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Transforming Turf Design with Athlete Data at NSCA Conference 2026

In July 2026, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Conference took place in New Orleans, drawing strength and conditioning professionals, researchers, educators, and performance specialists eager to explore the latest in research and coaching practices. Among the highlights was TenCate's presentation on how athlete data is revolutionizing the design of turf systems to meet the unique needs of sports training and competition.

TenCate showcased its innovative Pivot® Performance Turf, demonstrating its development was centered around real athlete movement data obtained from testing over 1,000 college and professional athletes. This focus on athlete interaction with surface materials represents a paradigm shift in how training environments are constructed and evaluated.

The Athlete-Centric Approach

The demand for data-driven methodologies in sports science is increasingly vital. As coaches and trainers scrutinize how athletes move, train, and compete, the integration of similar research principles into the design of playing surfaces becomes essential. Joe Fields, CEO of TenCate Americas, emphasized this connection: “The more we understand how athletes interact with the field, the better we can design surfaces around real movement and support the goal of keeping athletes available to train and compete.”

By analyzing athlete-surface interaction, TenCate is pushing the boundaries of traditional turf testing. While conventional methods remain important, there is a shift toward understanding the sensations and responses athletes experience during movements such as starts, stops, cuts, and jumps.

Dr. Colin Young, Chief Technical Officer at TenCate, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Athletes feel how the surface responds when they accelerate, cut, land, and push off. That is where our athlete-centered turf research becomes valuable.” By incorporating feedback from actual athlete experiences, the design of Pivot Performance Turf is not just theoretical; it's grounded in practical athlete input.

Pivot® Performance Turf: A Game Changer

The resulting product, Pivot Performance Turf, is engineered without rubber infill and utilizes a fiber-based construction that provides a more consistent playing experience. This design choice aims to minimize variables that can alter how a field responds under repeated athletic use. Athletes, who frequently undergo intense physical exertion, are assured that consistent surface performance can lead to increased confidence in their movements.

With movements repeated hundreds of times in training and competition, the relationship between the athlete and the field cannot be overstated. Enhanced predictability in surface response can lead to more confident movements and improved performance. “Athlete data is most valuable when it helps you make better design choices,” Young stated. “For Pivot, that meant applying what we learned from real athlete movement in practical ways.”

Future Directions and Innovations

As the demands of athletes evolve, the partnership between sports surface producers and conditioning professionals will only deepen. TenCate's involvement in NSCA represents a convergence of expertise that transcends traditional boundaries, allowing for collaborative development of athletic spaces that prioritize safety and performance.

Fields emphasizes the ongoing goal: “Our aim is to design surfaces that align with the work athletes do on the field, starting with studying their interactions and translating those findings into superior turf systems.” The initiative to innovate within the realm of sports turf is not merely about aesthetic value or standard requirements; it underscores an industry-wide commitment to athlete health, performance, and sustainability in sports environments.

In summary, the insights shared at the NSCA Conference by TenCate illustrate a significant leap forward in turf design, forged from the understanding of how athletes engage with their environment. As more research unfolds, it will be exciting to see how these innovations will bolster athlete performance while minimizing injury risks in the dynamic realm of sports.