Sports lighting is a specialist field with its own standards and terminology. Whether you’re lighting a local netball court or a professional stadium, the principles matter.

Let me break down what you need to know.

The Standards Framework

Sports lighting in Australia follows AS 2560 “Sports Lighting” series, with sport-specific parts:

• AS 2560.1: General principles
• AS 2560.2.1: Specific applications - Lighting for outdoor tennis
• AS 2560.2.3: Lighting for football (all codes)
• AS 2560.2.4: Lighting for hockey
• And many others…

These standards define illumination classes ranging from I (highest, broadcast television) to IV (lowest, recreational).

Understanding Illumination Classes

Each class specifies:

• Horizontal illuminance (Eh) - light on the playing surface
• Vertical illuminance (Ev) - light on players, important for spectators and cameras
• Uniformity ratios - how even the light is across the field
• Glare ratings

Class	Typical Application	Horizontal Illuminance
I	International TV broadcast	1000-2500 lux
II	National competition, some TV	500-750 lux
III	Club competition, training	200-300 lux
IV	Recreational, social play	100-200 lux

The jump between classes is significant. A Class III football field might have 20-30 fixtures. A Class I field for broadcast might have 80-100 or more.

Key Metrics Explained

Horizontal Illuminance (Eh)

Light level measured on the playing surface (horizontal plane). This is the headline number most people focus on.

But achieving the average isn’t enough—you need to achieve it across the whole field, which brings us to uniformity.

Uniformity (U1 and U2)

U1 (minimum to average ratio): How the darkest spot compares to average. Higher is better. Class I requires U1 ≥ 0.7.

U2 (minimum to maximum ratio): The range from darkest to brightest. Class I requires U2 ≥ 0.5.

Poor uniformity means some areas are too dark while others are adequately lit. Players lose the ball in dark patches. Cameras can’t auto-expose properly.

Vertical Illuminance (Ev)

Light on vertical surfaces—including players. Important for:

• Spectators seeing players clearly
• Cameras capturing action without shadows
• Players seeing the ball against backgrounds

For broadcast applications, vertical illuminance toward cameras is critical.

Glare Rating (GR)

Sports lighting is often high-mounted and bright. Players looking up (catching a ball, watching a shuttle) can be blinded by glare.

GR limits vary by sport. Lower is better (less glare).

LED vs Traditional Sources

Sports facilities historically used metal halide floodlights. LED has largely replaced these for several reasons:

Instant on: Metal halide takes 10-15 minutes to reach full brightness and can’t be restarted quickly after shutdown. LED is instant.

Dimming capability: LED can dim or switch to reduced levels for training vs competition.

Better uniformity: LED optical design allows more precise distribution, achieving better uniformity with fewer fixtures.

Energy efficiency: 50-70% energy reduction compared to metal halide.

Longevity: 50,000+ hours vs 6,000-10,000 hours for metal halide.

Flicker-free operation: Critical for broadcast (high-speed cameras reveal flicker).

Design Considerations

Pole Positions and Heights

Where poles go and how high they are affects everything:

• Higher poles = wider spacing possible, but more expensive poles
• Poles too close to field = player safety hazard and visual obstruction
• Pole positions must allow good aiming angles without excessive glare

Professional designs use computer modelling to optimise pole positions for the site.

Aiming and Optics

LED floodlights come with various beam distributions:

• Narrow spot (8-15°) for long throws
• Medium (20-40°) for most applications
• Wide (50-80°) for shorter distances

Fittings are aimed during commissioning to achieve the target illuminance and uniformity. This requires access equipment and expertise.

Spill Light and Light Pollution

Sports fields near residential areas must control spill light—unwanted light outside the playing area.

Strategies:

• Shields and louvers on fixtures
• Careful aiming
• Fixture selection with cutoff optics
• Potentially reduced hours of operation

Some councils have specific requirements for light spill. Check before designing.

Broadcast Requirements

If the facility will host televised events, additional requirements apply:

• Higher illuminance (often 1500+ lux for HD, 2000+ for 4K)
• Excellent vertical illuminance toward camera positions
• Very high uniformity
• Specified colour temperature (usually 5600K for outdoor, matching daylight)
• CRI 90+ for accurate colour
• Flicker-free at high frame rates (1000Hz+ driver frequency)
• Backup/emergency lighting for broadcast continuity

These requirements substantially increase project cost.

Community vs Professional Facilities

Community Level (Class III-IV)

For local clubs, schools, and community facilities:

• Simpler pole arrangements (often corner-mounted for rectangular fields)
• Lower fixture counts
• Class III or IV illuminance levels
• Focus on adequate, safe lighting rather than broadcast quality
• Budget-conscious approaches

Even at community level, good design matters. Poor uniformity creates unsafe playing conditions.

Professional Level (Class I-II)

For professional sports and broadcast:

• Engineered pole structures
• Numerous fixtures with precise aiming
• Sophisticated control systems
• Emergency backup systems
• Commissioning and verification testing
• Much higher budgets

Control Systems

Sports lighting controls range from simple to complex:

Basic: Manual switching or simple time clocks

Intermediate: Preset scenes (full on, training level, off), remote control

Advanced:

• Individual fixture control and dimming
• Integration with venue management systems
• Automated scheduling
• Energy monitoring
• Maintenance alerting

For multi-use facilities (training and matches, multiple sports), flexible control is valuable.

The Energy Opportunity

Sports lighting has high energy consumption due to:

• High wattage per fixture
• Multiple fixtures
• Often long operating hours

This makes sports facilities excellent candidates for LED retrofit and rebate programs.

Example: Community football field

• Existing: 20 x 2000W metal halide = 40kW
• LED replacement: 20 x 750W LED = 15kW
• Hours: 1,500/year
• Annual saving: 37,500 kWh = $9,375/year

Plus ESC/VEEC rebates on the conversion.

For councils and clubs managing lighting costs, the payback can be compelling.

Getting It Right

Sports lighting isn’t something to improvise. I recommend:

1. Engage a specialist: Sports lighting design is a specific skill. Get someone who knows the standards and has relevant experience.

2. Define the requirement clearly: What class? What sports? Any broadcast potential? Future-proofing?

3. Consider the full lifecycle: Installation cost, operating cost, maintenance access.

4. Commission properly: Aiming and verification are critical. Budget for proper commissioning, not just installation.

5. Maintain regularly: Keep lenses clean, verify alignment periodically, address failures promptly.

Done well, sports lighting enables safe, enjoyable play for participants and good viewing for spectators. It’s worth the investment in getting it right.