Football fields with artificial turf have turned into a center of attention in sports, with some critics arguing about their reliability and safety as compared to the natural grass. However, it warrants the assessment of these concerns with the factual data that artificial turf is put through with probably more rigorous tests than any other sports surface as conducted by FIFA. First of all, at Herba Grass, we take pride in manufacturing the finest artificial grass in the market and as such, we are convinced that most of these apprehensions arise from mere misperceptions and misinformation. In this article, we aim to clarify the benefits of artificial grass and the rigorous standards it meets to ensure a safe and enjoyable playing experience.

Artificial turf: a brief history
It has revolutionized the market of recreational and sports surfaces since its first manufacturing in the 1960s. In the past, synthetic turf had numerous negative reviews because of their surface hardness and abrasiveness which contributed to high athlete ground reaction forces and their injuries. Technological development in the recent past has led to enhanced production and design of artificial grass, and as such, is considerably effective and even better than natural grass.
Modern synthetic turf has been designed to look, feel, and play like natural grass while having numerous additional benefits as compared to natural grass including its durability, non-requiring maintenance, and providing a convenient playing surface inconvenience. It does not require being water thus it is more environmentally friendly or friendly to water in the sense that it saves water. Contemporary artificial turf systems are not negligible in developed players’ health hazards but through shock pads, freshly developed infill (or even no infill), and enhanced drainage systems.
Another important factor that affects the cost of artificial grass is the size of the area to be covered. The larger the area, the more artificial grass will be required, and the higher the cost will be. For example, a small residential lawn may cost $3,000-5,000 to install, while a large commercial sports field may cost $50,000-100,000.

FIFA’s Stringent Test Procedures and Standards
FIFA, the international body for football associations has given one of the most vigorous stamps of approval to artificial grass. The FIFA has put quality conditions on Artificial turf by setting up the Quality Programme for Football Turf. This program makes certain that artificial grass surfaces meet all the relevant standards of high performance, safety as well as durability.
FIFA has very strict measurements in its beta testing methods. They involve assessments of ball behavior to include roll, bounce, and rebound among others which are sensitive factors that dictate the credibility of the game. Also, FIFA checks the player’s interaction with the surface through the shock absorption which is just beneath the artificial grass layer, and the vertical deformation and the rotational resistance which are also measures in decreasing the chance of injury.
In addition, FIFA’s tests check whether the artificial grass can remain as durable and long-lasting as it is hypothesized to be when exposed to constant usage. Those surfaces that pass all these rigors get FIFA certification hence should be comforting to players, coaches, and training facility managers.

The Environmental and Practical Benefits
In addition to the proportions of performance and safety artificial grass has many other advantages linked to the environment and practice of athletic fields. First, artificial grass needs less water compared to natural grass, and this makes artificial grass very environmentally friendly, particularly in parts of the world that experience water rationing. This also helps to do away with the use of dangerous pesticides and fertilizer, hence the reduced effect on the environment in protecting the sports fields.
From a pragmatic perspective, artificial turf offers people equal ground on which to play at any one time of the year and not be affected by weather conditions. This reliability reduces cases of cancellation of games or rescheduling due to poor field conditions, which is a plus for sports organizations and teams. Thirdly, artificial grass can be ‘used and abused’ for a long period since it does not require replacement after periods of intense usage with minimal cost of repairs.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that artificial grass is a safe, dependable, and environmentally friendly substitute for natural grass which does not require improvements in the technology for a significant period and has already been tested by the most reputable organizations including FIFA. They have equally complied with all the essential ‘feel’ requirements such as ball bounce, roll and rebound to keep the game as natural and smooth as possible. Moreover, shore impact, shock absorption, rotational resistance, and player-accommodating surface have been investigated and proven to meet or surpass rules and regulations.
Today there are synthetic turf systems that are safe for the players and meet all the necessary quality requirements for the playing field. Being an organization that specializes in manufacturing artificial grass of excellent quality, we support the prospects of our products and the specific measures that our grass samples go through. We are confident that if more people become enlightened as to the usefulness of artificial grass, there will equally be more acceptance of its importance in the coming of this so critical technology in the world of sports.