Time for Turf

Synthetic turf is replacing grass across America as the surface of choice for football programs from high school to the NFL.
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The trend may be irreversible. Each year, hundreds of football practice and game fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf. That’s not surprising, considering that today’s turf systems provide safe, consistent, all-weather playing surfaces that can be utilized 24/7 by not just the football team but by a long list of other sports and activities. ¶ Rick Doyle, President of the industry support group Synthetic Turf Council (STC), recalled a remark made by a board member at a recent meeting. “He commented that there were a total of eight ‘third generation’ infilled synthetic turf sports fields in the U.S. in 1997,” said Doyle, “and today, the estimate is 3,000-3,500.” According to the STC, the number of new turf installations, which is currently estimated at 650-800 per year, is expected to increase 10-20% each year over the next ten years. If true, by 2018 over half of all the football games played in the U.S. will be played on synthetic turf. ¶ In our 2nd annual synthetic turf roundtable with industry leaders, AFM asked FieldTurf CEO David Moszkowski, GeneralSports Venue CEO John Pritchett, A-Turf President Jim Dobmeier and Domo Sports & Leisure Grass U.S. Manager Mark Carr to share their insights about synthetic turf and help coaches understand why switching to turf gives their program an advantage.

AFM: The trend toward synthetic turf football fields continues to be very strong. Why are so many high schools and colleges installing synthetic turf?

David Moszkowski of FieldTurf: Three main areas - cost, playability, and safety. Although the upfront cost is significant, it is the cost savings over time that needs to be considered. Another major benefit is the opportunity to turn a field into a multi-purpose facility. No longer just a football field, the facility can now host a multitude of sports and non-sporting events. We know of several facilities that have paid off their field by hosting concerts and championship games. The investment is large, but the key word is just that – “investment.” With the proper plan the field can turn into an asset for the athletic program and even become a revenue generator.

Jon Pritchett of GeneralSports Venue: The technology is getting better and better. The ability to maximize time and land is certainly a driver. The reality is that even the best natural grass fields cannot stand up to the amount of activities that a typical high school hosts. Once you add inclement weather to the mix, you get some real uncertainty about the playing conditions. A synthetic turf system eliminates some variables and provides a greater level of reliability for players, coaches and administrators.

Jim Dobmeier of A-Turf: The biggest reason is the utility of the fields. Not only can a synthetic turf field be used in any type of climate or weather condition, the quality of the playing surface is never compromised, i.e. no puddling or mud to deal with.

In addition to using a synthetic turf field for multiple sports, it is durable enough to withstand the use of the field for practices, marching band performances, and other events 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mark Carr of Domo: Schools are realizing that having a synthetic turf field can benefit multiple sports teams, a variety of school activities and members of the community by providing a facility that can used virtually around the clock in any weather condition. As the number of installations increases, more and more coaches, players and administrators are exposed to synthetic turf and its many benefits – leading them to consider getting synthetic turf for their school. We anticipate that these trends will continue.

AFM: From a coach’s point of view, what are the major considerations concerning player safety and performance on synthetic turf?

Pritchett: A coach’s first priority is player safety. The coach needs to know that the synthetic turf system is designed to provide the proper level of safety. Our industry has standards to measure a variety of these properties, but coaches need to be sure their system consistently provides an acceptable level each and every year – not just at the time of installation. The second consideration should be consistent biomechanical performance. A properly designed, manufactured and installed system should perform very much like a good natural grass field in terms of characteristics like coefficients of traction, vertical deformation and energy restitution.

Dobmeier: These systems have an outstanding safety and performance record. The shock attenuation is very comparable to well-conditioned natural grass fields. The footing is consistent and outstanding. Even though there is inherent danger of injury when playing sports, regardless of the surface, this general line of synthetic infilled systems provide as safe an environment as perfectly maintained natural grass.

Carr: Compared to the carpet-style turf of the past, today’s infill systems offer vastly increased levels of player safety and playability. The early, “first generation” fields were basically carpet and padding laid over concrete. As you would expect, they were blamed for frequent player injuries, including knee problems and concussions. The modern infill systems are engineered to provide a high level of safety as well as performance standards demanded by players and coaches.

Moszkowski: Synthetic turf fields provide consistent and good flat surfaces to play on, whereas grass fields have divots and develop ruts. In terms of safety, in a head-to-head comparison, FieldTurf outperformed natural grass in several major categories. In particular, we saw a 66% reduction in neural injuries, a 50% reduction in cranial/cervical injuries, and a 33% reduction in third-degree injuries. Coaches are seeing a greater level of intensity of performance on synthetic turf. They tell us they’re seeing kids lay out for balls on our turf that they wouldn’t dream of doing on a bad grass field.

AFM: While well-funded programs have no trouble affording synthetic turf, the initial cost of an installation can be an obstacle for many school districts. What would you say to help justify such an investment?

Dobmeier: The expected life of synthetic turf systems is 10-15 years, depending on the specific amount of use and, to a lesser extent, the climate. When the initial cost of the synthetic turf system is divided over the life of the system (after factoring in the higher maintenance cost of natural grass on an annual basis) natural and synthetic are comparable. However, the utility of A-Turf synthetic turf fields far exceeds natural grass.

Carr: Low maintenance costs and increased usage, over the life of a synthetic field, can virtually offset the initial installation costs. Increasingly, the major factor in many areas is water. Prolonged, serious drought has led to extreme water restrictions, making it difficult if not impossible to maintain natural grass fields. For some communities, synthetic turf will increasingly be seen as the only option in an era of widespread water shortages.

Moszkowski: It all comes back to the long term cost benefit of artificial turf which can be realized by looking at the "cost-per-use". Because natural grass has less playable hours, the cost per use is much higher. On average, a cost per use for a facility is $15/hour for synthetic turf and $45/hour for natural grass. Synthetic turf is playable virtually 24/7. A natural grass field simply is not. The field can also be used no matter what the weather conditions. In snow, a field can be plowed. In rain, a turf field drains as fast as the subbase beneath.

With the costs of irrigation, fertilization, mowing and painting, keeping a natural grass field in great condition requires a lot of time, energy and resources. However, the best way to demonstrate the ROI for a synthetic turf system is to look at the vastly increased number of hours that these fields can be used to host events, practices and games. The other key economic calculation is one of land use. If a school does not have an excess of land for multiple practice fields then choosing a synthetic system can free up large areas for classrooms and other campus buildings.

AFM: What advice would you give to a coach or administrator who wants to start the process of getting a synthetic turf field for his program?

Carr: Anyone who is considering entering the market for a synthetic turf field can learn more by visiting the Synthetic Turf Council’s website, which is syntheticturfcouncil.org. There is plenty of information that can be used to build a case for a new synthetic turf facility at your school. Also, the STC has a certification program for member companies, such as Domo, that agree to a set of guidelines designed to ensure that they provide the highest quality products and the highest level of service. This program gives customers confidence in the companies they choose to work with.

Moszkowski: Once you have decided that a new field is needed and you’ve made the move to low maintenance, high performance, artificial turf, get your team working together. Don’t wait for the sale to be completed to start the lengthy process of securing funds for the project. Speak to your representative to discuss timing so your board and decision makers can prepare a financially sound game plan. Talk to your turf company about leasing and financing options which may be a smart alternative. The key to the entire process is partnering up with the right suppliers.

Pritchett: Look for a company that has a track record, good management and the ability to provide bonding and possibly an insured, third party warranty that is comprehensive. Choose a company with manufacturing capabilities. There are a lot of companies offering products that they simply buy from a broker or a tufting house without ever knowing or seeing how the product is manufactured. Shop for a total “system,” which includes design, sub-base and turf. If the company doesn’t offer those services, then hire a local landscape architect or civil engineer with experience in designing synthetic fields.

Dobmeier: Contact an architectural firm that is experienced in specifying and overseeing synthetic field construction projects. Once a general budget is established, begin the due diligence process of evaluating the companies that provide synthetic turf systems as extensively as the systems themselves.

AFM: We’ve seen a lot of news coverage lately about potential environmental and health hazards of synthetic turf. What is your position on these issues?

Dobmeier: The Synthetic Turf Council is dealing with this topic in a comprehensive way. The accusations and overstatements that have been publicly made in the industry regarding environmental issues have been touted by special interest groups without scientific basis. The components that make up a synthetic field system are commonly used in everyday products ranging from footwear to children’s toys to chewing gum.

Pritchett: There are two prominent, current issues. The first one has to do with the recycled tire material that is commonly used as infill material in our systems. We have reviewed the considerable academic and international body of scientific studies on this issue and find that there does not appear to be any evidence of either environmental or human health hazards as a result of using recycled rubber in synthetic turf fields. The other issue is Staph infections. First, we don’t believe that synthetic fields are any more susceptible to hosting the microbes that can lead to these dangerous infections than any other sports surface. However, we do know that Staph is becoming more and more common in sports communities and we know that almost any surface can be a “transmission site.” Therefore, we decided to add a layer of protection for athletes by manufacturing all of our AstroTurf-branded systems with an antimicrobial technology, called TurfAide.

Moszkowski: Of late the artificial turf industry has been under fire for a supposed rubber scare. Ignored is the mere fact that less than 20,000 tires go into the artificial fields they play on. By my math that's .0000004 for the fields and 99.9999996 for the tires we drive on. It seems like we should concentrate where we could have the most effect. Hundreds of studies have been completed to uncover any potential risks of artificial turf. Government health ministries and environmental bodies around the world have commissioned extensive research. So have world health organizations, leading universities and independent scientific committees. But recent headlines reveal tactics being used by others with their own agendas. They do not report the truth. The research has been done. The studies exist. We urge you to get the facts and find out for yourself.

Carr: At this point there is no conclusive evidence that SBR Rubber infill is a safety concern. California, a state that has a track record for having stringent environmental standards, promotes the use of recycled SBR rubber granules derived from tires through their California Integrated Waste Management Board's Grant program which provides monies to City’s and Schools for the funding for the construction playgrounds, running tracks and synthetic turf sports fields.

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