FloodlightingIn order to obtain the full benefits from theincreased capacity of SGPs <strong>and</strong> Multi-usegames areas, floodlighting for evening <strong>and</strong> winterplay is essential. Six or eight columns are usuallyspecified for a full-size pitch <strong>and</strong> these should notencroach into the safety run-off areas. The levelof luminance will depend on the st<strong>and</strong>ard of play.200-250 Lux should be suitable for most schoolsalthough 300-350 Lux would be better forhockey matches. Ideally the lighting systemshould be capable of providing different levelsof illumination depending on the requirementsof the pitch users.Routine maintenanceThe life expectancy of artificial grass sportsfacilities can be prolonged by proper routinemaintenance <strong>and</strong> periodic rejuvenation <strong>and</strong>refurbishment works. If properly maintained, athird generation carpet should last for aroundseven years before needing to be replaced. Allother carpet types should last for around tenyears before replacement is required.The last part of this section outlines maintenanceprogrammes for the different types of facilityidentified in this guidance. It is important thatmaintenance is properly carried out if the facilitiesare to be kept in good condition for their wholelife. Many site managers have the misconceptionthat SGPs are maintenance free – but they arenot. Failure to maintain any surface properly cangreatly shorten its life <strong>and</strong> result in the need formore frequent capital reinvestment.Changing <strong>and</strong> ancillary facilitiesChanging facilities for school playing fields willusually be a part of the physical education block<strong>and</strong> should be designed specifically for outdooractivities. Those serving an SGP can also serveindoor spaces but, due to the likelihood ofspreading mud <strong>and</strong> dirt to the indoor spaces,those serving grass pitches should not. With theincreased emphasis on community use of schoolfacilities, changing accommodation should besuitable for use by pupils <strong>and</strong> adults <strong>and</strong> shouldhave clothes storage <strong>and</strong> security provisionswhich reflect these needs.Two storage areas will be required to serviceoutdoor pitches <strong>and</strong> courts. One area will berequired for the storage of nets, posts, athleticsequipment etc <strong>and</strong> possibly grounds maintenanceequipment, although this may be brought to thesite by the grounds maintenance operatives.The second area required is for the storage ofequipment used in outdoor games <strong>and</strong> to whichpupils might need to have access. The gamesequipment store should have a workbench forbasic maintenance <strong>and</strong> be sufficient in size toallow the wide range of equipment needed tosupport the curriculum to be stored out of season.More detailed advice on changingaccommodation is provided in sportscotl<strong>and</strong>’s‘Secondary <strong>School</strong> Sports Facilities: <strong>Design</strong>ingfor <strong>School</strong> <strong>and</strong> Community Use’, available todownload from www.sportscotl<strong>and</strong>.org.ukNatural grass pitchessportscotl<strong>and</strong>’s National Audit of Scotl<strong>and</strong>’sSports Facilities identified five grades of naturalgrass pitch. The Grade 3 model was identified assuitable for school use <strong>and</strong> as the base st<strong>and</strong>ardto which most local authority, further education<strong>and</strong> club pitches should be constructed. It isessential that an appropriate maintenance regimeis put in place ensuring that such a pitch maintainsits playing quality <strong>and</strong> capacity. At present, alarge majority of school pitches do not meet thisquality threshold.Grade 3 pitches are deemed to have beenconstructed with a well structured s<strong>and</strong>y loamtopsoil over an uncompacted subsoil <strong>and</strong> havean efficient piped drainage system at no greaterthan eight metre centres with a clean gravelbackfill into which a system of s<strong>and</strong>/gravel slitsconnects from the surface. The topsoil can beamended by ameliorating the top 50mm or sowith an approved medium grade s<strong>and</strong>. Howeverit should be noted that not all top soils aresuitable for such amelioration as the combinationof materials can sometimes lead to the creationof an impermeable surface. Site managersundertaking new constructions or reconstructionsshould prepare a full design specification. Thisshould take into account all of the variables whichmight exist on a site, including soil type <strong>and</strong> theappropriateness <strong>and</strong> need for amelioration.Grade 3 pitches generally perform satisfactorilyas long as the slits remain surface connected.For this reason, s<strong>and</strong> topdressing is importantin keeping the integrity of the slits <strong>and</strong> the surfaceintact <strong>and</strong> needs to be carried out as part ofplanned periodic maintenance. While theperformance st<strong>and</strong>ards of a Grade 3 pitch arelikely to be acceptable for longer if maintenanceis sufficiently intensive, problems associated withloss of grass cover <strong>and</strong> loss of levels, particularlyin goal mouths, can still occur. Such problemsare caused by overplay <strong>and</strong> inadequate remedialmaintenance <strong>and</strong> it is imperative that renovationworks are carried out periodically <strong>and</strong> asrequired. For those schools without access toan SGP, grass hockey pitches must be wellconstructed<strong>and</strong> well-maintained, with grassideally cut to 15mm.It should be noted that a higher specification ofconstruction or drainage may be needed for siteswhich have poor drainage characteristics orwhere particularly high st<strong>and</strong>ard or intensive useis anticipated.Multi-use games areasMulti-use games areas (MUGAs) are small sizedareas used primarily for playing <strong>and</strong> practicingsport. They will normally be enclosed with a ballstop fence <strong>and</strong> ball rebound wall. <strong>Playing</strong>surfaces might be tar macadam, porousconcrete, polymeric or artificial grass. MUGAscan provide a cost effective resource for schools<strong>and</strong> have a wide range of sporting uses.However, it is this range of use which requiresfacilities to be multi-purpose <strong>and</strong> this in turnleads to a need for compromise, particularly interms of dimensions <strong>and</strong> the playingcharacteristics of the surface.<strong>School</strong> <strong>Playing</strong> <strong>Fields</strong> 44 <strong>School</strong> <strong>Playing</strong> <strong>Fields</strong> 45
Five different types of facility can be identified:Type 1Open textured porous macadam areas used forball rebound sports where tennis is the priority<strong>and</strong> sports such as mini-tennis, netball <strong>and</strong>basketball are secondary users.Type 2Open textured porous macadam areas used forball rebound sports where netball is the priority<strong>and</strong> sports such as tennis, mini-tennis <strong>and</strong>basketball are secondary users.Type 3Polymeric surfaced areas used for ball reboundsports where netball is the priority <strong>and</strong> sportssuch as tennis, mini-tennis <strong>and</strong> basketball aresecondary users.Type 4Polymeric surfaced areas used for five-a-sidefootball, basketball <strong>and</strong> general sports <strong>and</strong>recreational training <strong>and</strong> play. Due to their greatershock absorbency <strong>and</strong> lower surface frictionthese areas are not recommended for tennisor netball.Type 5Synthetic turf areas are used for sports suchas modified hockey <strong>and</strong> five-a-side football.Figure 13 gives further guidance on the suitabilityof the range of surface types for different sports.Figure 13: Multi-use games areas (MUGAs) – suitability of surface types for different sports*.Sports Surface/ 5-a-side Tennis Mini Netball Basketball Modified Rugby Athletics FootballMUGA Type Football Tennis Hockey Training Training TrainingMacadam(Type 1) 4 1 1 2 1 4 4 4 4Macadam(Type 2) 4 2 2 1 2 4 4 4 4Polymeric(Type 3) 3 2 2 1 2 3 4 3 3Polymeric(Type 4) 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 1 2S<strong>and</strong> filled 1 4 4 4 4 1 2 3 1synthetic turf(excluding(Type 5a)spikes)S<strong>and</strong> dressed 2 3 3 4 3 1 3 3 2synthetic turf(excluding(Type 5b)spikes)Needle-punch 2 3 3 4 3 2 3 3 2synthetic turf(excluding(Type 5c)spikes)Key 1 = Preferred surface2 = Suitable surface3 = Possible surface though less suitable4 = Unsuitable surfaceThe table identifies the general suitability of the main types of playing surface for a range of sports,although this will also depend on the st<strong>and</strong>ard of play that is intended. Please note that thesedescriptions are provided as a general guide only <strong>and</strong> are not necessarily indicative of the viewsor requirements of individual national governing bodies of sport.Further guidance on each surface type is given overleaf <strong>and</strong> in the source document referenced below.*Source: A Guide to the <strong>Design</strong>, Specification <strong>and</strong> Construction of multi-use games areas (MUGAs) including Multi-SportSynthetic Turf Pitches (STPs). Sport Engl<strong>and</strong> & SAPCA.<strong>School</strong> <strong>Playing</strong> <strong>Fields</strong> 46<strong>School</strong> <strong>Playing</strong> <strong>Fields</strong> 47
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