Artificial turf improves play

Tecumseh Vista Academy finished installing their new AstroTurf football field, in August,.

More young football teams are playing on artificial turf but many players find it more challenging than grass. It is the second field in Windsor to have artificial turf. This type of field was chosen due to the poor quality of many grass fields and football teams need a well-maintained field to play on into November.

Dave Hawkins, head coach of the Vista Vortex football team, he said the new AstroTurf is easier to play on compared to grass fields.

“The field doesn’t get as muddy, so our kids don’t have to clean their uniforms as often,” said Hawkins. “It also drains better than other fields and this helps to speed up play.”

Hawkins said he hasn’t seen any disadvantages to having an artificial grass field and while the grass still requires maintenance it stays in better condition for longer.

Stephen Ristovski, 15, has been playing on the Vista Vortex football team for two years. He said the team really likes the new field but adjusting to it can be a challenge.

“This field is less slippery than other fields so you can stop a lot sooner,” said Ristovski. “The ball also bounces more so it’s hard to get used to.”

Originally planned to be ready for Vista’s 2011 opening year, bad weather and an early winter delayed installation until August 2012.

The artificial grass is more durable than regular grass but requires more upkeep. The Votex team was the first to play on their new field but other high school teams such as Belle River, Kennedy and Catholic Central play there when Windsor Stadium and other fields are in use of in poor condition, said Hawkins.

Artificial turf is made of a blend of nylon, polypropylene and polyethylene, according to SYNLawn Windsor’s website. This helps fields to look better for a longer period of time and does not require much maintenance. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s website, many fields use recycled products such as ground rubber from old tires to “provide stability, uniformity and resiliency to artificial turf fields.”