Kelsey Rasmussen

An interview with former University of Washington Women's Soccer Goalkeeper, pharmacist, and mom, Kelsey Rasmussen, on the reality of playing on synthetic turf fields.

What position/sport did you play in college?

Goalkeeper, University of Washington Women’s Soccer.

What is your experience with synthetic, or plastic, turf fields? What did you witness?

As an athlete, I have played on various surfaces throughout my life. I have traveled worldwide playing Divison I Soccer at the University of Washington, the Olympic Development Program on the regional and youth national teams, and my youth club team. If I had the option to play on grass or turf, then the natural grass would always win. Thankfully growing up, my youth club team, FC Royals (now known as Washington Premier FC), had its own natural grass fields to practice and play on. Not all youth club organizations have their own soccer fields, which means you often play at public schools or parks for away games. These fields ranged from grass, dirt, and various types of artificial turf. Playing soccer at the University of Washington allowed me to play at one of the best stadiums in the NCAA. The University of Washington Women’s Soccer Stadium features a well-maintained natural grass playing field providing an optimal experience for the players and fans. Most practices were held on alternate fields composed of synthetic field turf to preserve the grass game field. I know what to expect when I play on a natural grass field ranging from how the ball will move to how the ground will feel after making a high diving save. Field turf can be clingy, and cleats could get stuck, increasing your injury risk. It can also be hot, abrasive, and challenging to navigate. I prefer a natural grass playing surface over field turf any day.

As an athlete, what were your main concerns with plastic turf?

My main focus was playing the best soccer I could, no matter what the playing surface was. My coaches instilled in me throughout my athletic career to only focus on the variables you can control. I can’t control the weather, the referees, or the playing conditions/surfaces. The turf is obnoxious due to the heat level intensity emitted from hot rubber and those tiny pieces of rubber constantly found in your shoes, hair, and clothes. You can change your kit at the field, which decreases the amount of rubber you will bring in the car and home, but in the end, no matter what you do, the tiny rubber pieces seem to stick around and invade your home and belongings. Playing in goal and diving in practice/games to save the ball increased my exposure to the crumb rubber. The rubber pellets would find their way on my face, in my mouth, and in any open wounds. The field turf is also hot, trapping heat and emitting unfavorable smells. It leaves you with a thought in the back of your mind wondering if it matters that you likely consumed several pieces of rubber during that game or training session.

The synthetic/artificial turf changes the way the game is played. The ball will bounce and move differently from natural grass, depending on the turf type. As a goalkeeper you need to keep in the mind the proper distance you have between your defense, the offense and the goal considering how each pass,shot, and bounce may be intensified due to the field turf.

When you were playing, how did natural grass differ from plastic turf?

Grass has a particular smell and texture; the ground is more forgiving and better in warmer weather. Certain smells can evoke powerful emotions and memories for the player and spectator. The scent of grass reminds me of positive memories of playing soccer compared to the smell of crumb rubber, which makes me think of sweaty days roasting on the field. No matter what you call the turf, it is not the same as grass. Plastic blades of grass with rubber pellets will never be the same as grass. Yes, they last a long time with little maintenance, but most things that do aren’t good for us, like a bag of chips or a McDonald’s cheeseburger.

Now, as a mom to a young player, what are your main concerns with plastic turf?

As a Mom to a toddler who plays soccer once a week on field turf and enjoys local parks/playgrounds with field turf, I am concerned about any potential health impacts each session may have. Most toddlers like mine may spend a lot of their time on the ground developing their gross motor skills or participating in group activities sitting in a circle. I have observed many kids poking the ground, picking up the crumb rubber pieces, curiously wondering what it is.

I am concerned about the potential increased risk of injury associated with the clingy field turf. I noticed my son falls/trips more playing on field turf than grass. I also wonder what harmful vapors the children are inhaling, how many small crumb rubber pieces he ingested that session, or if any got into the cut he had on his knee that day. The pandemic accelerates us thinking about where and whom we spend our time with. I want to support my family’s physical and mental well-being and question the safety and chemicals present in the crumb rubber he is rolling around and playing on. We should promote health and well-being in the places we spend our time in. We should ask ourselves what the cost is? What is the cost of maintaining and watering natural grass surfaces compared to the dollars spent on healthcare due to the potential adverse health impacts of playing on low maintenance recycled crumb rubber artificial field turf?