1. A Lot of Grass
Walk around your local football field and take a look at the turf. It takes regular care and maintenance to keep that football field in top playing condition. The average American football field is 57, 600 square feet of playing space with a 15-foot boundary of turf grass surrounding the field. Natural or synthetic turf grass designed for athletic fields covers the field. If you are thinking about upgrading your local football field or just plan to play some football, explore the issues surrounding turf grass and its effects on athletes' safety and performance.
2. Beyond Hard Astroturf
Calm your fears concerning the current crop of artificial turf grass. Studies indicate the new generation of artificial turf, with rubber or sand infill systems, causes no more athlete injuries than playing on natural grass. There is evidence the infill systems may cause even less injuries than natural grass but be concerned about turf burns on older playing fields. Increased skin injuries are present on artificial turf fields installed without rubber or sand infill systems so ask what type of artificial turf was installed on your football field. Research the statistics associated with older artificial turf surfaces in the "American Journal of Sports Medicine " October 1, 2004 issue available at your local library or online through subscription services.
3. Questions Still Being Asked
Be concerned about lead in your artificial playing field. Get the artificial football field tested for lead. Excessive lead content has been found in several fields, resulting in their closure. Be less concerned about bacterial infections and artificial turf. Recent studies show a higher concentration of bacterial colonies on natural turf grass than artificial fields. Watch for more studies on bacteria and artificial turf. This is an area where the evidence is still being gathered and the questions are still being formed.
4. Too Hot to Play
Enjoy the natural beauty and coolness of a natural grass playing field. It also stays cooler when exposed to sunlight, rarely rising above 85 degrees even on a sunny day. Artificial fields often have to be hosed down on warm days to keep it cool. Take your field's temperature with an infrared thermometer to prevent athlete injuries due to an excessively hot playing field as temperatures can rise to over 125 degrees. Reschedule daytime football games if you are playing on artificial turf in a hot, sunny climate or play on a natural turf grass field. The heat really can burn your feet on artificial turf.
5. Love the Sod
Go green by growing green natural grass. Natural turf is an environmentally positive playing surface. It filters water, creates clean air and naturally replaces itself. It also provides a softer playing surface for athletes of all sports.
