Artificial turf field good investment for Barnegat
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/21/06
BY WAYNE WEDDERMAN JR.
With civil wars, corrupt politicians and terrorism plaguing our world, it's hard to believe that Barnegat's proposal to put artificial turf on its high school football field would generate so many headlines. But it has. And, unfortunately for the young men and women who would benefit from this modification, quite a bit of misinformation has been bandied about.
In high school sports, artificial turf on a varsity football field is not just nice to have. It is becoming the standard. What's more, because the Barnegat Board of Education opens the use of district fields for outside recreational purposes, our fields demand more stringent maintenance to keep them safe and usable.
But there are statistics that drive home this point even further. Consider the following:
Artificial turf is safer for our kids. The American Journal of Sports Medicine completed a study in 2004 that showed head injuries from falls on artificial turf are significantly lower. In 150 football games played on artificial turf fields over five years, 10 players suffered minor concussions. In 90 football games played on grass turf over the same time period, 16 players suffered concussions — one of them serious.
The overall injury rate on natural grass was more than double that of artificial turf. Injuries were also higher on natural grass when the field was wet and any time the temperature was below 69 degrees. Since football is generally a cold weather sport, these statistics must be acknowledged.
In addition, the study shows there was a reduction in the severity of joint injuries, fewer field-contact injuries, no increase in abrasions and no increase in any type of skin infection. No infections have been reported at high schools in Monmouth or Ocean counties where football fields have artificial turf. Occasional staph infection outbreaks at colleges and on the professional level are most often the result of sharing personal items, like towels or razors or unsanitary locker room conditions.
Artificial turf means less maintenance and less money. The grass field we have now is subject to weather conditions. A soaking rain or snowstorm causes mud puddles and divots. In warmer conditions, rain will make the grass grow quickly. Because our kids can't play safely in those conditions, the field must be continually reseeded, resodded, leveled, mowed and cleaned. The time it takes to do all that maintenance is time that our kids could have been using the field.
Artificial turf is extremely porous, allowing for efficient drainage. Water does not pool on turf. Many users report that when it rains the turf is not as slippery as natural grass.
Also, the surface does not hold water, so it does not freeze like natural grass. This eliminates holes, gaps and crevices caused by divots made in natural surfaces that freeze in cold weather and stay until ground thaws in spring.
Throughout the year, we mow our field about 26 times, reseed, fertilize, de-thatch, water and maintain our sprinkler system regularly, remove debris and lawn clippings and repaint the field at a cost of up to $30,000. Grooming and maintenance of artificial turf, including repainting, will cost about $2,000 each year.
Artificial turf allows more diverse use of our field. The 2006-07 school year will be our first varsity season. I want it to be the best for our team. Therefore, our facilities must be top-notch. As a school district, we have the option of opening our fields for public use. It is an option the township Board of Education very much favors.
However, in order to keep our fields safe and in proper condition for our first varsity season, we must make sure they are not damaged through overuse. Grass fields easily wear out. Artificial turf assures the condition of our field will remain the same from day one of our season right on through the playoffs and beyond.
It also makes us the "host with the most" for regional and state conference games and opens more opportunity for community events that need a large area. We will have the facilities and accommodations that make our stadium most desirable. That is a powerful motivator and morale booster for our high school athletes.
The statistics speak for themselves. Artificial turf on the Barnegat High School football field will be a tremendous benefit for the district, its taxpayers and, most importantly, the kids who will use and enjoy their sports and our fields for years to come.
Wayne Wedderman Jr. is head athletic trainer at Barnegat High School.
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/21/06
BY WAYNE WEDDERMAN JR.
With civil wars, corrupt politicians and terrorism plaguing our world, it's hard to believe that Barnegat's proposal to put artificial turf on its high school football field would generate so many headlines. But it has. And, unfortunately for the young men and women who would benefit from this modification, quite a bit of misinformation has been bandied about.
In high school sports, artificial turf on a varsity football field is not just nice to have. It is becoming the standard. What's more, because the Barnegat Board of Education opens the use of district fields for outside recreational purposes, our fields demand more stringent maintenance to keep them safe and usable.
But there are statistics that drive home this point even further. Consider the following:
Artificial turf is safer for our kids. The American Journal of Sports Medicine completed a study in 2004 that showed head injuries from falls on artificial turf are significantly lower. In 150 football games played on artificial turf fields over five years, 10 players suffered minor concussions. In 90 football games played on grass turf over the same time period, 16 players suffered concussions — one of them serious.
The overall injury rate on natural grass was more than double that of artificial turf. Injuries were also higher on natural grass when the field was wet and any time the temperature was below 69 degrees. Since football is generally a cold weather sport, these statistics must be acknowledged.
In addition, the study shows there was a reduction in the severity of joint injuries, fewer field-contact injuries, no increase in abrasions and no increase in any type of skin infection. No infections have been reported at high schools in Monmouth or Ocean counties where football fields have artificial turf. Occasional staph infection outbreaks at colleges and on the professional level are most often the result of sharing personal items, like towels or razors or unsanitary locker room conditions.
Artificial turf means less maintenance and less money. The grass field we have now is subject to weather conditions. A soaking rain or snowstorm causes mud puddles and divots. In warmer conditions, rain will make the grass grow quickly. Because our kids can't play safely in those conditions, the field must be continually reseeded, resodded, leveled, mowed and cleaned. The time it takes to do all that maintenance is time that our kids could have been using the field.
Artificial turf is extremely porous, allowing for efficient drainage. Water does not pool on turf. Many users report that when it rains the turf is not as slippery as natural grass.
Also, the surface does not hold water, so it does not freeze like natural grass. This eliminates holes, gaps and crevices caused by divots made in natural surfaces that freeze in cold weather and stay until ground thaws in spring.
Throughout the year, we mow our field about 26 times, reseed, fertilize, de-thatch, water and maintain our sprinkler system regularly, remove debris and lawn clippings and repaint the field at a cost of up to $30,000. Grooming and maintenance of artificial turf, including repainting, will cost about $2,000 each year.
Artificial turf allows more diverse use of our field. The 2006-07 school year will be our first varsity season. I want it to be the best for our team. Therefore, our facilities must be top-notch. As a school district, we have the option of opening our fields for public use. It is an option the township Board of Education very much favors.
However, in order to keep our fields safe and in proper condition for our first varsity season, we must make sure they are not damaged through overuse. Grass fields easily wear out. Artificial turf assures the condition of our field will remain the same from day one of our season right on through the playoffs and beyond.
It also makes us the "host with the most" for regional and state conference games and opens more opportunity for community events that need a large area. We will have the facilities and accommodations that make our stadium most desirable. That is a powerful motivator and morale booster for our high school athletes.
The statistics speak for themselves. Artificial turf on the Barnegat High School football field will be a tremendous benefit for the district, its taxpayers and, most importantly, the kids who will use and enjoy their sports and our fields for years to come.
Wayne Wedderman Jr. is head athletic trainer at Barnegat High School.
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