Sport is a unique, worldwide tradition that excites and unites people across the globe year in and year out. It's difficult to discern what makes sport the phenomenon it is, but there's no denying that these athletic pastimes play an important role in society. From the fervour of the Olympic Games to the sentimentality of a village cricket match, sport is a great source of happiness for both participants and spectators. While many people anxiously wait for their favourite sport's season to begin, advances in professional sports arenas and artificial pitches have allowed more sports to become all-weather traditions.
To begin, football is one of the most popular sports across the globe and you can find people playing it all year round. Though certain professional leagues may take a season off, the sport is played recreationally in every season. Though many footballers are willing to play in the rain and cold weather, it's often the condition of the pitches that holds them back. When a pitch freezes, it can be unsafe to play on. Similarly, when a pitch gets waterlogged, it not only makes for less-than-desirable playing conditions, but it is dangerous as well. Water-soaked grass is easily churned up by football boots, causing large chunks of turf to break away and leave gaping holes where they once were.
Similarly, rugby is a sport that doesn't let the elements get in the way (as evidenced by the common site of muddy uniforms). However, when the ground freezes or the turf gets waterlogged, the same safety issues occur as in football. Aside from safety hazards, these conditions can hinder how well teams play, as a soaking pitch can mean more knock-ons and incomplete passes.
Unlike football and rugby, the sport of cricket is quite seasonally-specific. Since the quality of a cricket pitch can greatly affect the way the ball bounces on the wicket, matches are usually called off after a night of rain. Though the sport thrives in warm nations, such as Sri Lanka, India and Australia, it has a large following in the UK and other less weather-fortunate countries as well. For people in these regions that want to keep playing cricket through the autumn and winter months, a traditional grass pitch simply won't suffice.
Fortunately, advances in artificial grass have allowed people to engage in these sports in what is traditionally considered the off-season. These synthetic pitches have come a long way from the fuzzy, turquoise-coloured artificial turfs of the 90s. Furthermore, more sports arenas with retractable roofs are popping up across the globe so that a match never has to be called off due to the rain. Not only is this ideal for the athletes themselves, but it's a major improvement for fans as well.
Peter Rose writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
