The development of mandatory practices for the testing and maintenance of synthetic turf fields in the National Football League

Abstract

AbstractSynthetic turf has become an increasingly common playing surface in athletics. Synthetic turf maintenance and athlete health are related and are important considerations at all levels of play. As part of the development of testing practices for the National Football League (NFL) game‐day surfaces, a literature search of MEDLINE and PubMed between the years 1990 and 2018 was conducted. Additionally, a taskforce was convened, and expert opinion was solicited from members through systematic interviews regarding synthetic turf design and maintenance practices in the NFL. All game‐day synthetic turf manufacturers were routinely solicited for input during development and implementation of the mandatory practices. Appropriate maintenance practices can improve the consistency of a synthetic playing surface. Methods for evaluating surface hardness and other aspects of synthetic turf have been developed. The relationships between current hardness testing methods and injury outcomes have been studied but are not well established. Consensus methods for evaluating surface traction and cleat release at potentially injurious loading levels are currently unavailable and needed. Mandatory practices were developed and have been implemented by the NFL, which have resulted in more consistent playing surfaces over the course of a season. Despite the extant gaps in knowledge, a formalized set of testing practices and maintenance has proven effective for reducing surface variability across synthetic surfaces in the NFL. Characteristics such as surface hardness, traction, and shoe–surface interaction, and the effects of surface maintenance procedures should be the focus of future research.