The Game: American football is a sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field. The offense, which is the team with possession of the oval-shaped football, tries to advance down the field by running with the ball or throwing it to a teammate. The defense, which is the team trying to stop the offense, tries to tackle the ball carrier or intercept passes. Points are scored in a variety of ways, including crossing the opponent’s goal line with the ball, kicking the ball through a set of goalposts, or tackling the ball carrier in the end zone for a touchdown. The team that scores the most points wins the game.

The Tests: In general, football surfaces are tested for a variety of factors, including surface hardness, shock absorbency, ball bounce, and slip resistance. These tests may be performed using specialized equipment and procedures, such as impact testers, ball rebound testers, and slip testers. Other tests may be performed to evaluate the quality and performance of the surface, such as infill depth tests, compaction tests, and moisture content tests. These tests are intended to ensure that the playing surface meets the required standards for safety, performance, and durability.

The Details: In the United States, the National Football League (NFL) is the most well-known professional American football league. It is a professional sports league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.

At the collegiate level, American football is governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA is a non-profit organization that oversees athletics programs at more than 1,100 colleges and universities in the United States. It is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III.

At the high school level, American football is governed by state athletic associations or organizations. These organizations set the rules for the sport and oversee the administration of high school football programs in their respective states.

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Testing athletics tracks is important for several reasons. It ensures that the track is safe for athletes to use, reducing the risk of injuries from slips, falls, or other accidents. It also helps maintain consistent performance, which is critical for professional athletics competitions. Regular testing can help identify issues early. 

The durability and sustainability of the athletics track depends on the construction, materials, installation and maintenance. Labosport helps with new track construction, renovations, extensions, and conversions from cinder to all-weather surfaces. We provide material identification, safety and performance tests, technical audits and diagnosis, and final track certification. We can advise you at the key stages of your new-build or your renovation project to ensure full compliance at the completion of different stages.

There are different ways to test an athletics track, but some of the most common methods include:

Surface Hardness Testing
This involves using a specialized instrument to measure the hardness of the track surface. Surface hardness testing helps ensure that the surface is not too hard or too soft, which can impact performance and safety.

Surface Evenness Testing
This involves using a specialized instrument to measure the evenness of the surface. Surface evenness testing helps ensure that the surface is level and free from any undulations that could impact performance or safety.

Friction Testing
This involves measuring the amount of friction that a runner experiences when moving across the surface. Friction testing helps ensure that the surface provides adequate traction and reduces the risk of slips and falls.

Energy Restitution Testing
This involves measuring the amount of energy that is returned to a runner during each stride. Energy restitution testing helps ensure that the surface is consistent and predictable, allowing athletes to optimize their performance.

NORMS AND STANDARDS
The governing body for athletics track at the international level is the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which was founded in 1912. The IAAF is responsible for setting the rules and regulations for athletics track events, as well as organizing major international competitions such as the World Championships in Athletics and the Olympic Games.

At the national level, each country typically has its own athletics federation or governing body that is responsible for organizing and promoting the sport within that country. Some examples of national athletics federations include USA Track & Field (USATF) in the United States, Athletics Canada, and the British Athletics Federation.

Like any sports facility, a synthetic track, as well as having a suitably constructed sub-base, has to comply with the existing norms. Your facility may fall under one of the following standards:

World Athletic: Performance specification for synthetic surfaces
EN 14877: Synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports Areas – Specification
ASTM F2157-09: Standard Specification for Synthetic Surfaced Running Tracks

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About Athletics
Athletics is the sport of competitive running, jumping, and throwing events that are held on an outdoor track. The track is typically an oval-shaped field with marked lanes for the various running events and areas for the other field events. The track is usually made of a synthetic surface, such as rubber or polyurethane, which provides good traction and reduce impact on the athletes’ bodies. Track events include short, middle and long-distance running and hurdle races. Other events include the long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, and hammer throw.

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The Game: Australian rules football, also known as Aussie rules or footy, is a sport played with an oval ball on an oval field. The game is played by two teams of 18 players, with the objective being to score points by kicking the ball between the goalposts. The team that scores the most points at the end of the game wins. Australian rules football is a popular sport in Australia, and it is also played in some other countries, including South Africa, Canada, and the United States.

The Tests: There are several tests commonly used to evaluate peformance and safety, including surface hardness, shock absorbency, ball bounce, slip resistance, surface moisture, surface levelness, and surface drainage.

The Details: The governing body for Australian rules football at the national level is the Australian Football League (AFL), which is the professional league for the sport. The AFL is responsible for overseeing and promoting the sport of Australian rules football in Australia, and it is made up of 18 teams located in cities and regions across the country. The league is widely followed and is one of the most popular sports leagues in Australia.

At the international level, the sport is governed by the International Australian Football Council (IAFC), which is a confederation of national Australian football organizations from around the world. The IAFC was founded in 1994 and is responsible for promoting and developing the sport of Australian rules football internationally. The IAFC organizes international competitions, such as the Australian Football International Cup, which is held every three years and features teams from around the world.

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Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents’ half of the court.

The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently than the balls used in most racquet sports. The game is played with light, slender racquets and a shuttlecock. It is an Olympic sport and is played by millions of people around the world.

The Tests: Badminton surfaces are typically tested for shock absorption, slip resistance, and ball bounce. The shock absorption of a surface is measured using a force reduction test, which involves dropping a metal ball onto the surface and measuring the force of the rebound.

The slip resistance of a surface is measured using a pendulum skid tester, which measures the friction between the surface and a rubber sole. The ball bounce on a surface is measured by dropping a shuttlecock onto the surface and measuring the height of the rebound.

The Details: The International Badminton Federation (IBF) has set specific guidelines for each of these tests, and surfaces must meet certain standards to be considered suitable for competitive play. There are several international governing bodies for it, including the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which is the international governing body for the sport of it recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The BWF is responsible for organizing and promoting international tournaments, including the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup for men’s and women’s national teams, respectively, and the BWF World Championships.

Other international governing bodies for it include the European Badminton Union (EBU), the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC), the Pan Am Badminton Confederation (PABCON), the African Badminton Confederation (ABC), and the Oceania Badminton Confederation (OBC). These organizations are responsible for promoting and developing the sport of badminton within their respective regions.

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Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two opposing teams who take turns batting and fielding. The game is played on a field by two teams of nine players each. The team at bat tries to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and running counter-clockwise around four bases: first, second, third, and home plate. The team in the field tries to prevent runs by catching the hit ball or by getting the batter or runner out in various ways.

The game is divided into innings, and the team that scores the most runs by the end of the ninth inning (or after a predetermined number of innings in some leagues) wins the game. It is a popular sport in many countries, especially in the United States, where it is known as America’s “national pastime.”

The Tests: There are several tests that are commonly performed on its surfaces to ensure that they meet the necessary safety and performance standards. These include tests for hardness, firmness, and consistency of the infield and pitcher’s mound, as well as tests for the slope and drainage of the field.

Other tests may include measuring the height of the grass, the amount of clay and silt in the soil, and the pH level of the soil. Additionally, the infield and pitcher’s mound may be inspected for proper grading and compaction.

The Details: In professional baseball, the major governing bodies are Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. MLB is made up of two leagues, the National League and the American League, each of which is divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West.

MLB is the highest level of professional baseballing in the world and is made up of 30 teams, 29 of which are located in the United States and one in Canada.

At the international level, the governing body for it is the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the world governing body for the sports of base-ball and softball. The WBSC is responsible for organizing and promoting international tournaments, including the World Baseball Classic, which is an international tournament featuring national teams from around the world.

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Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. The game is played on a rectangular court, and the hoop, or basket, is mounted to a backboard at each end of the court. The ball is advanced up the court by dribbling, or bouncing it on the floor, or passing it to a teammate.

Players score points by shooting the ball through the hoop, which is worth two points if the shot is taken from within the three-point arc (a semicircle drawn around the basket at a radius of 6.75 meters or 22 feet), or three points if the shot is taken from beyond the arc.

The Tests: There are several tests that are commonly performed on it surfaces to ensure that they meet the necessary safety and performance standards. These include tests for the coefficient of friction and vertical deformation of the playing surface, which are used to measure the grip and responsiveness of the flooring.

Other tests may include measuring the thickness and density of the padding under the flooring, as well as the levelness of the surface. Additionally, the flooring may be inspected for signs of wear and tear, such as cracks or unevenness. Some organizations, such as National Basketball Association (NBA), have their own standards for the courts.

The Details: The international governing body for it is the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). FIBA is responsible for organizing and promoting international tournaments, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic tournament. FIBA also sets the rules of the game and oversees the development of basketball at the international level.

In the United States, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the major professional league for it. The NBA is made up of 30 teams, 29 of which are located in the United States and one in Canada. The NBA is considered the highest level of professional basketball in the world and is widely followed by fans around the globe.

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Crash pads are thick foam mats that are placed under and around a boulder to protect climbers from injury in case of a fall. They are made of multiple layers of foam and are designed to absorb the impact of a falling climber. Crash pads are an important safety feature of bouldering, and it is important that they be properly certified to ensure that they meet safety standards.

Crash pads are typically certified by the manufacturer to meet certain safety standards, such as those set by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the United States. Certification ensures that the crash pads have been tested to ensure that they provide adequate protection in the event of a fall.

There is no single international governing body for bouldering. Bouldering is a relatively new and rapidly growing sport, and different organizations and federations have taken the lead in promoting and organizing competitions and events at the national and international levels.

One of the main organizations for bouldering is the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the world governing body for the sport of climbing, which includes bouldering. The IFSC is responsible for organizing and promoting international climbing competitions, including the World Cup series in bouldering and other disciplines, as well as the Climbing World Championships.

In addition to the IFSC, there are also national and regional organizations that promote and organize bouldering events and competitions. These may include climbing federations, climbing gyms, and other organizations that are specific to individual countries or regions.

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The purpose of the sport of bowls is to roll balls, called bowls, towards a smaller ball, called a “jack,” and to get as many of your bowls as close to the jack as possible. The game is played by individuals, pairs, or teams of four, and the team or player with the most bowls closest to the jack is the winner. Bowls is played on a flat, grassy surface called a “green,” which is divided into parallel playing strips called “rinks.”

Each player or team has their own rink. The game is played according to specific rules and regulations, which are set by the international governing body for the sport, World Bowls. In addition to World Bowls, there are also national governing bodies for bowls in many countries around the world. These organizations are responsible for promoting and developing the sport of bowls within their respective countries and for organizing national tournaments and events.

In the United States, the governing body for bowls is the United States Lawn Bowls Association (USLBA). The USLBA is responsible for promoting the sport of bowls in the United States and for organizing national and international tournaments and events. Other national governing bodies for bowls include Bowls England, Bowls Scotland, Bowls Australia, and Bowls New Zealand, among others.

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At Labosport, our cricket PPE testing team brings together trained sports scientists who are also seasoned cricketers. This unique combination allows our team to fully understand both the scientific principles and the real-world needs of cricketers, having worn and played in the protective equipment themselves.

Labosport is proud to be the only laboratory in the world accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for testing cricket PPE to all parts of British Standard BS 6183, ensuring that cricketers at all levels are protected with equipment that meets the highest safety standards.

Accredited Testing for Cricket PPE

We are fully equipped and accredited to test cricket PPE for all key components of BS 6183, including:

• BS 6183-1: General requirements
• BS 6183-2: Genital protectors
• BS 6183-3: Leg, thigh, arm, and chest protectors
• BS 6183-4: Gloves for batsmen

Key Performance and Safety Tests

Labosport carries out comprehensive testing in the following areas to ensure optimal safety and performance:

• Impact Performance: Replicating the force felt by cricketers during ball impact to ensure the equipment absorbs and distributes force appropriately.
• Restraint Systems: Testing the protector’s ability to stay securely in place and provide the necessary fit during play.
• Chemical Innocuousness: Ensuring the materials used do not release harmful substances.
• Dimensions and Protection Zones: Verifying the protector’s fit and coverage for adequate body protection.

Performance Levels

BS 6183 outlines the following performance levels for cricket PPE:

• Level 1: Designed for children 12 and under
• Level 2: Standard protection for those 13 and over
• Levels 3 & 4: Higher optional levels for greater protection

Certification & Compliance

Under UK and EU law (EU Regulation 2016/425), all PPE, including cricket PPE, must be tested and certified by an independent accredited laboratory. Cricket PPE is classified as “Category II” PPE, requiring independent testing and certification. Once certified, equipment can display the CE and UKCA marks, valid for 5 years.

Support Beyond Testing

Labosport is here to guide you through every step of the certification process, from preparing technical files to liaising with assessment bodies. Additionally, we offer bespoke research and development services to help refine your products before certification.

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ABOUT CRICKET
Cricket is a unique and exciting sport that is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. At its most basic, cricket is a game played between two teams of eleven players each. One team tries to score as many runs as possible by hitting a ball with a bat and running between two wickets (sets of three wooden stumps) set at opposite ends of a rectangular field.

The other team tries to get the batters (players on the hitting team) out by catching the ball after it is hit or by hitting the wickets with the ball. The team that scores the most runs wins the game.

It is a sport that requires a high level of skill, strategy, and teamwork. Batters must be able to hit the ball with power and accuracy, while bowlers (players who deliver the ball) must be able to vary their pace, movement, and spin to deceive the batters. Fielders (players who are not batting or bowling) must be quick and agile, with good reflexes and strong throwing arms.

The international governing body for it is the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is responsible for organizing and promoting international tournaments and for setting the rules and regulations for the sport. In addition to the ICC, there are also national governing bodies for it in many countries around the world, such as Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

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There are different ways to test a football surface, but some of the most common methods include:

Surface Hardness Testing
This involves using a specialized instrument to measure the hardness of the surface. Surface hardness testing helps ensure that the surface is not too hard or too soft, which can impact playability and safety.

Surface Evenness Testing
This involves using a specialized instrument to measure the evenness of the surface. Surface evenness testing helps ensure that the surface is level and free from any undulations that could impact playability or safety.

Ball Roll Testing
This involves measuring the distance that a ball rolls across the surface from a standardized drop. Ball roll testing helps ensure that the surface has consistent and predictable ball roll characteristics.

Drainage Testing
This involves testing the drainage capacity of the surface to ensure that it can handle heavy rain and prevent water from pooling on the surface.

The international governing body for football is the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which is responsible for organizing and promoting international football tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, and for setting the rules and regulations for the sport. In addition to FIFA, there are also national governing bodies for it in many countries around the world, such as the English Football Association and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

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The Game
At its most basic, football is a game played between two teams of eleven players each, who try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opposing team’s goal. The team that scores the most goals wins the game. Football is a sport that requires a high level of skill, endurance, and teamwork. Players must be able to dribble, pass, and shoot the ball with precision, while also working together with their teammates to defend against the opposing team’s attacks. The game is fast-paced and physical, with players constantly moving and trying to outmaneuver each other on the field.

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