Turf or Grass ?

[BelieveITorNot]

I'm seeing more and more turf fields popping up throughout the state. It looks really good but isn't really the safest for players (KNEES & TOES). It seems that making hard cuts on turf does damage to the knees and toes. I also see the NFL is working toward moving to all grass. I love the turf look but I love the smell and softness of grass plus player health even more. What's your view on it? 

[SweetScience]

43 minutes ago, BelieveITorNot said:

I'm seeing more and more turf fields popping up throughout the state. It looks really good but isn't really the safest for players (KNEES & TOES). It seems that making hard cuts on turf does damage to the knees and toes. I also see the NFL is working toward moving to all grass. I love the turf look but I love the smell and softness of grass plus player health even more. What's your view on it? 

Personally, I miss the old grass fields at the HS level. When a few top football schools around East TN (namely, Maryville and the like) went to the artificial turf fields, everyone else followed suit. It always came over to me as a follow the leader type thing. After Oak Ridge played East Hamilton (who has a grass field), I heard a few of our players after the game exclaim how they liked their natural grass field a lot better than the artificial surface we now have at OR.

[Cactus Jack]

I would prefer grass IF it is properly maintained year round. To properly get a field ready to play in August, prep needs to start in February, to repair it, sod it, sprig it or whatever needs to be done. Then seed it and during the summer make sure it is watered on a regular basis. IF all that is done right, you can have a really nice grass field. Of course repairs, mowing, marking continue during the season and the field should be covered in case of downpours and snow. If all that can't be done and/or the weather in the area is really bad after October, turf is the best bet. 

[orngnblk]

1 hour ago, Cactus Jack said:

I would prefer grass IF it is properly maintained year round. To properly get a field ready to play in August, prep needs to start in February, to repair it, sod it, sprig it or whatever needs to be done. Then seed it and during the summer make sure it is watered on a regular basis. IF all that is done right, you can have a really nice grass field. Of course repairs, mowing, marking continue during the season and the field should be covered in case of downpours and snow. If all that can't be done and/or the weather in the area is really bad after October, turf is the best bet. 

We "Greenback" have a great grass field but we were told it's going to Turf in the offseason and to me it's very dissapointing,I love the history behind that grass field.Me and my sons all played on it,now it will be a memory!

[Red Rebels]

Our old grass field was as hard as a rock during the playoffs. It had been used as a football field for over 100 years. There was also a slope towards one end zone.

If you can maintain a pristine grass field, that’s the way to go, but we use the heck out of our field.

[HTV]

Grass is preferrable, but not realistic for most.  Many schools don't have adequate facilities for football, soccer, band, and lacrosse to all practice and play games on.  They have to share a stadium.  Artificial turf gives flexibility to all and makes maintaining the facilities much easier. 

Plus, grass is great, until we get extended rains or rains on game night.  Turf saves on game conditions and the time it takes to heal grass after use in wet or soft conditions.  

And the newer turfs are not as penal from an injury standpoint as they were a decade or two back.  

 

[Cactus Jack]

I once asked a Head Coach what he preferred as far as grass or turf and his answer was simple: "With the weather you have here in East Tennessee, turf"

[SheriffofRedRock]

Turf is easier to maintain throughout its life and people are lazy. I am curious to see what areas like Knox Co & Sevier Co do when those turf surfaces need to be re done. Both counties had their turf donated.
They claimed to last around 10 years. Will all the sports being played on it throughout multiple age groups I think some will need it sooner than later. I doubt Pilot or Dolly would want to have to donate it all over again. As much as they could afford it I’d be willing to bet the 2nd time around won’t be as forthcoming. I know Dolly has less schools if she wanted to do it again. Knox Co better find a solution soon

[HTV]

On 12/18/2024 at 7:52 AM, SheriffofRedRock said:

. I am curious to see what areas like Knox Co & Sevier Co do when those turf surfaces need to be re done. Both counties had their turf donated.
They claimed to last around 10 years. Will all the sports being played on it throughout multiple age groups I think some will need it sooner than later. I doubt Pilot or Dolly would want to have to donate it all over again. As much as they could afford it I’d be willing to bet the 2nd time around won’t be as forthcoming. I know Dolly has less schools if she wanted to do it again. Knox Co better find a solution soon

The Knox County facilities that were among the first to get turf installed are coming up on having it replaced.  

And, yes, there are corporates involved in footing the bill, in exchange for advertising exposure, as was the case with Pilot.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  

One difference is that there won't be anybody taking a big commission from the monies donated for the turf install this time around.  

[SheriffofRedRock]

5 hours ago, HTV said:

The Knox County facilities that were among the first to get turf installed are coming up on having it replaced.  

And, yes, there are corporates involved in footing the bill, in exchange for advertising exposure, as was the case with Pilot.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  

One difference is that there won't be anybody taking a big commission from the monies donated for the turf install this time around.  

That is huge for Knox co 

[cbg]

Personally, I prefer natural grass over turf but it's not realistic anymore.  You now have varsity football, JV football, freshmen football, boys' and girls' varsity lacrosse, boys and girls JV lacrosse, boys' and girls' varsity soccer and boys and girls JV soccer all using one field for games.  Turf is the only option!

[gcapride]

On 12/13/2024 at 7:26 PM, orngnblk said:

We "Greenback" have a great grass field but we were told it's going to Turf in the offseason and to me it's very dissapointing,I love the history behind that grass field.Me and my sons all played on it,now it will be a memory!

I like the old grass fields too. Grace was the 1st school in East TN to install turf but it was due to major drainage issues on the old field. Just ask South Pitt, who played GCA in the final game on our old grass (mud bowl) field. Turf was a necessity for us, whether we wanted to or not....