What is wrong with the field shown above? NO PARKING!
Surface Issues: As coaches we have seen all types of fields with inclines, many types of grasses (or no grass at all), with a multitude of hazards. Soccer (and practice) fields vary greatly from region to region and state to state. My teams play in the Arizona desert area, and grass is a luxury here. We have mostly a short mowed Bermuda grass since it is drought and heat tolerant. Late in the summer, most of the grass would be gone, and we were left playing on hard, clay soil. When my teams played in New Mexico and Colorado, our fields were more of a tall rye grass, which if not mowed, could literally hide a soccer ball. On our trips to So. Cal, we found a mixture of grasses, a bit clumpy at times, but green none-the-less. The point is fields vary greatly. It’s not the grass that is the primary problem, it is what is hidden below the grass. Holes, depressions, rocks, sprinkler heads, utility covers, broken glass, metal objects, and more all lurk under that green carpet. Practice fields tend to be worse than game fields. I must say that I have seen some practice fields that were not even safe to walk across, let alone play soccer on.
Solutions: All coaches (and players) should walk their field prior to practice to identify and remove (when possible) any hazards. Cones can be used to mark hazards that cannot be removed. If it is a game, then the referee would certainly share the responsibility. Many practice fields and some game fields are owned and operated by the local municipality. A call or letter to the parks and rec representation might help in solving some of the field problems. Then again, maybe not. Locate the official point of contact within the city or municipality who is responsible for fields and parks. Establish a relationship with that person, and let them know your concerns. As a coach, I would always carry a small shovel in the back of my car, to do minor field repairs at practice. Filling holes, cutting away large clumps of grass, and adding dirt to the eroded foundation of cemented goal posts to cover the exposed footings are all in a coaches day’s work.
Objects and people close to the playing area: I recall a couple of years ago, a player running to win a ball and ending up tangled in a EzUp shelter that was placed a mere 3 feet from the field. On another occasion, I heard of a player running into a parked bicycle adjacent to a practice area. Neither player was seriously injured, but the potential was there. My teams have played in more tournaments throughout the Southwest can I can recall and many times, tournament officials would “squeeze” in one extra field here and another there in order to accommodate the vast number of games scheduled for the weekend. In some cases, players would have to stand on one field to take corner kicks into another. Spectators would crowd themselves (back to back) to watch their respective teams play in an area of no more than 10 feet wide. Not only did this put players at risk for collisions with objects (chairs, coolers, etc) but also put the spectators at risk, some of whom were very small children. I have seen a few balls kicked into the faces of small children sitting only 3-4 feet from the playing area. Another issue are natural features like trees. I have seen many game fields and even more practice fields where trees are very close or hanging over the field. Trees hanging over the field area probably pose little physical risk to players, but certainly can affect the play of the game. Trees that are growing from the ground only a few feet away can be a serious threat to player safety.
Solutions: It would seem simple. Have strict rules that regulate how far objects and spectators can be from the playing area. Limit placing fields where they are too close to fixed objects. There are many levels of responsibility to resolve this problem. First, coaches can lay out their practice fields so as to avoid such structures. Tournament officials and field directors can lay out fields in a manner that provides sufficient clear space for spectators and other objects that are so often brought to the field (shelters, chairs, coolers, etc). If it means limiting the number of fields, or acquiring additional field locations, then that is what needs to happen. As a referee and coach, I have always tried to enforce a 6 foot distance from the field for spectators and equipment. This does not include the designated “Technical Area” for coaches which is usually the area framed by the center circle distance on the sideline or extends the distance of the player area.
Lighting: While proper lighting is usually not an issue at games, it can often be a problem on practice fields, especially at city parks and schools. Without going into any great detail, it should be sufficient to say that poorly lit fields can be a hazard to players and coaches alike. The only solution I can recommend is to contact the person responsible for the lighting of the field, or move to another location.
Unseen threats: Most of us forget, but cities parks and rec departments who manage most of our fields, periodically spray those fields for pests and weeds. We rarely know when that occurs. Just last summer I was practicing with my U18 girls team at a local school. As always, I got there early and while I was setting up the field, I saw a piece of paper hanging loosely from the fence. I picked it up and it read: “Caution, field sprayed with hazardous chemical for weed and pest control. Do not use for 24 hours.” Not knowing when the sign was left, I had to assume it was earlier that day, so we shifted our practice to another location. All I can say here is try to be aware of when the city does their spraying, and make adjustments. Many players have allergies to chemical compounds, and even grass, so try to have your players sit on benches or curbs, rather than grass when possible.
Turf Fields: We are now beginning to see the emergence of artificial turf fields for soccer. My daughter’s high school team played on such a field this season. The game was played in a driving rainstorm, and I was impressed with the way it handled the water, and the seemingly good traction the players had. While these types of fields are fairly new for soccer, the jury is still out on whether or not they are better than grass. A couple of things to consider with these fields, are shoe type and physical contact issues with the field. I would suggest turf shoes or shoes with a greater number and shorter cleats. Contact with the surface may produce abrasions with greater frequency than grass. Some players may be sensitive to the materials used including the small rubber pellets that make up the “ground base” of the turf. It will be interesting to see how the new surface absorbs or deflects the heat of summer. The older turf fields have been found to have lead in them, and are being removed around the country. The newer ones with “crumb rubber” as a base using old tires is currently being studied by the CPSC to determine any health hazards. If anyone out there in our soccer world has more experience with this type of field, we welcome your comments.
In Summary: It is the joint responsibilities of Coaches, Referees, Administrators, Parents, and City Officials to work together to ensure that practice fields and game fields are a safe environment for our players. Each has a role to play.
I welcome comments from coaches, soccer officials, parents and players. Share your experiences in this area, and some of the things you have done to solve these (and other) field related problems.
