1,000 Mini Playing Fields for Germany

The aim of the '1,000 Mini Playing Fields for Germany' initiative was (and is) the sustainable promotion of young football talents. The initiators placed particular importance on two aspects: supporting both girls and boys, and better integration of children with migration backgrounds through communal sports experiences. The small playing fields are now spread across Germany and are easily accessible to many children due to their proximity to schools. The size of the soccer courts is crucial – the original dimensions were 20 x 13 m. Naturally, there are two goals, and the game is played on synthetic turf with surrounding barriers and behind-goal nets.

Exclusive Project Partner of the DFB Mini Playing Fields

We are proud that Polytan was able to establish itself as the exclusive project partner of the DFB for the planning and construction of the soccer courts in 2007. However, we had to undergo a rigorous selection process, where various turf systems were thoroughly tested by experts.

The Optimal Synthetic Turf for Soccer Courts

The contract for the playing surface was awarded to the textured synthetic turf system LigaGrass. The decisive factor in the selection was that our LigaGrass has high resilience and is ideally suited for young players due to its soft filaments. The synthetic turf surface offers a number of other advantages. For instance, the texturing of the fibers ensures that an optimal playing surface is always available, even with minimal maintenance. At the time, the infill made from a completely newly produced, environmentally friendly rubber granulate was a technical innovation. It provides the young players with the necessary grip, ensures a natural grass-like appearance, and offers consistently high elasticity on the small playing fields. But Polytan was able to convince the DFB not only with its extensive experience as a synthetic turf manufacturer. We also mastered the planning, logistical, and production challenges that the €25 million project entailed as the general contractor.

Nationwide: 140 Soccer Fields per Month

Between May and October 2008 alone, 140 DFB mini playing fields had to be installed per month. For this, we deployed our in-house installation teams across Germany according to a sophisticated, rotating construction schedule – sometimes up to twenty work groups! The ceremonial opening of the 1,000th DFB mini playing field took place on September 25, 2008, at the Gleisberg School in Mainz. In total, 1,019 soccer fields were actually built. But the success story of the small football pitches did not end there. About three years later, Polytan and the DFB, together with the regional football associations, decided on a follow-up: All mini playing field owners could have their field cleaned free of charge and professionally by our specialists.

There was also an additional bonus. All schools, clubs, cities, and municipalities that had missed out on the mini playing field initiative between 2007 and 2009 now had the opportunity to order an authentic mini playing field from us. Good ideas often tend to take on a life of their own. This was also the case with our small soccer courts. To this day, Polytan continuously builds mini playing fields, since the beginning of 2018 under the new name PolyPlay Arena.

PolyPlay Arena as a Complete System

Our PolyPlay Arenas are deliberately designed to be flexible, with many components that can be replaced or exchanged later. Depending on the need, we offer both stationary and mobile playing fields. The standard dimensions are 15 x 10 m, 20 x 13 m (DFB size), 30 x 15 m, and 40 x 20 m, but individual custom sizes can also be realized without any problems. Our synthetic turf fields comply with the sports field construction standard DIN 18035 and, depending on the version, are certified with a TÜV certificate 'tested safety' (GS mark) as 'freely accessible multi-devices' according to DIN 15312. The surrounding barrier system of the soccer court is usually permanently installed and fixed with foundations in the substructure. The mobile version of the barrier design can be easily applied to existing sports floors.

Joint-Friendly Elastic Layer

An elastic layer under the synthetic turf provides the necessary force reduction. Compared to hard clay courts, unkempt natural grass fields, or street soccer on asphalt, Polytan synthetic turf is significantly more joint-friendly, offers higher running comfort, and protects against major fall injuries because falls are cushioned on the soft ground.

Success Factor Synthetic Turf LigaGrass

Our most frequently used playing surface is still the synthetic turf LigaGrass – it convinced the DFB at the time and contributed to the success of the mini playing field initiative. Today, we offer this turf system as the further developed LigaGrass Pro GT and LigaGrass Pro R in sand-cork-filled and purely sand-filled variants. The LigaGrass Synergy R is also perfectly suited for our PolyPlay Arenas. Both are suitable for multifunctional use – as evidenced by certifications from FIFA and FIH.

It has also been tested according to all common national and international standards and is subject to RAL quality monitoring. The permanently integrated CoolPlus function in the surface reduces the warming of the turf, especially in textured turf systems, due to the large surface area, which is particularly effective in reflecting heat radiation. As an alternative to synthetic turf, mini playing fields can of course also be equipped with the water-permeable synthetic surfaces PolyPlay S and PolyPlay SE.

Logos and Colors as Eye-Catchers

A mini playing field becomes a real eye-catcher when the club, city, or school crest is integrated into it. In addition, the synthetic turf does not necessarily have to be in classic green – any other color is possible, as hockey fields in pink and blue have proven for several years. The surrounding barrier surfaces offer space for advertising and thus the opportunity for additional income.

Conclusion on the Mini Playing Field

The great success of the mini playing fields, which we have been continuously producing and installing since 2007, is the perfect combination of leisure fun and football play. They can be played on at will, in schools as well as in public places – and at any age. Especially in clubs, the small playing fields can also actively promote the football skills of players of all ages. In public spaces, they represent a meeting place that can build bridges between all sections of the population.

Are you interested in our Soccer Court? Just inquire!