NFL Players Prefer Natural Grass. Should Homeowners, Too?

If you found yourself watching the World Cup and marvelling at how great the turf looked, you’re not alone! It turns out that most NFL players did the same thing.

A whopping 92% of surveyed National Football League players said they would rather play on natural grass than on artificial turf, according to the head of the league’s players’ association. They don't care about the lawn care costs. They just want thick and natural grass.

And, we’re on their side, for more reasons than one.

Why Do NFL Players Want Natural Grass?

It’s more than an aesthetic choice. Right now, roughly half of all NFL stadiums are using artificial turf… And most of the players hate it. Why?

• Artificial turf is less forgiving and makes for a much higher impact when you’re hit
• Even if you’re not hit, players are proven to experience far more non-contact lower extremity injuries, including ACL and foot/ankle sprains
• Again, without even being hit or falling, the harder surface puts more pressure on joints.
• Sliding or falling on plastic fibres causes severe "turf burn," which can easily become infected with bacteria like MRS
• It’s more slippery than natural grass, which leads to players losing their footing. This leads to blown plays, falls, and again… more injuries

Not everyone has a 23-year career like Tom Brady. In fact, the average NFL career is only about 3-4 years long. That’s why most players are focused on protecting their bodies and prolonging their career for as long as possible.

“Our occupation is dangerous enough, and the increased rate of lower extremity injuries linked to the field surface we are forced to play on is unacceptable,” said JC Tretter, President of The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).

“The NFLPA is advocating for teams to convert artificial practice and game fields to natural grass fields.”

And now, many players are getting more vocal on the issue.

Natural Grass is #WorthTheCost

Since the World Cup, several highly visible NFL players have been demanding that the league switch from artificial to natural turf, using the hashtag #WorthTheCost.

Even more eyebrows were raised earlier this month when great expense and effort were put into removing the natural World Cup grass from Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots) and replacing it with the much-maligned astroturf for the upcoming NFL season.

Currently, there is nearly a 50-50 split between the NFL stadiums that use artificial turf and natural grass. There are no plans for serious discussions about making a league-wide switch. However, as player voices get louder, it will be interesting to see how the league responds.

We Feel Your Yard is #WorthTheMoney

We’re obviously big fans of thick and lovely natural turf. It doesn’t just look amazing; it also offers numerous health benefits to you and your family.

If you want to up your lawn game and go pro, you can start right now. Get a free lawn care quote today!