The Science of Turf

 University of Tennessee Partners with AstroTurf® on $1.5 Million Research

                                  Center

 Facility focuses on performance and safety of natural and synthetic turf

                                  fields

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After more than a year of intense planning, The

University of Tennessee has partnered with AstroTurf®, the iconic synthetic

grass brand, to create the Center for Safer Athletic Fields, which will

compare natural grass playing surfaces to synthetic surfaces. With the goal

of improving athletic performance and reducing injuries, this initiative

will provide the most comprehensive, on-going comparison of synthetic

surfaces to natural grass.

Located at the UT Institute of Agriculture's East Tennessee Research and

Education Center in Knoxville, the new turfgrass center's geographic

location will enable scientists to conduct research on a variety of

surfaces from both cool and warm season climates.

The unique outdoor research facility will comprise 60 small-scale athletic

research fields constructed from a variety of playing surfaces. UT

turfgrass scientists will compare the safety and performance of synthetic

playing surfaces to natural grass surfaces. Field qualities will range from

those employed for professional-level sports to surfaces used by schools,

public parks and recreation fields.

While determining the safety and performance of AstroTurf® products

compared to various natural turfgrass systems, UT turfgrass scientists will

also monitor these relationships over time.  Additionally, they will

evaluate the environmental impacts of each system. The research should lead

to the development of new, more accurate methods for testing the safety and

performance of all synthetic turf systems.

Dr. John Sorochan, associate professor and turfgrass specialist with the

Department of Plant Sciences in the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and

Natural Resources, has one of the most extensive sports turf research

programs in the country with more than 15 years experience.  He is a board

member of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA).

Dr. Jim Brosnan, assistant professor and turfgrass specialist has developed

tools for testing sports turf surfaces. He is the STMA representative to

the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM).  The UT Turfgrass

Team is rounded out by Tom Samples, UT Extension turfgrass specialist and

Brandon Horvath, a turfgrass pathologist.

Together the team has developed turfgrass management programs for sports

field managers and has served as consultants to the National Football

League, Major League Baseball and professional soccer teams.  They advise

and consult internationally with sports field managers for cricket, soccer,

football, golf, baseball and Olympic venues.

"This is a pioneering effort in conducting research with an emphasis on

athletic field safety," Brosnan said. "Historically, sports turf research

and maintenance have not been well supported.  We are honored to partner

with AstroTurf®, the industry's leader in product development.  Because of

our vision for a comprehensive research project, we selected the only

partner that controls all facets of synthetic turf manufacturing from

polymer development to field installation."

 "Advancing the science behind our products is critical to delivering the

best solutions for athletes and the sports turf industry," noted Bryan

Peeples, President of AstroTurf®. "This research partnership demonstrates

AstroTurf's® commitment to enabling our industry to provide the safest

systems for the players and the environment."

Natural surfaces will be planted with bermudagrass, Kentucky bluegrass and

others. Both mechanical and human studies will be performed to create "real

play" conditions. Rod Walters, world-renowned in the athletic training

industry, helped with the design and provided input on the infrastructure

for the research areas to be involved in human performance and

biomechanics.  The research will be scientifically-based for statistical

analysis.

"AstroTurf® is taking a leadership role in research in this area," said Dr.

John Sorochan. "They want to know how their product performs -- especially

compared to natural grass -- and find ways to make it as safe as possible

for their customers and the athletes that play on it."

"We are interested in credible, unbiased, fact-based research to test our

products," added Peeples.  "Taking the lead in developing standards that do

not exist today allows us to develop the best products. When a client says

'Show me the data,' we will have what they need to make an informed

decision."

The project will also further education for University of Tennessee

students. "At the UT Institute of Agriculture, research, teaching and

outreach go hand in hand. This project will enable us to enhance our

teaching programs in that we will be able to add another level to our

curriculum to train and educate future sports turf practitioners," Sorochan

said.

Construction of the Center will take six to eight weeks with ground

breaking to take place this  summer or early fall.

About AstroTurf®

For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the iconic AstroTurf® brand has

redefined the way the game is played.  The company offers advanced,

state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with

proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry's only

vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high

schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to

select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical

superiority and safety. The company recently debuted its Astroflect™

heat-reducing technology in its GameDay Grass™ systems at the St. Louis

Rams' new synthetic practice field at Rams Park. AstroTurf's® sister

company, SYNLawn™, is the leading innovator serving the synthetic landscape

market. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com or www.synlawn.com

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture provides instruction,

research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences

and Natural Resources; the UT College of Veterinary Medicine; UT

AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers; and

UT Extension with offices in all 95 Tennessee counties.

For more information on the UT Institute of Agriculture turfgrass program,

visit http://www.turf.tennessee.edu/ or

http://www.tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org/Pages/default.aspx

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