Michigan high schools embrace artificial turf, but safety concerns persist
LANSING – Artificial turf fields are becoming a hallmark at high schools across the state with the Michigan High School Athletic Association reporting around 100 high schools now playing on them.
AstroTurf, one of the largest artificial turf installers in the state, notes that 14 of the 16 sites for high school football playoff games this season use its product.
The company emphasizes the engineered benefits of the fields, which it says are designed for durability, consistent traction, and shock absorption to reduce injury risk.
A study by the University Hospitals Sports Medicine Institute and Case Western Reserve University analyzed data from 26 high school athletic trainers during the 2017-18 seasons.
According to the study, athletes were 58% more likely to sustain an injury during athletic activities on artificial turf, compared to natural surfaces, with significantly higher injury rates observed in football, soccer and rugby.
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AstroTurf says that advanced quality assessments ensure its fields meet performance and safety standards.
James Voos, who chairs of the Orthopedics Departments at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve, said that while the quality of turf has improved significantly in the past five to 10 years, “our study highlights the need to educate high school athletes on the importance of having the right shoes and cleats.”
“Schools also need to adequately maintain the turf to the appropriate quality to reduce injury risk,” he added.
Despite such concerns, several Michigan high schools have recently installed or approved the installation of artificial turf fields.
Western High School in Parma, in Jackson County, refurbished its football field in August with synthetic turf after its grass field faced a grub infestation in the 2022-23 school year.
District Superintendent Mike Smajda said the insects attacked the field, causing large bare spots where the grass pulled away from the soil beneath it.
In the Upper Peninsula, the Breitung Township School Board voted in July to install artificial turf and replace the three-decade-old track at Flivver Field in Kingsford.
David Holmes, the Breitung Township School District superintendent, said, “There is limited use with the current grass field. Adding an artificial turf surface allows the facility to be used in many ways for seven to eight months of the year.”
The district plans to begin construction immediately after the 2025 UP Track and Field Finals, with completion expected before the start of the 2025 athletics season.
Meanwhile, at Alma High School, AstroTurf installed “state-of-the-art RootZone” turf on its football field.
Todd DeWolfe, the president of Novi-based AstroTurf Great Lakes, said, “The system is designed to provide unparalleled performance and longevity.”
He said the new field uses its system to provide a natural grass-like feeling while minimizing the risk of injuries.
The Capital News Service originally published this story
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