Artificial turf and Football development in Denmark

Denmark had 1933 registered football clubs with 146 full size synthetic pitches as of 2012. Player participation in males under 18 has seen a 47% increase since 2004, one of the largest increase in Europe.

There are known to be several advantages of using artificial turf rather than natural turf. Artificial turf pitches are more hard-wearing and easier to maintain than natural turf pitches. The football season can be extended whatever the weather, and the pitches can be laid in places where it is difficult to get grass to grow.

Artificial turf pitches are used indoors as well as outdoors. In Denmark, however, artificial turf pitches are almost exclusively used outdoors.

According to the Danish Football Association (DBU) (A. Johansen, 2007), there are four indoor pitches in Denmark. However, only two of these are third-generation pitches. One is a three-quarter pitch in Brøndby; the other is a newly installed pitch in Ikast. The infill material in Ikast is polyethylene-coated sand, contrary to the traditional third-generation pitches where the infill is sand plus elastic granulate.

Further, On the development of synthetic turf in Denmark, Troels Jensen, Competition and Futsal Coordinator, Danish FA said “We believe the biggest driver of provision of synthetic pitches in Denmark will be for community football clubs and general sports clubs. A cost effective solution to satisfy the demand from increased formal participation by children (Under 10s), all females and over 25 year old males