- All Synthetic Surfaces Are Equal
Not all synthetic turf surfaces are equal. Unfortunately, too many coaches and athletic administrators are focused solely on the price and ignore the critical performance and safety aspects of the various synthetic turf sports fields systems available on the market.
Obviously not all helmets are equal. In fact, today there are various helmet rating systems that are utilized to grade the various helmets on the market. Everyone wants the players utilizing the safest helmets available. Yet, few people consider that the helmet is only one part of the player safety equation.
The surface that the players play on and are smashed to the ground on is an important aspect to whether the player stands up after being tackled. Nobody wants their players wearing the cheapest helmets, and nobody should want their players playing on the cheapest surface – they should want them playing on the safest surface.
Sadly, many programs spend more time contemplating the micro fiber shirts worn by players than the actual surface they play on. The best synthetic turf system should optimize player’s sports specific performance and maximize player safety.
The challenge is many decision makers have no idea what differentiates the various synthetic turf systems available. The NIAAA provides valuable insight into the critical performance and safety aspects in LTI 621-synthetic turf surfaces and LTI 622-sports field safety. Different grass fibers (slit-film vs. mono), the fiber spacing (texture), robust backing systems (dimensional stability), advanced seaming technologies and infill particle science are only some of the elements that directly impact sports specific performance and ultimately player safety.
Not all synthetic turf surfaces are created equal, your players deserve the best surface possible, understanding that price should not be the sole decision making criteria when player safety is at stake is the first step. It is important to get educated on the differentiators and understanding their importance is critical to protecting your players, building your program and establishing an environment of safety.
- Testing Is Not Required on Natural Grass…Only on Synthetic Surfaces
Sports fields require testing, maintenance best practices and consistent monitoring to ensure player safety. It does not matter if the sports field is natural or synthetic; all players deserve the right to compete on a level playing field that is ultimately safe.
Synthetic turf fields have been held under the scrutiny of testing standards for decades. There is a great argument to be made that one of the primary advantages to utilizing a synthetic turf system is that it performance is consistent.
It is actually more important to test natural grass sports fields than synthetic. Whether it has rained for 6 days straight, or has not rained for 60 days, a natural grass surface can go from being unsafe – too soft, to being unsafe- too hard in a short timeframe.
Any program not testing their sports field surfaces for hardness and other performance aspects is potentially placing their players at an elevated risk of injury. It does not matter if your sports field is natural or synthetic, today all sports fields require performance and safety testing. It is a common day practice to test all sports field surfaces for safety. Any coach, facility manager and/or athletic director not testing their sports fields routinely potentially places their players at elevated risk of injury and themselves under the scrutiny of personal liability.
- Synthetic Turf Surfaces Are Maintenance Free
Nothing is maintenance free. Synthetic turf fields are no exception. Nationally on average the maintenance cost for a synthetic turf fields is $15,000.
While the maintenance cost associated with a synthetic turf field is considerably less than the average natural grass sports field surface, synthetic is not maintenance free and there is, of course, a cost associated with any maintenance.
Annual maintenance costs for a synthetic turf field include but are not limited too; grooming (approximately every 80 hours of use), sweeping (to remove litter and debris), wanding the field with a magnet (to ensure no metal is on the field-IE: bobby pins, etc.) and gmax testing (measuring the surfaces hardness).
Beware of individuals that suggest that synthetic turf is maintenance free, they re either lying or entirely lack the necessary experience and/or knowledge.