How is that Turf Working for You?

Artificial turf, or plastic grass, is fast becoming the standard for Montgomery County. Soon every high school - and some middle schools and elementary schools, will have the benefit of that ever so good looking green plastic adorning playing fields.

But - we keep asking, is this really good for our kids and others who play sports?

Our neighbors in DC are beginning to rethink artificial turf.

As reported in The Washington Post, 

On Tuesday, the city abruptly closed 15 of its 52 artificial turf fields, saying the rubberized surface was too hard for athletes to use them — with spots that were more like concrete than grass. The closures upended plans for D.C. Stoddert Soccer’s opening weekend and sidelined many of the nearly 6,000 children who play in the city’s largest league.

Fortunately for DC residents, eight of the 15 fields were repaired and reopened by Friday - just a mere three days later. Weather permitting, the rest will be open by Monday.

Do you think that we would get similar service in MoCo?

First - we wouldn't close our fields. Our kids would keep playing on them regardless of the heat, and how high the temperatures climb. 

Second - repairs? We don't do repairs in MoCo. Look at our schools, where are kids are require to receive an education. If the county doesn't repair the air conditioning and heating units in the schools, the county cannot be expected to repair athletic fields, for extracurricular activities.

Finally - work on a weekend? Be serious. Not happening in MoCo. Ever see a snowplow on a weekend when schools have been shut? 

So what's the harm if our kids continue to play on plastic grass that is hard. Again, from the Post article:

Signs posted at closed fields warned users that the surfaces had recently failed a “hardness test” and that “there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a fall on this field.” 

That means when a player falls, the ground absorbs less of the impact and their bodies absorb more, increasing the chance a player gets injured. One study estimated that about 15 percent of concussions in high school sports are due to players hitting their heads on rubberized turf.

So - when your MoCo athlete starts getting more injuries this year, remember - you can always move to DC, where the artificial turf is greener - and a bit softer than in MoCo.