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AstroTurf partners with University of Tennessee on $1.5 million research center
2 Aug, 2009 Athletic Turf NewsKNOXVILLE, TN — The University of Tennessee has partnered with AstroTurf to create the Center for Safer Athletic Fields, which will compare natural grass playing surfaces to synthetic surfaces. With the goal of improving athletic performance and reducing injuries, this initiative will provide the most comprehensive, on-going comparison of synthetic surfaces to natural grass.
Located at the UT Institute of Agriculture¹s East Tennessee Research and
Education Center in Knoxville, the new turfgrass center¹s geographic location will enable scientists to conduct research on a variety of surfaces from both cool and warm season climates.
The outdoor research facility will comprise 60 small-scale athleti research fields constructed from a variety of playing surfaces. UT turfgrass scientists will compare the safety and performance of synthetic playing surfaces to natural grass surfaces. Field qualities will range from those employed for professional level sports to surfaces used by schools, public parks and recreation fields.
While determining the safety and performance of AstroTurf products compared to various natural turfgrass systems, UT turfgrass scientists will also
monitor these relationships over time. Additionally, they will evaluate the
environmental impacts of each system. The research should lead to the
development of new, more accurate methods for testing the safety and performance of all synthetic turf systems.
Dr. John Sorochan, associate professor and turfgrass specialist with the
Department of Plant Sciences in the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and
Natural Resources, has one of the most extensive sports turf research
programs in the country with more than 15 years experience. He is a board
member of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA).
Dr. Jim Brosnan, assistant professor and turfgrass specialist has developed
tools for testing sports turf surfaces. He is the STMA representative to the
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). The UT Turfgrass Team is rounded out by Tom Samples, UT Extension turfgrass specialist and Brandon Horvath, a turfgrass pathologist.
Together the team has developed turfgrass management programs for sports
field managers and has served as consultants to the National Football
League, Major League Baseball and professional soccer teams. They advise and consult internationally with sports field managers for cricket, soccer,
football, golf, baseball and Olympic venues.
"This is a pioneering effort in conducting research with an emphasis on
athletic field safet, " Brosnan said. ³Historically, sports turf research
and maintenance have not been well supported. We are honored to partner
with AstroTurf, the industry¹s leader in product development. Because of
our vision for a comprehensive research project, we selected the only
partner that controls all facets of synthetic turf manufacturing from
polymer development to installation."
"Advancing the science behind our products is critical to delivering the
best solutions for athletes and the sports turf industry," noted Bryan
Peeples, President of AstroTurf. "This research partnership demonstrates
AstroTurf¹s commitment to enabling our industry to provide the safest
systems for the players and the environment."
Natural surfaces will be planted with Bermudagrass, Kentucky bluegrass and
others. Both mechanical and human studies will be performedcreate real play conditions. Rod Walters, world-renowned in the athletic training industry, helped with the design and provided input on the infrastructure for the research areas to be involved in human performance and biomechanics.
The research will be scientifically-based for statistical analysis.
"AstoTurf is taking a leadership role in research in this area," said Sorochan. "They want to know how their product performs — especially
compared to natural grass -- and find ways to make it as safe as possible
for their customers and the athletes that play on it."
"We are interested in credible, unbiased, fact-based research to test our
products," added Peeples."Taking the lead in developing standards that do
not exist today allows us to develop the best products. When a client says
OShow me the data,¹ we will have what they need to make an informed
decision."
The project will also further education for University of Tennessee
students. "At the UT Institute of Agriculture, research, teaching and
outreach go hand in hand. This project will enable us to enhance our
teaching programs in that we will be able to add another level to our
curriculum to train and educate future sports turf practition," Sorochan
said.
Construction of the Center will take six to eight weeks with ground breaking
to take place this summer or early fall.
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