FREE ESSAY ON ARTIFICIAL TURF

ARTIFICIAL TURF

SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform my audience about the dangers of artificial turf and why a
natural playing surface is better.
INTRODUCTION: Down! Seeeeet! Hut! Hut! The ball is snapped and you race down the field,
focusing on one thing only. Ten…twelve…fifteen yards, fake left, cut right.
"No fear" you say to yourself as you dance through the heart of the defense. Now the ball
is thrown, caught, and you turn upfield. Running like a scared rabbit, zigzagging all
over the field, making people miss, you only have one man left to beat. Planting your
right leg for the cut that will turn this move into a Sportscenter moment, your body
shifts. But something goes wrong. From your knee up you do what you want, leaning and
turning, but your foot has caught the turf and your leg stays planted. With a sickening
pop that anyone within ten yards of you can hear, you drop as if you were shot. In that
moment you realize that it is all over. You just obliterated your knee. 
I. Why choose turf?
A. Originally thought to be cheaper. 1 million dollars and a life of about 10 years
B. Less maintenance- no reseeding, mowing, etc.
II. Invention of Astroturf
A. Astroturf was originally intended to be used for playgrounds in inner city schools,
but it was found to be too expensive to fit into most school budgets
1. Turned to sports stadiums after failure to be used in schools
INTERNAL SUMMARY: Having provided you with some background on artificial turf ,I will
explain how the "benefits' aren't really beneficial and how grass fields are better
II. Cheaper??
A. The 1 million dollars covered the installation, and owners originally thought this to
be a bargain because they would save on maintenance
B. Includes more than just vacuuming., steaming, chemicals, re-painting
C. Grass costs less to put in, but more on the upkeep, reseeding, etc. about 300,000 for
a good field and anywhere from 30-100 thousand a year to keep it
III. Dangerous Environment
A. Turf has caused more injuries than natural grass..
B. NFL studies show that turf fields average one more serious injury a year than natural
grass.
C. Turf also causes more small injuries, rugburns, etc..
1. ground and grass in a ball, brick and sponge
D. Serious debilitating injuries-Wendell Davis, Merril Hoge
E. Bigger stronger faster players F=MV
IV. Latest Developments
A. Many stadiums have switched in the past 10-15 years, Soldier Field, KC, Tampa,
Foxboro, most recently Meadowlands
B. Baltimore is going with a new type of turf, natural grass seeded with an artificial
fabric woven in to protect the roots with a heating system underground to protect the
grass and make it so they can grow it all year round. Softest, plushest field voted in 97
for the NFL
Conclusion: Astroturf was an idea that had a totally different purpose than it does now
and currently causes a large number of injuries, simple injuries that could be avoided
merely by playing on natural surfaces. Besides, when was the last time you went to the
ball park, closed your eyes, and let the scent of freshly vacuumed carpet fill your nose
.