SportsField Management February 2021 | Page 36

SAFETY AND SECURITY surface type changes just outside these perimeter game lines . It appears most ‘ runout ’ or safety zones are defined or believe to be defined as no vertical obstructions like walls , carts , poles , team benches , tables , etc . This is true , but we ’ re seeing too many changes of surface like an electrical box , irrigation box , wood timbers , or metal cap for sleeves . These are extremely dangerous for athletes running out of bounds and trying to slow down or stop . Their shoes or cleats slip or get caught in the changed materials and cause injuries .”
The fact that many sports fields are encircled by running tracks has contributed to an additional risk , he added .
“ Not as prevalent in our experience , but just as important are how close the soccer corner kicks have become to a running track . In the attempt to make the soccer field as wide as possible , the corner kicks are pushed right up to the running track edge ,” said Smith . “ In some cases , the corner kick approach is all on the running track and the last foot-plant for kicking is suddenly on turf instead of the track surface , or worse … on the concrete or metal-grated slot drain on the inside of the track .” sportsfieldmanagementonline . com February 2021 | SportsField Management
35