FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Knightstalker]

Their was no big snag in the Perkins Stadium turf project.  As BW alluded to, the Field Turf people are scheduled to start laying down the carpet next week.  Landscaping has also started.  No change to visitor seating at the Perk.  Same bleachers - just looks different with all the new concrete.

Interesting story concerning the potential health hazards of field turf. The problem deals with lead in the field turf surface. A couple fields used by children in New Jersey have been closed pending evaluation. Whether or not there is anything to this remains to be seen.  voice or badgerwarkawk, do you know the type of field turf being installed at the Perk; manufacturer, etc?

From what I understand, the problems with the Field Turf fields, all in New Jersey, were Field Turf fields (all high school).  It proved to be a very localized occurance and the remainder of Field Turf fields around the country have not shown similar symtoms.

Field Turf remains the #1 option for sythetic football field surfaces. Twenty-two of the NFL's 32 teams either play or practice on FieldTurf., including the world champion New York Giants and AFC Champion New England Patriots.  'nuff said!

The problem in NJ was not field turf, it was the older Astro Turf I believe, it contained lead in the pigment.  The fields this was found on were at The College of NJ, a soccer field in Sinatra park in Hoboken and the Caven point athletic comples in Jersey City where all the Jersey City high schools play football and baseball.  The fields are all being replaced with Field Turf, the one at Caven Point is being paid for by the NY Giants and the NFL as part of one of their inner city initiatives.  NJ Playing fields   After this article was written they found out about the field in Jersey City.

I think people here would appreciate watching this:
When KS was in the Navy his sub got to do this once.   KS got to see a b&w video of it taken from the scope camera after the fact.  KS was busy during the sink-ex in the torpedo room.  Blowing up old ships is fun.

[Just Bill]

What I've always wondered about FieldTurf is the black powder you see rise into the air when tackles are made, etc.   I don't know what it is but I've thought it must be something connected with the rubber that is used in manufacturing the product.  It would seem impossible for players not to inhale some of that.  It's pretty obvious so there must not be a health hazard involved or we probably would have heard about it by now. 

That black substance is not really "powder".  It's much more granular that that.  Each piece is about the size of a pebble. They are tiny little pieces of rubber.  It's possible someone might get one in their mouth now and then, but it's extremely unlikely someone could actually inhale one.  They are too large for that.

[Barber Greene]

What I've always wondered about FieldTurf is the black powder you see rise into the air when tackles are made, etc.   I don't know what it is but I've thought it must be something connected with the rubber that is used in manufacturing the product.  It would seem impossible for players not to inhale some of that.  It's pretty obvious so there must not be a health hazard involved or we probably would have heard about it by now. 

That black substance is not really "dust".  It's much more granular that that.  Each piece is about the size of a pebble. They are tiny little pieces of rubber.  It's possible someone might get one in their mouth now and then, but it's extremely unlikely someone could actually inhale one.  They are too large for that.

And I believe the rubber is from ground up car tires.

[Barber Greene]

More info about Field Turf

http://www.fieldturf.com/product/designConstruction.cfm

[Knightstalker]

What I've always wondered about FieldTurf is the black powder you see rise into the air when tackles are made, etc.   I don't know what it is but I've thought it must be something connected with the rubber that is used in manufacturing the product.  It would seem impossible for players not to inhale some of that.  It's pretty obvious so there must not be a health hazard involved or we probably would have heard about it by now. 

That black substance is not really "dust".  It's much more granular that that.  Each piece is about the size of a pebble. They are tiny little pieces of rubber.  It's possible someone might get one in their mouth now and then, but it's extremely unlikely someone could actually inhale one.  They are too large for that.

And I believe the rubber is from ground up car tires.

It is ground up tires for the most part, even though it starts out as pellets they will over time breakdown and create dust.  I am just waiting for the first "Turf Lung" lawsuit.

[voice]

Their was no big snag in the Perkins Stadium turf project.  As BW alluded to, the Field Turf people are scheduled to start laying down the carpet next week.  Landscaping has also started.  No change to visitor seating at the Perk.  Same bleachers - just looks different with all the new concrete.

Interesting story concerning the potential health hazards of field turf. The problem deals with lead in the field turf surface. A couple fields used by children in New Jersey have been closed pending evaluation. Whether or not there is anything to this remains to be seen.  voice or badgerwarkawk, do you know the type of field turf being installed at the Perk; manufacturer, etc?

From what I understand, the problems with the Field Turf fields, all in New Jersey, were Field Turf fields (all high school).  It proved to be a very localized occurance and the remainder of Field Turf fields around the country have not shown similar symtoms.

Field Turf remains the #1 option for sythetic football field surfaces. Twenty-two of the NFL's 32 teams either play or practice on FieldTurf., including the world champion New York Giants and AFC Champion New England Patriots.  'nuff said!

The problem in NJ was not field turf, it was the older Astro Turf I believe, it contained lead in the pigment.  The fields this was found on were at The College of NJ, a soccer field in Sinatra park in Hoboken and the Caven point athletic comples in Jersey City where all the Jersey City high schools play football and baseball.  The fields are all being replaced with Field Turf, the one at Caven Point is being paid for by the NY Giants and the NFL as part of one of their inner city initiatives.

I think people here would appreciate watching this:
When KS was in the Navy his sub got to do this once.   KS got to see a b&w video of it taken from the scope camera after the fact.  KS was busy during the sink-ex in the torpedo room.  Blowing up old ships is fun.

The USA Today article on the New Jersey Fields in question indicated that three of the high school fields were covered with Field Turf.

I remember taking photos at UWW's first game on Eau Claire's new synthetic turf, on virtually every tackle, you could see the rubber "dust" spraying up.  

[Knightstalker]

Their was no big snag in the Perkins Stadium turf project.  As BW alluded to, the Field Turf people are scheduled to start laying down the carpet next week.  Landscaping has also started.  No change to visitor seating at the Perk.  Same bleachers - just looks different with all the new concrete.

Interesting story concerning the potential health hazards of field turf. The problem deals with lead in the field turf surface. A couple fields used by children in New Jersey have been closed pending evaluation. Whether or not there is anything to this remains to be seen.  voice or badgerwarkawk, do you know the type of field turf being installed at the Perk; manufacturer, etc?

From what I understand, the problems with the Field Turf fields, all in New Jersey, were Field Turf fields (all high school).  It proved to be a very localized occurance and the remainder of Field Turf fields around the country have not shown similar symtoms.

Field Turf remains the #1 option for sythetic football field surfaces. Twenty-two of the NFL's 32 teams either play or practice on FieldTurf., including the world champion New York Giants and AFC Champion New England Patriots.  'nuff said!

The problem in NJ was not field turf, it was the older Astro Turf I believe, it contained lead in the pigment.  The fields this was found on were at The College of NJ, a soccer field in Sinatra park in Hoboken and the Caven point athletic comples in Jersey City where all the Jersey City high schools play football and baseball.  The fields are all being replaced with Field Turf, the one at Caven Point is being paid for by the NY Giants and the NFL as part of one of their inner city initiatives.

I think people here would appreciate watching this:
When KS was in the Navy his sub got to do this once.   KS got to see a b&w video of it taken from the scope camera after the fact.  KS was busy during the sink-ex in the torpedo room.  Blowing up old ships is fun.

The USA Today article on the New Jersey Fields in question indicated that three of the high school fields were covered with Field Turf.

I remember taking photos at UWW's first game on Eau Claire's new synthetic turf, on virtually every tackle, you could see the rubber "dust" spraying up.  

The USA Today article indicates they were closed pending testing, but no lead has been found in Field Turf fields.  The lead is in the older Astro Turf fields that have nylon grass blades, the lead was used in the pigment.  Field Turf fields are made from Polyethelene and there is no lead in the pigment.  I live in Jersey City and I have looked into this because if my daughter continues to play soccer she will be playing on some of these fields.

[RacineWarhawk91]

The ground-up rubber base of field turf helps absorb rain.  Way back in high school (2000), I had my first opportunity to play on FieldTurf.  Southeast WI experienced a very powerful rain storm that evening.  Several games in the area had to be postponed because of unsafe field conditions.  We were able to play the game thanks to the FieldTurf surface at Carthage College.  The rubber particles stick to your skin and are a little annoying, but I do not recall ever inhaling any of them.  I suppose if you keep your mouthguard in your mouth you dont have to worry about it. 

I love the Perk and I loved the natural grass playing surface, but if FieldTurf will make provide a better field (especially late in the season), then I am all for it.  Beside, with Berez retired, who mowed the field last season?

[stealth]

John Edwards class action law firm is salivating    Reality check: I manage the chain gang for the local high school team and they have been playing on feild turf for 5 years now. The reduction in serious injurys to knees and shoulders  has been tremendous over the St. Cloud type fields that they used to play on. While not as cool as playing on freshly mowed or in some cases, freshly snow plowed fields, these feilds are really durable, drain remarkably well and are fast. Should help the UWW linebacking corp as if they need any more speed but the real big advantage goes to the wide outs and field goal kickers. They do get a little slippery when wet but not as much as natural grass. Players do bounce up more quickly 
As far as dust, not sure. The rubber pellets and natural dirt that accumlates fly during tackles but  they vacumn the feilds a few times a year and then use a fertilzer spreader machine to spread more rubber pebbles as needed.
I think its a great call by UWW after all we did play on one in Janurary and the results were, well obvious.


[, the feild turf is quote author=Knightstalker link=topic=3741.msg921814#msg921814 date=1216994796]

What I've always wondered about FieldTurf is the black powder you see rise into the air when tackles are made, etc.   I don't know what it is but I've thought it must be something connected with the rubber that is used in manufacturing the product.  It would seem impossible for players not to inhale some of that.  It's pretty obvious so there must not be a health hazard involved or we probably would have heard about it by now. 

That black substance is not really "dust".  It's much more granular that that.  Each piece is about the size of a pebble. They are tiny little pieces of rubber.  It's possible someone might get one in their mouth now and then, but it's extremely unlikely someone could actually inhale one.  They are too large for that.

And I believe the rubber is from ground up car tires.

It is ground up tires for the most part, even though it starts out as pellets they will over time breakdown and create dust.  I am just waiting for the first "Turf Lung" lawsuit.
[/quote]

[BoBo]

This is as good of a reason to install field turf as I have ever heard...





...tough day to have a bad hair day, to boot!!

[stealth]

BoBo,
Looks like some post game d and o coordinators photos from the opposition in 05,06 and for sure 07.    Maybe Pat after his contimpulated 3 games in one weekend 08 dash through the the upper mid-west. Just kidding Pat.  Be safe if you do choose to do it.

quote author=BoBo link=topic=3741.msg921969#msg921969 date=1217042772]
This is as good of a reason to install field turf as I have ever heard...





...tough day to have a bad hair day, to boot!!
[/quote]

[BoBo]

I contemplate that our visiting English Professor, AKA retagent, will have a field day with that one, stealth!! 

+k for the effort when 24 hours is up!

[BoBo]

A hit and run driver is out tonight, but I know who you are!

[02 Warhawk]

Does anyone know how field turf holds up to cold/rainy conditions? Does it become rock solid like the ground on natural grass in the winter, and/or does it drain well to keep the field from turning into a marsh? Or does it stay the same consistantcy year round, no matter the conditions: hot/cold, wet/dry??

[RacineWarhawk91]

02 Warhawk,  I have experienced FieldTurf during rainy weather.  It drains extremely well.  I posted a story about that earlier.  I don't know much about it in the cold.  I vaguely remember watching a college game on ESPN where the FieldTurf had frozen chunks in it (I want to say the game included West Virginia, but I'm not 100% on that).  I want to say that they were unable to cover the field in the cold weather for a fear of the tarp freezing to the surface.  Maybe somebody else has more information on FieldTurf's reaction to frigid weather.