The soccer turf in the stadium has to withstand a little more than the normal turf in the garden. We explain which aspects are important in the Bundesliga.
The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in Europe. Bayern demonstrated this impressively last season with the treble. The Bundesliga is not only at the top in terms of football, but above all in terms of infrastructure. This applies to both the stadiums and the training conditions. Of course, this also includes a well-kept lawn. A little weeding or liming the lawn is not enough. We show how much science and care goes into a Bundesliga turf.
That's why the lawn is so important
The role played by the turf in football should not be underestimated. It is not uncommon for teams to complain about the pitch after a game. Words like "field" or "meadow" can also be used. In fact, a turf in top condition is indispensable, especially for technically experienced teams with good passes. The ball simply rolls much better on an evenly cut, level lawn. For this reason, the greenkeeper has become indispensable in professional football today.
The greenkeeper is so important
Uli Hoeneß once said: "As long as I and Kalle Rummenigge have something to say at FC Bayern, Lothar Matthäus will not even be greenkeeper in the new stadium." - this should condemn the former national player - but the role of the greenkeeper should by no means be underestimated. Betway Sportwetten has compiled how much care and science goes into a Bundesliga pitch. The green must be mowed three to four times a week as it should not be longer than 3.5 cm. In addition, the lawns in Dortmund and Wolfsburg, among others, are illuminated with a special lawn solarium. Of course, optimal irrigation must not be neglected - especially in the summer months. Greenkeeper in the Bundesliga is definitely a full-time job.
Hybrid lawns - the green of the future?
Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg got the best grades at the annual award for the best pitches in the Bundesliga, the Pitch of the Yearobtain. Both the Borussia and the wolves rely on a so-called hybrid turf. This form of turf is currently the non-plus-ultra in football, according to André Kastigen, greenkeeper at a renowned sports field builder:
"A hybrid turf is the best thing you can build. It can be played in any weather, it is always smooth, level and true to the ball. That makes the game incredibly fast."
The special thing about this lawn is the composition of the subsoil and the irrigation system. The lawn surface consists of 25-28 mm long natural blades of grass, which are reinforced with approx. 15 mm long synthetic fibres. This gives the lawn more stability, even in adverse weather conditions.
The approx. 12 cm thick turf-bearing layer is interspersed with synthetic fibers up to 18 cm deep and offers the turf optimal growth conditions. Underneath is a drain layer, which protects the approx. 23 cm deep heating loops. After all, turf heating is now standard in the Bundesliga. The structure of the hybrid turf is completed by the lowest insulating layer.
The construction of a hybrid turf shows how much research and development goes into the perfect turf. The greenkeepers give their all so that the ball magicians can continue to play under the best conditions - you can still learn something for the home turf.