Artificial Turf and Natural Surface
By Kevin Sims
Minco Superintendent
As you know by now, Minco Public Schools will be having a bond election on November 14th. This bond would fund the building of a new athletic facility which includes a track, areas for field events, and a new football field in which artificial turf will be used as the playing surface. In recent days, people have expressed some concerns and questions about turf vs grass. These concerns and questions are very fair, and I would like to take some time to address this topic.
Football is a sport based on violent collisions. Blocking and tackling are the two most basic and important factors to success on the football field. Most injuries that occur are due to the collision not the playing surface. Statistics show that field related injuries are almost identical in number when it comes to grass. During the first game of the NY Jets season, Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles while playing on turf, and JK Dobbins the lead running back of the Baltimore Ravens Tore his ACL in his knee playing on natural grass. Injuries happen in football. Minco has had their fair share over the last fifteen years. We have played well over 95% of our games on natural grass. The thought that turf is more dangerous is not accurate.
Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek, Chickasha, Alex, El Reno, Mustang, Yukon, Watonga, Oklahoma State University , and most colleges and NFL teams use artificial turf. Scientific research has been used to develop turf to reduce the amount of injuries compared to what occurs on natural grass due to divots and unlevel surfaces. The process of laying a field is not a simple one. This is not done haphazardly. Safety of our student-athletes is a top priority, and we would not use a product if it were not safe, nor we would not take every measure to enhance safety.
Is artificial turf hot when it's 100 degrees outside? Yes, it's hot. It is hot ,and our coaches have guidelines set by the OSSAA and practice times can always be adjusted when those days occur. Common sense prevails folks. Most of our playing and practice is not 100 degrees outside the month of August and early September
An advantage to turf is that it is always level. Coach Wardlaw will keep a well maintained field. There are no divots or holes in turf, and that is safer. Also as the season gets later in October and early November you are playing on dirt and dead grass as opposed to artificial surfaces which have the same consistency all year long.
Some more advantages of artificial turf is that the time it takes to keep a field pristine is reduced tremendously. It means no paint is required. Band will always have a place to practice, and other events can take place easily. I appreciate each question and respect each concern. I do believe the scientific research proves that artificial surfaces constructed properly are safe.