Football field constructionGuidelines and principles

Football in general

Typical issues with football pitches

Factors in construction planning

Determination of soil characteristics of both the topsoil and the underlying layers.

Assessments are needed to determine whether underlying stone and rock may be important factors influencing pitch design.

Contours of the site should be assessed to determine whether significant adjustment of surface levels will be required.

Assessment of a suitable outfall for drainage The presence of existing services on the site

needs to be identified (Electrical Line, water, drainage and etc).

Pitch layout in relation to surrounding features and correct alignment of the pitch is needed to reduce problems of low sun angles, particularly in the evening.

Expected levels of usage in terms of hours of use for matches and training sessions.

The potential budget that is available for pitch construction.

Timelines for construction or drainage work, determination of the length of the grass establishment period and the time before the facility is likely to be available for use.

Resources in terms of staff and equipment available to maintain the facility.

Construction method

Earthworks

Removal of unsuitable surfaces +/-50 mm is generally

acceptable. Based on site condition, more

soils may need to be cart off and disposed.

Construction method (contd)

Drainage (Basic)

Drainage are excavated to 600 mm deep and backfill with gravels/suitable materials

Sand is added above before suitable roortzone mix

Basic drainage

Construction method (contd)

Drainage (Type 2)

Supplementary silt drainage can improve performance of basic drainage

It intercepts and carry it to course well

It can be installed in Herring or Horizontal method

Pipe & silt drainage

Construction method (contd)

Drainage (Type 3)

Another different method of Rootzone being replaced with fine sand.

Can be used with bermudadgrass or carpet grass.

Sand & carpet method

Construction method (contd)

Drainage (Type 5)

Form a base layer of gravels or suitable dry aggregate

Often used with silt drainage or amelioration with sand

Soil over a drainage layer

Construction method (contd)

Drainage (Type 5)

This approach is used when good drainage is essential.

Can be useful during dry climates as water tends to be held at rootzone layer.

Medium over a drainage layer

Grass selection Grass selection is very dependent on the climate of the area and is

therefore treated in more detail in the sections covering individual climate areas

Warm-season grasses are adapted to tropical areas and examples include Cow grass (Axonopus compressus), Bermuda grass (Cynodonspecies), Zoysia species (mainly Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella).

Axonopus compressus Cynodon species Zoysia species

Climate conditions

General-standard pitches (Malaysia)

Regular and intense rainfall, effective drainage system is required General spacing between pipes are 4-5m ctc. Suitable drainage method is Type 5 (Medium over a drainage layer). Requires more engineered layers of sand & aggregate Can use seeding (sterilized) or turfing (sodding) Approximately time required by seeding 20 -30- weeks and turfing

(8-10 weeks) depending on gap of grasses.

General-standard pitches (Malaysia) contd

In dry weather, irrigation requirements may reach up to about 8mm per day (64 cubic metres for an 8000m pitch).

Suggested water supply method are portable rotary or oscillating sprinklers, travelling sprinklers and irrigation guns.

For higher-standard pitches, fully automated pop-up irrigation system or peripheral pop-up heads and mobile sprinklers for the central areas of the pitch is often the better option.

General-standard pitches (Malaysia) contd

Travelling sprinkler

Oscillating sprinkler Pop Up automatic sprinkler

Maintenance (Malaysia) - Mowing

Frequency of grass cutting shall depends on growth rate. General pitch is two(2) times a week and Standard/high-standard shall

be three(3) times a week. Cut heights are normally 25-35 mm for standard pitch and 20-30 mm

for high-standard pitch. Types of mower, (1) Cylinder mowers cut the grass using a rotating reel

of sharpened blades cutting against a fixed bottom blade; (2) rotary mowers use a rotating horizontal blade; and (3) flail mowers cut the grass through the vertical rotation of splayed blades.

Maintenance (Malaysia) Mowing (contd)

Manual mowerMechanical mower

Maintenance (Malaysia) Line Marking

Frequency depends on the usage of pitch. Line marking shall use non-toxic calcium carbonate and PPE

shall be used. Line marking width shall be btw 8-10 cm but not more than

12 cm. Lower usage requires remarking after two(2) or three(3)

games. Higher-standard pitch shall remarked every game.

Maintenance (Malaysia) Line Marking

Jet type line markerWheel-type line marker

Maintenance (Malaysia) aeration/spiking contd

Relieve compaction build up through play Help water penetration. Reduce organic accumulation on surface Reduce hardness of surface. Carried out two(2) to six(6) weeks intervals for shallow aeration (100

mm) Deep aeration (250mm or more) shall be done once (1) to three (3)

times a year.

Maintenance (Malaysia) aeration/spiking contd

Deep aeration with solid tinesHollow-core aeration

Maintenance (Malaysia) scarifying contd

Organic compound may be accumulated when good growth of grass. Affects drainage, firmness of surface and ball rebound. Approximately once (1) to three (3) times a year. Scarifying and aeration shall be done with a gap between 2 to 3

months to reduce damage on grass

Maintenance (Malaysia) scarifying contd

ScarifierCylinder mower with verticutting cassette

Maintenance (Malaysia) top dressing contd

Sand must only be used for top dressing. Sand can be incorporated with soil or organic materials Its to improver surface levels, dialute the build up of fine organic

matter and improve surface firmness. 40 80 tonne application at every two (2) to four (4) times annually.

Approximately 10 tonne per application. Sand applied have to be clean, balance in pH and fine sand only to be

used.

Maintenance (Malaysia) top dressing contd

Manual sand spreader Hybrid mechanical spreader

Maintenance (Malaysia) fertilizers contd

Sustain the growth and recovery of the grass, with the most important nutrients being nitrogen, phosphorus andpotassium.

More fertilizers will be needed on sandy soils and during the main growing season than during the cooler months of the year.

Sand based requires two (2) to four (4) interval when active and soil based requires four (4) to six (6) weeks interval.

Maintenance (Malaysia) fertilizers contd

Manual

Hybrid mechanical spreader

Conclusion

Drainage system must be done in accordance to standard Type of drainage selection must be appropriate to weather. Regular maintenance is the key to successful pitch. Cost of construction may be high but long run benefits is forseen. Signs of disturbance in the condition of pitch must be tackled with

immediately.

The end

Football field constructionFootball in generalTypical issues with football pitchesFactors in construction planningConstruction methodConstruction method (contd)Construction method (contd)Construction method (contd)Construction method (contd)Construction method (contd)Grass selectionClimate conditionsGeneral-standard pitches (Malaysia) General-standard pitches (Malaysia) contdGeneral-standard pitches (Malaysia) contdMaintenance (Malaysia) - MowingMaintenance (Malaysia) Mowing (contd)Maintenance (Malaysia) Line Marking Maintenance (Malaysia) Line Marking Maintenance (Malaysia) aeration/spiking contdMaintenance (Malaysia) aeration/spiking contdMaintenance (Malaysia) scarifying contdMaintenance (Malaysia) scarifying contdMaintenance (Malaysia) top dressing contdMaintenance (Malaysia) top dressing contdMaintenance (Malaysia) fertilizers contdMaintenance (Malaysia) fertilizers contdConclusionThe end