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Tough turf scores big with young soccer players

Turf research is child's play for partnership between enthusiastic soccer players and the Guelph Turfgrass Institute.
Photo courtesy of Peter Purvis and the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, all rights reserved

To determine just how resilient your turf is, leave it to the experts: kids! That’s what researchers are doing.

An innovative partnership between the Guelph Turfgrass Institute (University of Guelph) and Guelph Soccer Association led to the development of two new sports fields where boys and girls, ages 10 and under, play soccer.  From mid-May to early October, last year and again this season, games have been taking place daily on fields where research on turf density and water conservation is being conducted, without the use of pesticides. Despite heavy use, fields are holding their own and remain undefeated. “They look fantastic!” said one of the researchers and station manager, Peter Purvis. “We always get comments about the fields, players really like them.”

Results from this ongoing research project are already helping industry and municipalities save water and keep sports turf in good shape throughout the summer season.

Learn more

• About the Guelph Turfgrass Institute
• About the research project

Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342