Snow on sports fields: what is and is not sensible to do |
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With this week's winter weather and the announced cancellations in amateur football, many clubs are once again facing the same question: what should you do with a snow-covered artificial turf or natural grass field? Although the temptation to start clearing snow yourself is strong, in practice this often causes more damage than benefit. A careful approach — or in some cases no action at all — is essential to keep fields safe and playable.
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Artificial turf fields are generally well able to cope with winter conditions. Still, there are situations in which use is strongly discouraged:
* During snowfall: a thin layer of snow is not a problem in itself. The risk arises when players trample the snow into a wet, compact mass. During a subsequent frost period, this can turn into a hard ice layer in the turf, leading to long-term unplayability and an increased risk of injuries.
* During thaw: when the base is still soft, hollows and rutting can occur.
* With melting snow and rain: water cannot drain away, making the turf unstable and increasing the risk of damage.
The general advice: leave a layer of snow in place and do not use the field until the snow has disappeared naturally.
Why clearing snow yourself is usually not a good idea
Many clubs try to clear the field using manpower or simple ploughs. At first glance this may seem effective, but it often causes damage that only becomes visible later:
* Manual clearing pushes large amounts of snow and infill towards the edges.
* The pressure on the turf becomes too great, especially when several people are pushing at the same time.
* Infill that moves along with the snow ends up in the borders and later has to be replenished.
In addition, clearing snow from a full-sized field takes a lot of time and equipment. With light snowfall, the snow usually disappears on its own within a few days to a week — without any risk of damage.
In professional football, every effort is made to allow matches to go ahead. Specialised snow ploughs are used, often fitted with rubber flaps to protect the turf. Even then, it is a labour-intensive job: snow must not only be removed from the field, but also transported out of the stadium. Moreover, if the field is artificial turf, some of the infill is always removed along with the snow and has to be restored afterwards.
For amateur clubs, this approach is rarely realistic or cost-effective. The Dutch market has hardly any machines specifically designed to safely remove snow from artificial turf. The available solutions — ploughing or brushing — remain emergency measures in which infill loss is virtually unavoidable.
Natural grass: extra caution during thaw
Natural grass fields also suffer under winter conditions. Thawing is especially risky: when the top layer thaws but the subsoil is still frozen, an unstable surface layer develops. Traffic on the field can then lead to serious structural and load-bearing problems. The advice is to completely avoid using natural grass fields during thaw.
The best advice for this weekend: patience
Given the current weather forecast and the announced cancellations, it is wise to leave fields alone. A layer of snow does not threaten the turf, but ill-considered actions do. Once temperatures rise, the snow will disappear naturally and training sessions and matches can safely resume.
This article was previously published on 8 January 2026 on the Fieldmanager](https://www.fieldmanager.nl/article/52583/sneeuw-op-sportvelden-dit-is-wl-en-net-verstandig-om-te-doen]Fieldmanager) website.
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