​About 60 pounds of material were recently swept up

September 20, 2023  By Turf & Rec

Pieces of artificial turf from a Vancouver Island high school have reportedly made their way into nearby Bowker Creek.

The playing surface was installed three years ago at Oak Bay High School. The director of the Friends of Bowker Creek Society said group members recently swept up about 60 pounds of the material which he says clump together during warmer weather.

The material has been found in the creek and along its banks as well as at a shopping complex about 400 metres away. Washed into the creek via storm drains, the society’s director fears the creek’s water quality is being compromised.

He suggests the field be replace with natural grass.
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​For the first time, the NFLPA says it's concerned about risks from the PFAS chemicals used to make the plastic playing fields.

by David Gambacorta, Barbara Laker, and Marcus Hayes
Published Sep. 19, 2023, 5:00 a.m. ET

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​'How many more players have to get hurt on artificial turf?'

September 12, 2023  By Turf & Rec

A game-ending ankle injury to New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has renewed debate over the safety of artificial turf.

Rodgers appeared to have caught his foot in the artificial turf and left the game afterwards.
David Bakhtiari, a former teammate of Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers, posted on social media, “How many more players have to get hurt on artificial turf? You care more about soccer players than us.”

Bakhtiari’s reference was to stadiums replacing artificial turf with natural grass for the coming World Cup of soccer. He suggested all National Football League stadiums replace artificial turf with natural grass to cut back on further player injuries.

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 by StudyFinds Staff

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Playing sports can be dangerous. However, one study notes that the playing surface an athlete is standing on can significantly impact their risk of suffering a concussion. A researcher at the University of Hawai’i explains that playing on synthetic turf fields can increase the risk of a serious head injury in comparison to playing on natural grass.

The study, presented at the 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, highlights the importance of considering the safety of the playing surface itself in athletics.
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Ian Chun, a medical student at the University of Hawai’i, conducted the study. He compared the impact deceleration of manikins on natural grass and synthetic turf high school football fields. The findings showed that synthetic turf fields had a greater impact on an athlete’s ability to slow down, indicating an increased risk of injuries due to contact with the playing surface.

While injuries in sports have always been a part of the game, the focus on player safety has shifted in recent years. The study emphasizes the need to consider the spaces where we play and their impact on athlete safety. Synthetic turf fields, although favored for their lower maintenance costs, have been associated with ankle and knee injuries, and now, a potentially higher risk of concussions.

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