1. Safer on the Grass
When you play football, there is always the risk of injury because of the violent nature of the sport. However, if you play football on natural grass as opposed to artificial turf the risk of injury is reduced. This is because a natural grass field will give way and a player's foot is less likely to stick on the field causing ligaments injuries and broken bones. Not only does it help with leg injuries but because a natural grass field is softer it lessens the impact on the body, which frequently hits the ground forcefully in football.
2. Cleat Length Important
Because a natural grass field is softer and has more give to it, a player must wear the correct cleats on their shoes or they will not have sufficient traction. Playing on a natural grass field with the wrong cleat length can be like playing on ice if the field is wet. The pregame warm-up is the time to test which cleat length works best for a given field. It is really up to the groundskeeper how deep the natural grass is, so each field is unique. So pack at least three or four different cleat lengths for each game on natural grass.
3. Know the Grass Crown
A unique aspect of playing on a natural grass field is the crown of the field. This crown is there to allow proper drainage of moisture off the natural grass field. The crown can mean an 18-inch curved elevation from the sidelines to the middle of the field. If you have not played on a field with a significant crown, it can take some time getting comfortable on the field. Before you play on a natural grass field, observe the crown and test out the field dimensions during the warm-up.
4. Check the Weather Report
Weather conditions affect the natural grass field to the point that it can be a mud pit or frozen solid at times. Granted, these conditions are extreme, but if you are playing on natural grass you have to account for weather. If there is too much rain, a field can turn to mush, making footing precarious. In addition, if there is extreme cold a natural grass field can freeze, making the turf as hard as a rock. Therefore, before you play on a natural grass field check the local weather report that may affect field conditions.
5. Watch For Bad Areas
Some areas of natural grass fields can wear down, especially in inclement weather. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to areas of the field that may deteriorate in the later stages of the football game. Generally, these areas are in the middle of the field where there is more traffic. It may require your coach to call plays that avoid treacherous areas.
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