#SaferFields: The NFL Players Fight Against Artificial Turf

By Conner Gordon

Courtesy: Daniel X. O'Neil (Flickr)

NFL Players and the NFL Player's Association have taken to social media to call for the NFL to ban some or all artificial turf in every stadium across the League. The demand for the ban comes from studies that have shown artificial turf may put players at a greater risk for non-contact injuries, such as torn ACLs or Achilles tendons.

Players have expressed their dislike of artificial turf for years, but the push for a ban has accelerated over the past few months, with players across the League tweeting "#SaferFields" and expressing their opinions regarding turf fields. Following these tweets, the NFLPA released an official statement calling on the NFL to ban slit film turf and force all teams to transition their fields to natural grass, or safer turf alternatives.

What is Artificial Turf?

Artificial turf was invented in the early 1960s, and gained popularity just a few years later when it was installed in the Houston Astrodome in 1966. The turf was installed due to natural grass struggling to survive in the Astrodome. ChemGrass, which later became known as AstroTurf, was much more durable and required less maintenance than grass, making it ideal for usage in the Astrodome.

At the time of the AstroTurf's installation in Houston, only the MLB's Houston Astros played there. When the NFL's Houston Oilers moved in before the 1968 season, it began a trend of NFL teams adopting AstroTurf as the surface for their playing field. Today, 14 out of the 30 NFL stadiums use some form of artificial turf.

Artificial turf is primarily used because it is significantly more durable, and much easier and cheaper to maintain than natural grass. For NFL teams in cold or heavy precipitation climates, maintaining a natural grass field can be challenging, especially if the stadium is used for other events, such as concerts. Additionally, natural grass needs sunlight to survive, making it difficult to grow in an indoor or domed venue.

Just as there are different species/varieties of grass, there are different kinds of artificial turf used in NFL stadiums. There are three main turf types used throughout the NFL. Monofilament turf is made up of thicker turf blades of different widths standing upright. Slit film turf is similar to monofilament, but the fibers are cut, making them much thinner. Dual fiber combines both monofilament and slit film fibers.

Houston Astrodome (1969) Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Side View of Turf Field Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Grass lawn (left) vs Turf lawn (right) Courtesy: Cory Doctorow (Flickr)

Breakdown of Different Kinds of Turf Courtesy: The Motz Group

Why Are NFL Players Against Turf?

While some NFL players are against turf entirely, the NFLPA has only requested slit film turf to be permanently banned, due to significant safety concerns. Research has shown injuries are far more likely on slit film turf than on any other surface in the NFL, according to the NFLPA. However, NFLPA President and former NFL player JC Tretter wrote an article nearly two years ago advocating for all teams to switch to natural grass.

Many NFL players claim that turf fields feel significantly harder when they are played on, lacking the softness and natural give that grass has. The players say this places greater pressure on the joints in their bodies, taking a greater physical toll. Running, jumping, and falling on a turf surface is much harder when the body is forced to absorb more of the impact not taken in by the turf, according to players.

"Whenever I practiced on an artificial field surface, my joints felt noticeably stiffer the next day. The unforgiving nature of artificial turf compounds the grind on the body we already bear from playing a contact sport," wrote NFLPA president JC Tretter.

Additionally, players have told stories of falling on turf fields and experiencing something similar to rug burn. Because turf is made of different types of plastic, the surface is rougher and can cause lacerations on the skin.

Finally, there is the belief that turf places players at an increased risk for non-contact injuries. Players have described the surface of turf fields, especially slit film turf, as stickier than grass. This means that a player's foot, especially when wearing cleats, sticks much harder and much longer into the ground. This creates potential scenarios where if a player is hit in the legs, his feet will remain planted in the ground and cause his knees or feet to bend, whereas the foot may slide out from under him on a grass surface.

There have been a number of non-contact injuries throughout the NFL on turf fields where all a player was doing was running. When a player goes to plant his leg, in some instances the ACL or Achilles tendon gives out, simply from the act of running on the field. There is belief among the League that this does not happen as often on grass fields because grass is much softer and absorbs significantly more of the impact.

Additionally, some players have suggested concussions are more frequent on turf fields as well, as the harder surface places more force on the head if a player's head hits the ground. Concussions have been a huge focal point for the NFL in recent years, and turf fields may be another angle for criticism against the League in regards to their prevention of head injuries.

What Does the Science Say?

There are a number of conflicting studies and statistical data sets regarding the injury rate on natural grass and turf fields. Data from the NFL and associated third parties shows a minimal statistical difference, while other studies suggest turf does create a higher risk factor for non-contact injuries.

While significant data and comprehensive studies are still lacking in this area, medical experts believe there is medical evidence and biomechanical facts to back up concerns shared by the players.

"The ground has reactive forces that go through the lower extremities and through the shoe, if the surface has less give, a disproportionate force is placed on the joints," said Hofstra University assistant professor of orthopedic surgery Dr. Adam Bitterman.

The force being placed on the joints is a significant concern of the players, as too much force on the body can cause significant injury.

"Tendons connect muscles to bones, the tendon lengthens as it contracts, and it can snap just like a rubber band," Bitterman said.

Injuries such as a torn ACL or ruptured Achilles tendon require a significant rehab process, with the average recovery time taking anywhere from six months to a year. However, in addition to the lengthy rehab process, there are concerns that even after rehab the athlete will never be the same.

"There's major concerns that these are career modifying injuries," Bitterman said.

If non-contact injuries caused by turf are potentially altering players careers, then many would argue that this only increases the need for the NFL and its teams to take action.

"You've invested millions of dollars into these players. If the data suggests turf even slightly increases injury risk, why would you not change it?" said Hofstra University associate professor of allied health and kinesiology Kristin LoNigro.

Is Banning Turf the Only Solution?

While banning turf, particularly slit film, may seem like the easiest solution, there are other potential options.

"Cleats have spikes, and different lengths of spikes grip turf differently, and if there's no give or leeway that's when injuries happen," LoNigro said.

"There's significant research going on regarding the shoe. The type of shoe and the shape of the shoe, as well as the spike and how different lengths work on different surfaces," Bitterman said.

If there are different types of turf, and different types of cleats with different spikes, then perhaps the key is to find the correct pairing between shoe and surface. Either way, it is clear more research is needed on this topic, and the debate will likely continue until a resolution is reached, one way or another.