Natural grass or artificial turf?

The cost saving benefits of artificial turf versus natural grass seem evident. However, the rapid proliferation of artificial fields across the country has some parents and coaches worried about an increased potential for injury.

The bottom line: If you make the investment in artificial turf for your high school or community fields, make sure to build in maintenance.

Recently published research measured high school football injury rates at 52 schools in four states over the course five competitive seasons. All 52 schools play on artificial turf surfaces. The study was published by The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and led by Idaho State University Professor Michael Clinton Meyers.

The research identified a simple way to decrease the number of football injuries on artificial turf fields. Specifically, the amount of turf infill weight directly correlates to the frequency of football injuries.

What is turf infill weight? Infill is a material that literally fills in the gaps between blades of artificial grass, which keeps the grass standing upright and atheistically pleasing. However, the true value of infill lies in its ability to provide cushioning for athletes when they are taken to the ground.

Essentially, higher turf infill weight provides more padding when an athlete lands on the ground. The research indicated that, “as the artificial infill surface weight decreased, the incidence of game-related high school football trauma significantly increased.” The trend was found to be consistent even when accounting for weather and playing conditions.

In other words, more infill means a softer, more balanced field and a lower injury rate.

The conclusions go a long way toward establishing a minimum requirement for turf infill weight, which may reduce injuries to high school football players throughout the nation. Research leader Michael Clinton Meyers agrees and indicated that based on the findings: “We would recommend that high school football fields contain a minimum of 6.0 pounds per square foot of infill weight to optimize player safety on artificial surfaces.”

The research is a step toward identifying ways that high school athletic departments can reduce the risk of injury and ensure player safety while still reducing overhead costs.