Artificial or synthetic surfaces are available in a choice of colours and allow court markings to be made in different colours for different sports on the same pitch.  MUGAs also require a protective fencing as well as floodlights so that they can be used in poor light conditions. 

Of all the outdoor sports, hockey in particular, is suited to the use of synthetic grass.  As a result the game has changed and become faster.  Synthetic hockey pitches have traditionally been water based with its own irrigation system.  However latest products include sand dressed synthetic pitches, which are more eco-friendly.

‘Third generation’ synthetic grass has been developed to the exacting standards of the Football Association and has been found to be safe and suitable for sports such as football and rugby at training as well as championship levels.  

Similarly, complete synthetic cricket pitches are available for practice or training purposes that closely resemble the playing characteristics of natural turf. These may be of the permanent kind, that are resistant to damage by the elements, or the roll-up, roll out variety that may also be used indoors.  Such wickets are popular with cricket clubs, schools and colleges, allowing greater use with minimum of maintenance.

Many British suppliers provide a range of sports equipment too, such as fixed or movable tennis posts and nets, basketball and netball goals, hockey goals, as well the protective netting and floodlights.  Care should be taken to choose equipment and materials that conform to British Standards.