Is fieldturf dangerous?

[drt7891]

It seems every high school (that can afford it) is switching from grass to field turf. The company that makes it claims that it is cheaper to maintain (which it is), and is safer than natural grass. We have this same product on our new practice field behind the seal building. Many former football players I've talked to say they hate it... that it doesn't play like real grass and it doesn't give like real grass. It's also hot as hell in the summer time... much like playing on a hot parking lot.

Below is a graphic of the makeup of field turf. The foundation is usually compacted sand and gravel to enable the field to remove water quickly. Then a permeable barrier is laid down before the actual turf is laid on top of it (much like you'd put in your garden). The strands are a couple of inches long, and they pour a mixture of crushed rubber and sand and use a machine that looks like a street sweeper to pull the strands up over the infill. The desired product is supposed to look and play like real grass.

Going back to talking to former players... many I've said say that this stuff doesn't play like real grass. That even though there is crushed rubber infill, there still isn't the same "give" to the surface. Scott Field, for instance, is a tightly knit natural athletic turf over a mostly sand base (this allows for the surface to remove water). But in all my years of going to games at Scott Field, I've seen injuries that have resulted in sprains, torn ligaments, etc... but I can't say I've never seen an injury that results in legs broken like Treadwell's. This has happened AT LEAST three times at VHS (Brandon McRae '08, The Alabama player this year, and Treadwell).

So... is this stuff safe? High schools all over the country play on a surface like this. Is it safe for them? Many pro teams are switching back to natural grass because the players much prefer it over artificial surfaces. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

I think there's a heightened risk of injury, based solely on the fact that artificial turf doesn't give under pressure like real turf does.

Take, for instance, Dak's spinning TD run at Kentucky. He was hit high in the left leg, spun counterclockwise, then took a divot out of the grass when he planted to regain his balance. The divot coming out allowed his foot to spin and move across the ground in one motion. If that was artificial turf, which won't divot, his cleat may have stuck in the ground and really torn up the ankle or worse. Grass is at least forgiving when stressed like that.

I'd be interested to see the injury statistics that the US women's soccer team are using, in suing FIFA to require Canada to use real grass fields for the next women's World Cup (they're planning on using field turf).

 

[drt7891]

I have zero stats to back up my statements... I just know that I've seen some gruesome injuries on field turf. They happen on any surface... it's just the nature of it. I just know most every former football player I've talked to who has played on both natural and artificial surfaces, it's almost unanimous that they prefer natural surfaces.

 

[godlluB]

Artificial turn is the work of Satan.

 

[Big Sheep81]

Our HS has turf with rubber filler but no sand. The sand makes the surface stiffer which is what I understand UM's has. The subsurface is two layers of crushed limestone with a larger grade covered by about 2 inches of "chip seal" size then the turf over that. It drains extremely well and is actually slicker that other surfaces I've seen. The sand seems to be the demon to me. That said, I prefer playing on grass as opposed to plastic grass. But I cannot argue that as expensive as it is, it saves a pile of $$ in upkeep, painting, and TIME for high school coaches. It also enables more use of the field for band, soccer and other games.

One other issue is the length of cleats used. If a grass (long) cleat is used that seems to be a problem. You get more grip but also less give than a natural turf field has.

 

[Lettucexxxx]

Although I'm not a fan, not sure last night injury was turf related....didn't look like it to me. Look, I know its more cost efficient and may keep a wet field from getting sloppy but to me, there was NOTHING like playing on a good natural grass field. I will never forget the smell of the grass stretching before those big high school games. Reaching and grabbing you a hunk of fresh cut grass while leaning back stretching that quad....the cool wet dew in Nov Playoff games...just a dirty jersey in general. To me, turf on a football field is like playing baseball in a gym. Makes zero sense.

 

[AssEndDawg]

One other thing, HBO Real Sports did a story on the shocking rise in cancer among athletes that play on turf fields. Seems that inhaling the pellets and dust of the infil which is comprised almost entirely of used tires which is rubber which is a petroleum product that was NEVER designed to be anywhere near a persons lungs, mouth, nose or skin is a bad idea. I think in about 25 years everyone who put one of these in is going to be getting the crap sued out of them.

i will not let my son play football on one and three is a growing chorus of parents who are holding their kids out here in Memphis. Both the cancer risk and the increased injuries.

 

[MississippiHeavyMetalDog]

All NFL outdoor stadiums south of Cincinnati have grass not plastic. Nuf said.

 

[DudyDawg]

All NFL outdoor stadiums south of Cincinnati have grass not plastic. Nuf said.

Dallas, New Orleans, atlanta don't

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Yeah I don't think Treadwell's was turf related. Just the way the defender fell on him. Of course, maybe grass and dirt would give a little more underneath the players, but who knows. Plenty of similar injuries have happened on real grass (i.e. Prothro).

 

[HD6]

I must have missed where the Superdome was an outdoor stadium.

 

[bulldogbaja]

This is true. Soccer goalies have an inordinately high rate of cancer. A big study just came out.

 

[Amadden0408]

Dallas, New Orleans, atlanta don't

Think you missed a key word.

 

[DamnGoodDawg]

An analogy I used in the same thread on the rant is that a natural surface does not torque a leg like artificial surfaces do. Think of it like trying to open a jar lid that you can't get off. Everybody with an ounce of common sense uses something rubber/plastic based to improve your grip on the jar lid. It's simple physics. Same goes for lower extremities.

You also left out Chad Bumphis fracturing his collarbone in 2010 because he bounced off their damn plastic field.

 

[dannyripms]

outdoor not indoor

 

[Boardtown Remy]

I thought we were the danger***

 

[drt7891]

Just Goalies? The other positions spend just as much time on the field as the goalies do.

 

[Shamoan]

research is inconclusive...and there have been many often conflicting reports.

i tend to believe it is more dangerous, but zero to back it up.

 

[Lettucexxxx]

Seems like goalies are divining head first quite often. They prob spend more time on the ground than any other position.

 

[DudyDawg]

Think you missed a key word.

I did, my apologies. But I do agree that thwres no reason for a big college to have it, especially in the south. No reason Baylor, OM, vandy, TTU and tons more can't keep up a field that's used 8 times a year. Not like highschool where ten different teams use it for all sports

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

I think another thing contributing to these injuries is that players today play with 40-50 pounds of extra muscle on their bodies, due to weightlifting. Back in the old days, players played at their natural weight. Now, they lift weights, take supplements (or 'roids), and work out all year. This puts extra strain on the skeletal system, and the extra weight and strain snaps bones.

 

[esplanade91]

I did, my apologies. But I do agree that thwres no reason for a big college to have it, especially in the south. No reason Baylor, OM, vandy, TTU and tons more can't keep up a field that's used 8 times a year. Not like highschool where ten different teams use it for all sports

Speed**

 

[Palos verdes]

I think it is. Been saying it for a few years now.

It seems every high school (that can afford it) is switching from grass to field turf. The company that makes it claims that it is cheaper to maintain (which it is), and is safer than natural grass. We have this same product on our new practice field behind the seal building. Many former football players I've talked to say they hate it... that it doesn't play like real grass and it doesn't give like real grass. It's also hot as hell in the summer time... much like playing on a hot parking lot.

Below is a graphic of the makeup of field turf. The foundation is usually compacted sand and gravel to enable the field to remove water quickly. Then a permeable barrier is laid down before the actual turf is laid on top of it (much like you'd put in your garden). The strands are a couple of inches long, and they pour a mixture of crushed rubber and sand and use a machine that looks like a street sweeper to pull the strands up over the infill. The desired product is supposed to look and play like real grass.

Going back to talking to former players... many I've said say that this stuff doesn't play like real grass. That even though there is crushed rubber infill, there still isn't the same "give" to the surface. Scott Field, for instance, is a tightly knit natural athletic turf over a mostly sand base (this allows for the surface to remove water). But in all my years of going to games at Scott Field, I've seen injuries that have resulted in sprains, torn ligaments, etc... but I can't say I've never seen an injury that results in legs broken like Treadwell's. This has happened AT LEAST three times at VHS (Brandon McRae '08, The Alabama player this year, and Treadwell).

So... is this stuff safe? High schools all over the country play on a surface like this. Is it safe for them? Many pro teams are switching back to natural grass because the players much prefer it over artificial surfaces. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

.

 

[mstateglfr]

dont forget to factor in the flopping

Seems like goalies are divining head first quite often. They prob spend more time on the ground than any other position.

I would think everyone but the goalies are on the ground the most, at least at the highest levels of soccer. Players slide tackle. Players fall from fouls. Players flop like they lost all control of their muscles.
Goalies are only involved a handful of times each game and only dive some of those times.

 

[bulldogbaja]

I take back my claim that there was a research study- however this has been researched by news organizations.

There does appear to be a statistical correlation, and yes, it seems to apply mainly to goalies. I guess it's not just how much time they are on the ground during a game, where they might have 10-20 saves, but also in practice, where they do drills while their teammates are mostly up running running around.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/how-safe-artificial-turf-your-child-plays-n220166

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

An orthopedic surgeon told me a while back that more than a few studies had shown that turf increased the likelihood of injuries. I'm just going to take his word for it since he does knee and ankle surgeries all day.

 

[aTotal360]

Does our basketball team practice on turf?