Many turf fields, including the one at the brand new Soccer Genius Centre right here in Calgary, use crumb rubber in their turf for a number of reasons. A lot of players would have noticed these small pebbles of rubber making their way into their shoes and socks, but might not have ever known why they are there.
Crumb rubber forms an impact absorbing, stabilizing base that protects the synthetic blades of grass from regular wear and tear. The crumbs also allow each blade to remain upright and maintain a natural and healthy appearance. In terms of direct benefits to players, this means that the ball will not bounce in strange directions, and the turf will always be consistent. No matter how many times the turf is played on, if it has a sufficient level of crumb rubber in it, it will play like it’s brand new.
Next time you’re playing Turf Soccer or Futsal in our leagues, be sure to take your time to appreciate the rubber beneath your feet from 20,000-40,000 tires that have been re-purposed and kept out of landfills!
Have fun out there.
