Multi-use games areas uncomprimised

Multi-use games areas (MUGAs) are often seen as something of a compromise. Yet, whether it’s due to limited space, restricted budgets or a demand for many different sports to be available in one single facility, MUGAs are often about consolidation of resources, not concession of quality.
   
The Sports and Play Association (SAPCA) explains why its Code of Practice is one way schools and facility owners can address key issues that need to be considered when contemplating the installation of a multi-use games area, including how to reduce long-term spending on a facility and how to ensure an installation is delivered to exacting specifications.
   
Many charged with choosing a playing surface suitable for a variety of sports opt for a multi-use games area. Whilst a good facility can offer great versatility, the vast range of surface types can make the decision a confusing one, and, at the end of the day, a multi-use games area will always be a compromise (in the technical sense) as no single playing surface is perfect for all sports. However, that isn’t to say they can’t offer a great all-round approach.

Updated Construction Advice
Tony Hession, Project Manager at SAPCA, explains why the 2015 MUGA Code of Practice is an essential aid to potential facility owners. He said: “Existing guidelines concentrate on performance requirements of individual sports. They don’t address and don’t detail the important considerations of site investigation, constructional design requirements and the technical information that is vital to a successful installation.
   
“Documents such as Sport England’s Design Notes and the British and European Performance Standards guidelines do offer important performance and safety advice, but don’t really deal with addressing core construction issues that help a client get an accurate costing at the design and funding feasibility stage.
   
“The ‘Design Specification and Construction of Multi-use Games Areas (MUGAs) including Multi-sport Synthetic Turf Pitches (STPs)’ was written by Sport England in collaboration with SAPCA over a decade ago.

Since then, the number of additional multi-use E  games area surfaces available, including 3G synthetic turf, has grown enormously – as such, the Code of Practice needed not only an update but to broaden the knowledge base, whilst at the same time narrowing the focus on quality construction guidelines. In our view, this update is absolutely essential to ensure that multi-use games area surfaces are properly installed.”

Nine Surface Options, One Area
It’s important to remember that there are nine main types of surfacing for multi‑use games areas, each of which have different benefits, ranging from grip, to shock absorption, to ball rebound.
   
From standard macadam through to polymeric surfacing and synthetic turf, each type of surface for a multi-use games area holds a distinct strength suited to a particular sport. For example, standard grip macadam is ideal for tennis whereas sand‑dressed synthetic turf (with shockpad) is ideally suited to sports such as hockey.

Clear Quality Guidelines
Hession added: “With the latest Code of Practice, SAPCA establishes clear construction quality guidelines that not only clarify the importance of proper design, build standards and installation issues, but ensure that the surface chosen meets the needs of the client’s key requirements and that the expectations of playing performance are realistic.
   
“SAPCA members all pledge to maintain the highest of quality standards – by providing written advice and expert guidelines SAPCA is helping the industry create even better sports and play facilities nationwide.”

Design and Project Management
The Multi-use Games Area Code of Practice also details useful design guidelines and project management considerations. This includes such as design considerations, site considerations and location, local infrastructure, as well as size, orientation and gradients.
   
Additionally, other project management considerations involve drainage, sub‑bases, edge kerbs, macadam, polymeric and synthetic grass surface options, playing lines and quality control.
   
SAPCA is the recognised trade association for the sports and play construction industry in the UK. Its 240 members are all vetted and approved by the Association every year to ensure that industry standards are being continually raised. Any education facility considering creating, developing or maintaining a sports facility should make SAPCA its first port of call.

MUGA with a view
Stepney Green Maths, Computing and Science College in London received a multi‑million pound investment via the Building Schools for the Future programme, which has included a rooftop multi-use games area and artificial cricket wicket from sports surface manufacturer Playrite.
   
Increasing numbers of sites, especially educational facilities are seeking to use every inch of space available to offer a range of different facilities to their users. There has been a definite increase over the last few years in the trend for rooftop games areas. Firstly choosing a multi-use games area for your facility means that you can provide year round usage and the option to offer a wider range of sports and extracurricular activities, secondly with it being on the roof of the building in an otherwise unusable space you are utilising the building to the best of its capacity.
   
Stepney Green’s multi-use games area was constructed out of Playrite’s Matchplay 2, an excellent multi-sport surface that offers a more natural feel compared to other artificial products. Being sand dressed, after installation the performance characteristics are evident from day one and play can commence almost immediately. It offers a high performance surface, which has the durability to take a range of different sports. It is especially good for netball and tennis. The built in cushion layer makes for medium-paced play and is easy on players’ leg joints. Inlaid lines can be permanently added in white, yellow, red and blue. High-level porosity and the low maintenance requirements all add value.
   
Stepney Green School also had an artificial cricket wicket installed alongside their multi-use games area.

Much lower in maintenance than a grass wicket, able to endure more usage and consistent in the playing characteristics an artificial cricket wicket is a dream of a surface, especially for those who are new or maybe less experienced in the game.

Stepney Green School are now able to enjoy a needle punch cricket wicket with an impact-absorbing layer underneath to temper ball bounce.

Further information
www.sapca.org.uk