Sustainability, sports performance and circularity were central to the renovation of artificial turf pitches 3 and 4 at TSC Oosterhout. Commissioned by the Municipality of Oosterhout, the existing pitches were fully renovated, with a deliberate decision to retain and reuse the existing ProPlay shock pads from Schmitz Foam. As such, the project serves as a strong practical example of circular construction within the sports sector.
By: Schmitz Foam Products
The renovation was carried out in collaboration with several specialised partners: the Municipality of Oosterhout as the client, CSC Sport as the executing contractor, De Vet Management as the consulting advisor, and Schmitz Foam Products as the supplier of the ProPlay shock pads.
Circular construction starts with quality
The original pitches were installed in the summer of 2013. After nearly twelve years of intensive use, the artificial turf surfaces no longer complied with the NOCNSF-KNVB2-18 user requirements. The turf carpet had reached the end of its service life, with seams becoming visible in several areas. The underlying sports performance layer, however, remained in excellent condition.
For this reason, the Municipality of Oosterhout explicitly specified the reuse of the existing ProPlay-Sport20 shock pad within the tender. A decision that aligns perfectly with the municipality’s sustainability objectives.
According to Rick Velthof, Commercial Manager at CSC Sport, the project demonstrates the added value of high-quality shock pad solutions. “The existing Schmitz Foam shock pad enables reuse thanks to its proven quality, durability and long functional service life.”
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An investment that lasts for multiple generations of artificial turf
The renovation of TSC Oosterhout demonstrates that a high-quality shock pad plays an essential role within the overall sports technical construction of an artificial turf pitch. The quality of the underlying layer directly influences the performance of the complete artificial turf system, including shock absorption, vertical deformation and energy restitution. In addition, a high-quality shock pad contributes to consistent playing quality and optimal sports performance throughout the entire service life of the pitch.
Rick adds: “Thanks to the quality of the shockpad, the base layer can remain in use throughout the lifespan of at least two artificial turf surfaces. This delivers clear benefits in terms of ROI, sustainability and circularity, as the overall construction requires complete replacement less frequently.”
Also Gertjan de Vet of De Vet Management highlights the sustainable characteristics of ProPlay: “With ProPlay-Sport, you invest in quality. The shockpad has more than proven itself. The Municipality of Oosterhout has already successfully renovated four artificial turf football pitches. This year, two additional artificial turf football pitches will be installed with ProPlay-Sport. When considering the initial investment, the additional cost compared to lower-priced shockpads is certainly justified by a service life of at least 25 years.”
According to Schmitz Foam, ProPlay also stands out in terms of circularity. Ron Lokhorst, Sales Manager Sports & Play at Schmitz Foam, emphasises that ProPlay retains the same sports performance characteristics over time.
“ProPlay is manufactured from high-quality recycled foam and maintains consistently high sports performance characteristics throughout its lifetime. This allows the shockpad to be used seamlessly across multiple life cycles of artificial turf fields. To provide additional assurance to field owners, we offer a 25-year warranty on the performance of ProPlay-Sport.
This project in Oosterhout also demonstrates that a ProPlay shock pad installed more than ten years ago still perfectly meets the requirements of modern artificial turf systems.”
Should the shock pad no longer be required in the future, it can be returned to Schmitz Foam for reuse in new products. This ensures that ProPlay aligns seamlessly with the principles of the circular economy.
Consciously chooses proven sustainability
According to Marcel Langerak, Sports Operations Officer at the Municipality of Oosterhout, reliability, experience and cost control play an important role in the municipality’s decisions regarding sports facilities:
“From a circular construction perspective, it is extremely valuable that the ProPlay shock pad can be reused. The shock pads have been in use at the TSC Oosterhout pitches for more than ten years and are still in excellent condition. That makes it a truly sustainable product.”
According to Marcel Langerak, reliability, experience and cost control play an important role in the Municipality of Oosterhout’s decisions regarding its sports facilities.
“As a municipality, we now have extensive experience with ProPlay. We know it is a high-quality product. The fact that the shock pad can still be retained and reused during renovations after more than ten years makes it not only a sustainable choice, but also a very attractive economic investment. It shows us that investing in quality genuinely pays off in the long term.”
The positive experiences have led the Municipality of Oosterhout to continue selecting ProPlay shock pads for future projects. In April 2025, a new artificial turf pitch featuring ProPlay-Sport was completed at OVV ’67, while the construction of a new pitch at VV SCO is also planned.
In addition, the use of circular solutions such as ProPlay also offers financial benefits for sports clubs. Through the Dutch BOSA subsidy scheme, amateur sports organisations can apply for financial support for the construction and maintenance of sports facilities. Sustainable measures that promote circularity qualify for an additional subsidy, increasing the total subsidy to as much as 40% of the investment costs. Designed with circular material use in mind, ProPlay enables sports clubs to meet the requirements for the maximum available subsidy.
"From a circular construction perspective, it is extremely valuable that the ProPlay shock pad can be reused. The shock pads have been in use at the TSC Oosterhout pitches for more than ten years and are still in excellent condition. That makes it a truly sustainable product."
Collaboration as the key to future-proof sports pitches
The renovation of TSC Oosterhout demonstrates how close collaboration between municipalities, consultants, contractors and innovative suppliers results in sustainable sports infrastructure that delivers long-term value.
With ProPlay, Schmitz Foam once again confirms its position as a leading specialist in sustainable shock pad solutions for sports fields and playgrounds worldwide. Backed by proven performance since the late 1990s, ProPlay combines outstanding sports performance characteristics with benefits in terms of circularity, longevity and lifecycle costs. In doing so, ProPlay makes a meaningful contribution to future-proof and circular sports infrastructure.
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