Play It Safe: How to Check Your Synthetic Turf is Game-Day Ready & Avoid Risk of Athlete Injuries
Fall is an exciting time of colorful foliage, back-to-school excitement, apple picking, and the return of fall sports. Before kicking off the season and getting your team ready for the big game, it’s important to ensure that your athletic field turf is safe and in top condition to minimize the risk of any injuries. In this blog, we’ll discuss five key safety checks to complete as you prepare your athletic field for the season.
Artificial Turf Offers a Low-Cost, Low-Maintenance, Low-Risk Surface for Indoor & Outdoor Athletic Fields
To have a natural grass field, you must endure lots of expenses and time-consuming maintenance processes. To cut down on costs and allow yourself more time to practice and prepare for the game, consider installing artificial turf on your indoor or outdoor field. Not only is artificial turf low-maintenance and long-lasting, but it also provides a safe surface for athletes to enjoy their favorite sports. With its non-slip texture, artificial turf allows for the same movement and agility as natural grass while also providing a soft surface for athletes to land on.
Get A Quote On Turf Installation
Importance of Inspecting Your Athletic Turf Before Each Game
While artificial turf is a safe surface for athletes, regular inspection and maintenance should be conducted to ensure that your field is in optimal playing condition. As you continue to use your turf, foot traffic, and weather can cause natural wear and tear over time. Although this is normal and expected over time, any signs of damage must be repaired before they can pose a risk to the players.
5 Safety Checks to Perform on Your Atheltic Turf Before Game Play to Avoid Injuries
Before the athletes take to the field, here are five safety checks you should perform on your artificial turf to ensure that it is safe for regulation play:
Check for Level, Smooth Playing Surface Across the Entire Turf
A key factor in avoiding injuries is ensuring the playing surface is even and completely level. Uneven surfaces can cause athletes to lose their balance, leading to potential sprains or falls that could result in serious injury. During play, loose turf can bunch up and pose a tripping risk or lead the ball to bounce in an unexpected direction.
Pull Any Invasive Plants or Weeds
Since outdoor turfs are installed on top of natural soil ground, invasive plants and weeds can pop up from time to time. Pull any visible weeds or other vegetation that could make the field uneven or put athletes at risk of tripping during play.
Patch Any Holes or Rips in the Turf
If you find any holes, rips, or other signs of damage in the artificial turf, patch it with a suitable material as soon as possible. Athletes and on-field sporting officials can easily trip or fall over the smallest of holes, so any damage should be addressed immediately.
Fill in Any Missing Infill for Maximum Protection
The infill that is placed in between the turf fibers helps protect athletes from injury and provides a more cushioned playing surface. Over time, this infill can become compacted due to foot traffic or weathering to make an uneven playing surface. To ensure that your field remains safe and offers maximum protection during play, make sure to fill up any areas where the infill has become compacted or is missing.
Drain Any Excess Water from Rainfall or Cleaning to Avoid Slips
Regular cleaning and rainfall can cause water to accumulate on the surface of the turf. Although drainage mechanisms are put in place, sometimes this water can pool and create a slipping hazard for athletes. To keep your players safe, make sure to mop up or drain any excess water gathering on the turf’s surface.
Routine Inspections & Maintenance Keeps Indoor & Outdoor Athletic Turf Safe for Athletes All Year-Round
Regular inspection and maintenance are key to keeping your turf in good condition all year round. It will help extend the life of your artificial turf and ensure that athletes can play safely on a level playing surface. It is recommended that you perform these safety checks before every game to ensure that your players are not at risk for any potential injuries. Some professional turf installation companies offer comprehensive maintenance, repair, and inspection packages to keep your turf fields in top condition.
Contact Turf Prep in Boston, MA & Gilford, NH for Atheltic Turf Installations, Line-Painting, Goal-Posts & Netting, Maintenace Packages, & More for Indoor & Outdoor Fields
Keeping your athletic field safe and within regulation is key for any sport. By installing artificial turf, you can save on maintenance costs and provide a safe playing surface for your athletes. To learn more about artificial turf and the best practices for installing it for your home or commercial field, contact Turf Prep. With locations in Boston and Gilford, our team offers professional turf installation, logo and line painting, goalposts and netting adjustment, maintenance packages, repairs, and more for Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents. To learn more and receive a free quote, visit our website or call us at 1-877-774-TURF.
