The Balancing Act of Athletic Surfaces

The Balancing Act of Athletic Surfaces

Modern sports have given way to a vast array of technologies that have both improved and set back game play. Booming international competitions have increased competitive fervor, but a portion of the charm and spirit of these events, such as with the Tour de France and the Olympics, has taken a drastic hit. Technicality has replaced artistry, and the drive to win has overshadowed the precepts of fraternity and fair play. Even safety has fallen under attack from the pressure to perform at maximum capacity. One of the pieces of technology that also figures into this is the athletic surface.

Benefits of an Athletic Surface

New athletic surfaces and Spurtan products have been used to replace lawns, which are prone to developing ditches and gopher holes; dirt tracks, which can form ruts or bog down runners after rainy weather; clay courts, which both stain shoes and clothing as well as require constant maintenance; blacktop courts, which can be especially dangerous in fast-paced or high-impact sports; etc. The popularity of these surfaces is due to certain safety features, and increase in performance, and relative low maintenance. The relative softness of these surfaces takes some of the danger out of falling and hard landings. The relative tension, with an elastic-like effect, gives an added rebound to your step as well as a bouncing ball, decreasing fatigue during sustained activity. The high-friction surface reduces if not entirely erases risk of slipping while running or jumping. Finally, many surfaces are designed to function in all types of weather and have drainage systems built-in. With no mowing, no compression rolling, no planting and watering, no filling in holes, no repainting, etc., maintenance is relatively simple and inexpensive.

Downfalls of Athletic Coatings

While actively trying to improve the performance of athletes, high-friction surfaces and coatings were also found to have an adverse effect. The same coating that reduced slippage, by necessity, also increased stickiness. After the introduction of athletic coatings, ACL injuries increased because as an athlete tried to stop or turn, artificially facilitated by the coating, the player’s momentum would still be carried in the direction he/she had been headed, sometimes creating shearing pressure on the ACL.

The Balance

An added emphasis has since been placed on player technique. Adjustments to a player’s movement, especially staying on the toes or balls of the feet while turning instead of staying flat-footed, have done much to improve the situation. As technology allows athletes to perform better, it becomes ever more critical that they themselves use the best form that they can.