Fields of Dreams

AFM: What are the most significant reasons why so many football programs across the country have invested in synthetic turf fields in the last decade?

Jim Dobmeier of A-Turf: As athletic programs grow at schools across the country, the demand, and quite honestly the need, for synthetic grass has greatly increased. Today, many schools need to have a multi-sport playing field capable of handling continual use without fear of damage. As synthetic grass continues to deliver on the promise of providing consistent playability and outstanding durability, coaches and athletes alike are opting to switch from a natural to a man-made playing surface. Knowing synthetic grass can be used infinitely more times than its natural counterpart and remain in excellent playing condition is a tremendously valuable advantage.

Eric Daliere of FieldTurf: One major reason is player safety. The findings of a long-term testing program show that FieldTurf is equal to – if not better than – natural grass in most critical areas of player safety. An independent, three-year study of competitive college football showed that when compared to natural grass the FieldTurf system leads to 74% fewer muscle tears, 42% lower ACL trauma, 32% fewer ligament tears, 22% fewer severe injuries, 2% fewer concussions and 7% fewer total injuries.

In addition to the benefits of synthetic turf you mentioned, are there other advantages that turf offers over natural grass?

Daliere: In addition to well documented safety and performance benefits, there are many advantages to synthetic turf when compared to natural grass. Specifically, synthetic turf not only allows owners to save a significant amount of money on maintenance but it has proven to be a revenue generator, allowing for communal use and field rentals due to built-in durability characteristics.
When it comes to carbon footprints, there’s simply no comparison between natural grass and FieldTurf. FieldTurf is 100% lead-free and 100% recyclable. The company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Greenscapes’ program in addition to continuously setting new environmental standards throughout the synthetic turf industry.

Dobmeier: Another advantage of synthetic grass over natural is the consistent safety. Using specialized infill allows for shock absorption that parallels natural grass – meaning less impact to the athlete. By adding an optional resilient ShockPad under the synthetic grass, the G-Max , which measures the surface’s shock absorption, is even greater, and remains like perfectly manicured natural grass for the life of the surface.

From an economic standpoint, what are the major factors for schools to consider when evaluating the decision to switch to synthetic turf?

Dobmeier: The most significant increase in value of synthetic over natural is the use. Every situation is unique, but generally speaking synthetic fields are used 10+ times as much as natural and maintain superior quality with a fraction of the maintenance. An athletic field is a major financial investment, in addition to a high-profile investment. The amount of interest in any new field is huge. Whether a project goes well or not is very much a function of the company behind the product components. Field building is specialized construction. My advice to schools is always the same. Do your research to protect your investment. Look at the stability of the company being considered, the warranty offered and talk to schools that have installed their fields. Ask if they are satisfied over time.

Daliere: FieldTurf has installed thousands of fields in North America for schools at all levels. Based on the company’s extensive experience, the major factors for schools to be aware of when looking at upgrading to synthetic turf from their natural grass surface are the company’s financial stability and insured warranty, the significant maintenance savings, the increased potential for revenue generation, the significantly lower cost per hour of use and the lower number of injuries.
In a time when athletic department budgets are tight, what advice would you give to a coach or athletic director to help them lobby for a new turf installation?

Daliere: First and foremost, it is important to understand that FieldTurf may be priced somewhat higher than natural grass, but it costs significantly less in the long-run. As the years go by, the FieldTurf system will not only be safer and play more consistently, but will need less maintenance and will last much longer than the very best of natural grass fields. Many in the industry like to make durability claims, but simply have no proof to support it. FieldTurf fields have been in the ground for over 10 years of consistent play, season after season.

Dobmeier: There’s no question – investing in a synthetic grass field is a big decision. But, knowing the dollars spent on one field will benefit the entire athletic program for 12 to 15 years makes the decision very sound. So when schools calculate the savings in maintenance – manpower, mowing, watering and fertilizing – and factor in the endless events held in near perfect surfacing conditions the value is outstanding and unquestioned.