New field turf should prevent injury

When field turf began taking root in high school stadiums a decade ago, you couldn’t find many complaints about the fairly new invention. It was a lot safer than astro turf and it required a lot less maintenance than grass. Now, school districts like Graham are realizing the surface can be made even better. “When the board of trustees made the decision to replace the field, they went the extra step and purchased a safety layer,” Graham ISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse said. “It’s an extra layer that goes underneath the surface and really brings down the g-max.” The safety layer under the playing surface will provide a “life-like” feel, reduce injury and increase the longevity of the surface according to the manufacturer, Brock Base Systems. Though the safety layer was offered during the first generation of field turf installation, many school districts balked because of the near-$100,000 price tag. Now, the benefits of the extra layer are being realized. For the rest of this story, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Graham Leader, or subscribe to our online edition.