At River Region Sports Fields, we prioritize athlete safety when constructing the perfect playing field. We understand turf can have safety concerns, which is why we offer field concussion testing to our customers. Field concussion testing ensures both synthetic and natural turf is not a hazard for your players. In this article, we discuss the ins and outs of our field concussion testing service and how it can benefit your sports field.
What Is Field Concussion Testing?
Our team strives to produce quality sports fields and protect each player who steps foot on the turf. It is inevitable to prevent athletes from coming in contact with the turf from time to time. Synthetic and natural turf can raise injury and safety questions for some, which is why River Region proudly offers sports field concussion testing. Field concussion testing identifies the impact attenuation from a collision, which is also known as GMAX or impact testing.
GMAX is a unit of measurement that identifies the hardness of a surface. The higher the GMAX of a surface, the harder it is. GMAX testing is important for sports fields, because it measures the turf’s ability to absorb the energy from an impact. As players fall to the ground, energy is absorbed by the playing surface or the player. The lower the GMAX value, the more energy absorbed by the turf rather than the player. If the GMAX value is high, it indicates energy is returned to the player and can result in an injury. It is important to have a low GMAX value for the athlete’s safety.
When To Test A Field
We recommend testing your field at least once a year to best protect athletes. The best time to perform GMAX testing is before the field’s busy season, such as the summer before football season. However if the sports field stays busy, the best time to test the field is in the fall to prepare for winter conditions.
Benefits Of GMAX Testing
While safety is the most important factor of a sports field, GMAX testing can also help with maintenance needs, replacement timelines, and industry guideline protocols.
Maintenance needs: GMAX testing can help identify specific maintenance needs and recommendations to ensure the sports field is in top-tier working condition.
Replacement Timeline: If a sports field has a high GMAX value, it is time to take action on the next steps. GMAX testing can help plan for when a field needs to be replaced in order to protect players who utilize the field.
Industry Guideline Protocols: At River Region, we ensure each sports field constructed goes above and beyond the required protocols. GMAX testing every year ensures all field guidelines are met and confirms the safety of the sports field.
Understanding the impact attenuation from a collision can help prevent sports field injuries. We can help protect your field and players who step foot on the turf with our Field Concussion Testing services. Visit our website to request a consultation!