Football is an extremely popular sport in the United States.
Fans flood the stadiums on Friday nights for high school football, on Saturdays for College Football and on Sundays for the NFL. There seems to be a football game on television almost every night of the week between Thursday Night Football, Monday Night Football and everything in between.
The stadiums are impressive and the playing surfaces have improved drastically over the years at the college and the NFL level.
Are Football Fields Real Grass?
Sometimes! Many fields at all levels have transitioned to an artificial surface frequently referred to as Field Turf. There are many advantages to field turf that includes a quality playing surface that is great in many weather conditions.
From high schools to the professionals, players often play games on an artificial surface and in many locations the school or owner is willing to make the investment for the artificial surfaces because of the many advantages that it provides over a real grass playing surface.
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Advantages of Artificial Turf
- Low maintenance
- Great in all weather conditions
- Access 365 days a year
Advantage #1: Low Maintenance
The cost to have personnel cut grass, paint the lines, water and fertilize takes time and money. Many schools or owners of professional teams are willing to make the upfront investment to cut down on the ongoing cost for maintenance and to ensure the field is of a quality playing surface.
Some professional teams do maintain a grass field because they are able to afford the maintenance crew and can bring in sod if a portion of the field gets torn up on a Sunday afternoon. However, many high schools and colleges do not have this same luxury due to budget or labor constraints.
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Advantage #2: Great in all weather conditions
If it rains several inches the day before a big game, the coach and players do not have to worry about the field being extremely muddy and causing a slow game due to the poor conditions. Snow can be removed from the field and a drainage system helps remove even the heaviest of downpours.
This allows the game to be played on a quality playing surface and enables the best team that day to win the game. The outcome of the game is not impacted by a poor playing surface that has been impacted by severe storms.
Most coaches simply want an even playing field and for the game not to be impacted by a below average playing surface with several inches of mud.
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Advantage #3: Access 365 days a year
A high school or college can use a field 365 days a year without fear of the field becoming “torn up” or muddy due to overuse. This allows soccer and football games to be played frequently without having to limit use to the field. In many communities, high schools have made the investment as teams of all levels can use the main field as well as the community recreation departments.
It becomes a point of pride in a community to have a wonderful playing surface that can be used more than 15 times per year. It is not uncommon to see softball and baseball teams using turf for early season practices when their field might still be too wet.
Overall, the ability to use a field as often as needed without fear of destroying the field frees Athletic Directors and Recreation Directors from the stress of managing the condition of a playing surface.
How long does an Artificial Surface last?
10 to 20 years. It will often come down to the maintenance and care provided as well as the frequency of the use. The length will vary from community to community depending on these several key factors.
Advantages of Real Grass
- Tradition
- Potential Safety
Advantage #1: Tradition
You have the true traditionalist that believes football should be played on a real grass field. If it is wet and muddy, they want to see that type of game. They do not worry about the overall playing conditions or the maintenance that is involved. They believe this is “real football” when it is played on grass in difficult conditions in the months of November and December. They might believe the more mud and the more rain, the better.
Advantage #2: Potential Safety
There is a recent push by the NFL players union to return NFL stadiums to real grass fields. There is thought that it is a safer playing surface for the players. The union has a job to help players maximize their career and avoid injury in whatever means possible.
Final Thoughts
The artificial surface is an amazing addition to any school or community. At the end of the day, the more you can use the field and keep kids and students playing athletics and being involved the better! When you can add lights to a turf field, it provides many hours after school on the weekdays and weekends when the community and the school can utilize this impressive playing surface!
