Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)

A sports facility that provides for a range of sports can be a great asset. This type of facility is usually called a MUGA or Multi Use Games Area. A MUGA can have high utilisation, particularly if the Multi Use Games Area is floodlit.

It is important to identify the priority sport, which will be the primary factor when selecting the sports surface for the Multi Use Games Area. It is better to cater for a few compatible sports well, rather than attempt to cater for too wide a range of sports, with severe compromises for many of them. Programming of activities and movement of play equipment both on and off the playing area of MUGA’s is another key ingredient to their safe and successful operation.

Dimensions

Multi Use Games Areas need to have dimensions which suit the sports to be played.

The MUGA may be based on a single or multiple court area, with removable dividers for greater flexibility.

Playing surface options

Careful selection is needed to suit the primary sport but with consideration for the other sports to be played and remembering that high usage will lead to accelerated wear and tear.

• Macadam MUGA - economic, porous surface good for tennis, netball, basketball but with no resilience
• Acrylic - hard wearing surface impervious surface, good for tennis, netball, basketball, which can be installed over resilient rubber layer. Porous versiis on also available for MUGAs
• Artificial grass MUGAs - have short pile for tennis and longer pile on a shockpad for football, hockey
• Carpet - primarily for tennis or as an alternative to artificial grass for hockey
• Polymeric - in situ resin bound rubber granules for a porous resilient surface for MUGAs

There are also other types of specialist surface suitable for indoor Multi Use Games Area floors.