Superbowl 2024: Why do NFL Players prefer playing on Natural grass?

During play, professional football players exert extremely high levels of force and rotation onto the playing field. Grass will eventually give, which inevitably reduces injuries. There is less give on synthetic surfaces, meaning our feet, ankles, and knees absorb the force, making injury more likely.

Based on NFL injury data compiled from 2012 to 2018, not only was the contact injury rate higher during practices and games held on artificial turf, but NFL players consistently experienced a much higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries compared to natural surfaces.



Many sports bodies within the NFL are actively campaigning to play only on grass surfaces. Ultimately, a healthy grass surface means audiences will experience faster, slicker games and players will enjoy longer, less injury-prone careers.

Some playing fields could be quicker to adapt as artificial turf is cheaper and less intensive to maintain. However, a short-term gain could ultimately be a long-term loss if vital players are seriously injured due to the surface and the impact on the body.

According to the NFLPA: 'Climate and weather are not barriers to natural grass practice or game fields. Cold-climate teams like the Packers, Steelers and Browns successfully maintain natural grass fields. Indoor stadiums shouldn't be a barrier for grass fields, either. Agronomically, natural grass field surfaces are possible everywhere.' 

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