5g grass is the latest innovation in synthetic sports surfaces and is used every night by thousands of players for five a side leagues, amateur matches and training. The sand and rubber crumb infill gives the surface great grip for the players and a better ball roll. It can also be used for other sports like rugby and hockey but is mainly seen in the football industry.
It’s long pile and looks very similar to 5g grass with a mixture of black rubber pellets (or ‘rubber crumb’) spread all over the surface for performance and comfort. Unlike grass which can be worn, patchy, muddy and uneven, 3G pitches provide a consistent playing surface which is safe for the players and means games are rarely cancelled due to weather conditions.
The FA, RFU and FIFA all recognise 3G as a high quality, safe, year round playing surface that requires little maintenance. There are many benefits of a 3G pitch, including;
There are no known health risks associated with a 3G football surface and it is not considered ‘astroturf’, although it is sometimes still referred to as such. The only known hazards associated with a 3G pitch are those that could arise from any type of artificial surface, such as injuries resulting from mis-kicks and collisions with other players.
However, if you are concerned about any possible dangers from playing on a 3G pitch, there are plenty of things you can do to be extra vigilant. This includes wearing suitable footwear and checking that any footwear has been designed to be used on an artificial surface.
There have been reports of some artificial surfaces that are not infilled and are therefore not safe for football, so it is vital to ensure your artificial turf is backed up with an official certificate of compliance from the supplier before you play.
This would be a good idea even if you are not concerned about the potential safety of the synthetic surface, to ensure that it is of an appropriate standard. The best way to do this is by contacting the supplier of your pitch for further information and ensuring that they have an up to date certificate of compliance with the relevant sport’s governing body.
If you are considering installing a 3G pitch, it is important to make sure that the surface has been accredited by a recognised sport’s governing body. There are no ‘4G’ or ‘5G’ pitches, only 3G.
As with any new technology, there are some concerns about the effects of 5G on wildlife and the environment. For example, some of the electromagnetic frequencies used by 5G can interfere with the migratory systems and circadian rhythms of birds, disrupting breeding, nesting and foraging habits.
Additionally, there are concerns that the mass replacement of older mobile devices with 5G compatible ones will result in huge amounts of e-waste being discarded, which will have an impact on the world’s ecosystems. However, there are also a number of ways that 5G can help the environment, including;