Artificial Grass and Football Pitch

History

• The use of artificial turf may be traced back to the 1950s, when "chem grass" (nylon fiber carpets) was first developed. In the1960s, it was put into use in a number of large facilities such as the Astrodome in Houston -- hence the subsequent replacement of the name "chem grass" with "AstroTurf."

Types

• Two "generations" of artificial soccer sport grass have followed the introduction of AstroTurf in the 1960s. In the 1970s, polypropylene (sand-filled carpets) were developed as a better alternative to AstroTurf, and, in the 1990s, long nylon synthetic grass carpets with sand and rubber granules were introduced as a improvement to polypropylene.

Benefits

• Artificial-grass soccer fields are typically low-maintenance; they require no watering or grooming. They also maintain their look in all seasons. Most developed today are environmentally friendly. The latest designs facilitate improved air circulation and reduced impact when athletes fall.

Debate

• Though first-generation artificial surfaces have been linked to higher incidences of acute soccer injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament tears, concussions and ankle sprains, recent studies by UEFA -- European soccer's governing body -- and researchers in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at St. Marianna University have found that neither acute injuries nor complaints of chronic pain are increased in players who train and/or play on third-generation synthetic grass.