This high-quality Rhino=Turf sports surface, installed by Turftech, replaced the existing grass netball and hockey field, providing the school with a space-saving facility that caters to hockey, netball and tennis practice sessions. It can also be used as a playing area for the children during break time.
“Laerskool Wierdapark wanted to move their sports offerings to the next level by implementing the latest facility for the learners,” explained Phillip Prinsloo, Turftech Sales Manager. “This multi-sports surface maximises on the available space, which is at a premium at most strong sporting schools. Through this installation, the school will be able to host value-driven tournaments, as well as better prepare the learners in various sporting codes, setting them up for more opportunities in high school. The exposure to one of the best-quality playing surfaces at such a young age is a big advantage for youngsters.”
The
Rhino-Turf MT15 synthetic multi-sports surface is an improvement on the
existing fields which struggled under the regular foot traffic. Unlike
traditional hard courts, the Turftech multi-sportsfacility does not
have to be resurfaced every two to three years, with the new synthetic surface
only needing upgrading every 8 to 10 years. Learners are now able to practice
for much longer hours and, for hockey specifically, there is more
consistent ball roll and play, speeding up the game.
“The synthetic turf will allow youngsters to play long hours on the field, whether it rained or not,” continued Prinsloo. “If maintained, the surface will offer the school many years of hassle-free sports, without the need for cutting or use of fertiliser. There is also the massive advantage of not having to water the surface, a major cost-saving exercise in a water-scarce country.”
Alongside the multi-sports surface, Turftech installed a high-end, customised fencing system that contributes to player and spectator safety, while also creating a proper drainage system to make sure water drains off the pitch as quickly as possible.
Louis Dekker, principal of Laerskool Wierdapark, said the introduction of the multi-sports surface at the start of the year had been exceptionally well-received: “The learners and staff love the area, and parents have been particularly impressed with the professional look it creates. All the kids wanted to play on the surface during their break!”
He said the school was benefitting from additional cost-savings as they don’t have to rent other astro-turfs for practice sessions.
“It is such an advantage having a quality playing surface that can be used in all weather,” Dekker added. “And having quite a limited space meant that we needed something that could accommodate many sporting codes. We want to offer our children the best possible product, and Turftech’s installation is certainly that!”
