At Verde, we’ve worked with a wide variety of local schools across the South West. From primary to boarding, we recognise that each project has different requirements, space, and resources, meaning decisions have to be made when opting for a specific artificial surface. – because we know sport matters.
Which one should you choose to benefit your community?
Read more to find out.
Our Choice – A Sand-Dressed MUGA (Multi-Use-Games-Area)
What Are They?
They usually consist of a hard court, surrounded by metal fencing to keep the ball in the area.
Sand-dressed surfaces have a shorter and denser pile as a result of dressing the surface with sand rather than filling it. They can be coated with different colours, both for aesthetic reasons and to place markings for the game. Equipment such as football goals, netball hoops, and tennis nets can be taken in and out of the enclosure depending on the sport chosen.
The Benefits – Versatility
The main reason that the Verde team recommend a Multi-Use-Games-Area for one-pitch sites is because of the versatility they allow clients.
A sand-dressed MUGA can play host to football, hockey, netball, basketball, and tennis.
Therefore, if you only have the space or budget for one area, you ensure that there is a sport available for everyone to participate in. This inclusivity benefits the user both physically and mentally, making sport an option for all.
Funded by a local charity, the innovative ActiVate ball court installation at St Martin's Garden Primary School was the first of its kind in Europe! 🗺️ 🙌 #BecauseSportMatters | @swsportsnews pic.twitter.com/gP4zasB9VY
— Verde (@weareverde_uk) August 9, 2023
The Benefits – Additional Income
Aside from being used by your school, MUGA’s can present an additional stream of income when hired out to the public and local community.
By letting the pitch during school holidays and other times of the year when not being used by the school, the school benefits from another source of reliable income.
Schools can even put a small charge on after school clubs and introduce sporting holiday clubs, which are sure to be popular, and ensure the MUGA pays for itself.
The Benefits – Reduced Maintenance
MUGAs can be easier to maintain than other options. Firstly, you only have to maintain one area instead of two or three, which decreases upkeep time and costs.
As well as this, hardcourt surfaces are very hard wearing and last a long time, significantly increasing the ROI of your sports area. However, if you think your MUGA is looking a little weathered, professional MUGA maintenance remains a solid option.
But on the whole, there is no need for grass cutting, seeding or feeding, and depending on the usage, line marking is only required annually.
Alternative Option and conclusion
A popular alternative to MUGA, 3G pitches are an artificial surface made up of fibre blades of synthetic grass.
It possesses several of the same benefits as the sand-dressed MUGA, such as the ability to let it out, being an all-weather surface, and reducing injury risks.
However, for a school that can only choose one area, they don’t possess as much versatility – sports like netball and tennis cannot be played on them with the same efficiency.
They also require more maintenance, adding to the financial outlay, but remain a fantastic choice for a particular sport or cause.
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