Creating "Fields of Dreams" that are Safe for ParticipantsDR. MITIELSTAEDT ADDRESSES SAFETY CONCERNS WITH SOCCER, RUGBY AND FOOTBALL FIELDS & FACILITIES

occer, rugby and football fieldsand facilities safety is an increas-ing concern in sports and athlet-ics because of the alarmingnumber of injuries being reported

to the Consumer Product Safety Commis-sion. This concern puts pressure on FieldOperators, Turf Managers, MaintenanceSupervisors and others to have safe play-ing fields.A "field of dreams" is created from a con-sistent set of proven guidelines and safetystandards to ensure consistency around thecountry. As opposed to synthetic or artifi-cial turf fields, natural turf sports fieldshave a unique array of variable challengesbecause of the field conditions created bya multitude of environmental factors. Syn-thetic or artificial turf fields bear otherchallenges.

Turf is only one portion of the wholethat makes a field safer. Hopefully, otherresearchers who also address turf fieldsafety will outline the scope of clinical andscientific research into the standard guidesor practices being developed for both natu-ral and artificial turfs. This article ad-dresses some of the other factors that makeup the whole through the total plan/designprocess.

A planner should engage in varioussteps or phases in providing a sports fieldto create a safe environment for playersas well as officials and spectators. Thedays of the makeshift open lawn must beforgotten or the injuries will continue togrow. The field and equipment used to-day is much more sophisticated and theinfluence of the player mind set and tech-nology necessitates careful planning, de-signing and engineering processes tominimize the potential for injury prior to,during and after the game. All physicalplanning, designing and engineering ispredicated on function dictates form.

Early in the development of a new field,the owner of the potential sports turf field

12 WINTER 2002 I Sports Turf Manager

must apply sound and proven guidelines(which unfortunately are scatteredthroughout textbooks) in planning anddesigning or retain the best possible ad-vice to reduce exposure to risks.

The planning process is often subjectto analysis as a source for basic causes ofinjury which result in liability. For exam-ple, there is no complete list of such meas-ures and the base norm for each cause ofinjury has not been compiled. Therefore,objective comparisons can not be madefor the different types of fields. There is acomposite list of ASTM specifications,ISO specifications, DIN specifications andothers, with no cross comparisons avail-able for objective analysis and decision.

The owner or operator of a field mustin hislher designing/engineering processretain consultants who know and are re-sponsible for the execution and implemen-tation of the standards of care as well asdesign to reduce participant exposure torisks. They must be aware of the follow-ing guides:

ProgramThe scale or dominance of the larger

environs that the field is within must in-fluence reasonable supervision and sur-veillance. The extent and intensity ofprograms that will use the field will influ-ence the type of turf.

Scale of EquipmentThe user age, sex and skill level group

must influence all equipment. The type ofgame being played must establish the fieldclassification and boundaries. The rela-tionship of fields and appurtenance andof facilities of one to another must be har-monious and complementary in encour-aging and facilitating ball playing.

Field TurfThe turf surface can by synthetic (arti-

ficial) or natural. Synthetic materials can

be soft or firm; they can be piled, turfed,graveled or smoothed; they can be rolled,poured, paneled or sprayed. The ingredi-ents of the turf can be rubber, polymer,pigment, PVC, thermset, thermosplastic,and a host of other new high tech materi-als. Synthetic products also havesubstrates which are of varied ingredients.

Synthetic or artificial tuifhas both prosand cons for players and operators. To theplayers, the top coats and shoe or foot-wear has interaction, surface disfigures orstays in place; the surface has a resiliencyor non resiliency; the ball responds orbounces; the surface dries rapidly, has acooling effect, is picturesque, affects ballspeed, has traction or gives, and a host ofother factors.

To the operator, the surface has to drain.be easily repaired, be durable, stable, andeasil y installed.

In addition, there are a variety of othertest methods that are measured to com-pare topcoat and substrate ingredients.These include linear coefficient of expan-sion, tensile strength, elongation, moistureabsorption, hardness range, compressionset, temperature stability, compressionproperties, density, pile height, thickness,coefficient of restitution, abrasion resist-ance, flame resistance, coefficient of fric-tion, thermal conductivity, oil resistance,ozone resistance, solvent resistance, liq-uid extends, water resistance, low tempresistance, colour retention, tear resistanceand other criteria.

Natural tuifhas a corresponding attrac-tion to players and operators. As a result,the former debate over concern goes on.In addition to the real or perceived prefer-ential concerns there are correspondingtechnical factors that can be measured asevidenced in the artificial turf. In addition,the hardness, growing treatments, drain-age, aerating, mowing, vacuuming and ahost of other conditions applicable to anatural material must be reviewed. In es-

sence, a natural turf is not more resilientthan artificial turf. However, it is perceivedto be softer to the player.

IlluminationLighting and the actual field lights are

critical to safety. The illumination level forsoccer is 20 footcandles for the field. Theair should be checked for contaminantsthat can cause the reflector surface tochange by increasing diffusion and de-creasing total reflection resulting in lesstotal light energy leaving the face of thelight with less lumens. There should beno shadows on the field which may createunsafe catching, nor should there be anyglare or irregular bright patches.

All stanchions or poles should be outof the field of play. If because of spacelimitations they are in the outfield, theyand any other obstruction should be superpadded for impact attenuation of a crashencounter and a sufficient buffer or warn-ing zone placed around the pole. Thereshould be no other changes in gradearound the pole that could create a trip-ping hazard.

OrientationThere are various thoughts as to the

orientation of fields. It depends uponwhere the field is and the time the gamesare to be played.

BarriersThroughout a field area and more par-

ticularly around the perimeter of the field,barriers are required for different pur-poses, i.e. security, isolation, enclosure,separation, noise abatement, wind screen-ing, sun screening, pedestrian and vehicu-lar traffic control along with protection.Each of these purposes must be kept in

mind when selecting the placement andtype of barriers. However, the purpose isto prevent players from contacting ob-structions and to prevent spectators frombeing hit by the ball.

The barrier should protect sidelinespectators, bleacher spectators, players inplayer benches and pedestrians movingaround the field. The barrier should be aminimum of six feet in height and with-out cross pipe or H beams that could becontacted by a player hitting or brush-ing against them. Outfield fencing net-ting should be placed on the field sideof the post. Advertising boards placedon the fence should be outside the fieldof play.

Player Bench SpaceThe space set aside for players, coaches

and others involved in the game must be aprotected area. Often it is thought that dug-outs are open, however, because of thenumber of injuries, a shield of shatterproof glass or plastic is in front of seatedplayers and the entrance from it to lockerrooms or area beyond. The barrier shouldbe at least at the six foot height from astanding person in the space.

Kicking CageThe space for kicking practice should

have perimeter barrier screening andscreening around the area the ball is hitinto - either a close-in net ora larger area.The screening should be doubled so thatshould a ball hit it and it gives with theimpact, anyone standing or walking bythe area will not be impacted.

The floor area should have a minimalpitch enough to run off any water and of arough texture to provide foot transition.Appropriate warning signage should bedisplayed.

Dr. Arthur H. Mittelstaedt is ExecutiveDirector, Sports Field Safety Consultantof the Recreation Safety Institute. The In-stitute is a national and international as-sociation of experts and specialists inrecreation, sports, play and related fields.Their mailing address is P. O. Box 392,Ronkonkoma, NY 11779, phone (516)883-6399 .•

Editors note: Dr. Mittelstaedt will bespeaking at the 2003 Ontario TurfgrassSymposium. His session Update on SportsTurf and Field Standards is scheduled forThursday, January 23, 2003.

www.sporlslurfassociation.comIWINTER 2002 13