SEDL / STP / STP1073-EB / STP25344S

Safety Recommendations in the Design of Athletic and Sports Fields

Mittelstaedt, AH
Administrator and past president, Recreation Safety Institute, Ronkonkoma, NY

Pages: 5    Published: Jan 1990

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Abstract

The planning and designing of playing fields have become focal points of debate. The difference between natural and artificial turf is a part of this debate. However, in addition to the question of the surface material, a host of additional recommendations must be considered as they relate to safety, as well as the performance, operations, and other influences.

This paper addresses safety concerns related to ball fields used for baseball, softball, and junior baseball, as well as football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and related field activities. For ball fields, factors affecting the infield, outfield, and sidelines are addressed, and for football and related fields, factors affecting the sidelines, field, and end zones are addressed, along with factors affecting the general area surrounding the fields. Such factors must become standardized and unified for field activities.