Full Support for Real Grass in Greenwich

In response to: Letter: Stop Artificial Turf Fields; Protect Greenwich Children

I have been renting Central Middle School field for my organization from the Town of Greenwich since 2011. My group of grown up men, then in their late 30-ties, and now mid 40-ties and beyond, have been playing soccer on the full length of this field every Sunday morning during spring, summer, and fall seasons. It is a very challenging field, to say the least, and its maintenance, especially during summer months (off season for the school), leaves a lot to be desired. To give an example of some dangers players face while on this field: because of its uneven surface and high trimmed grass, over the years, we had a few sprained ankles and knees, forcing few players to retire from the game completely. I myself broke a rib after losing my footing.

With this in mind, I would be happy to continue playing on this field over the best artificial one available. And I have played on many in the area: here in town that would include multiple fields at the Greenwich High School, including Cardinal Stadium, the field at the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club, the field at Stanwich School, and the newest addition, the quite impressive field at the Cos Cob Park. I have also played indoors at Chelsea Piers in Stamford, at Trinity Catholic High School field in Stamford, and on West Beach Soccer Fields in Stamford. And my personal experience confirms many arguments voiced against those fields: much harder on your joints, and completely unusable on hot spring, summer, and fall days, when heat gets through you boots and burns your feet beyond believe, and awfully smelling fumes make you breathless (I can only imagine what I was inhaling). I wonder how many PE teachers during school hours, and after school programs, will cancel their practices when outside temperatures reach 80 degrees and over? Well, I will tell you, this time from my own kids’ experience: never.

Both of my kids, now age 12 and 7, have been playing competitive soccer since age 4. They started under my own coaching at the Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Department Soccer Program, offered each spring and fall behind town hall on the Havemeyer Fields. The “real grass” fields. Those practices had never had to be cancelled due to high temperatures outside, and the only recommendation on those days was to take breaks and hydrate frequently. After couple of years, respectively, they both moved to play at various other programs: my older daughter completed her in-town travel program and then moved out of town to play at the premier level (been there for the past two years), and my younger son is still developing in various academies on a pre-league play level. They both play year around, and we have also had a chance to travel extensively to see how the game is being played at various other places in the tri-state area and beyond. Both of my kids have always complained a lot when they had to play on artificial turf surface, and especially on those hot days. Keep in mind, our kids are much closer to the ground than us, grown ups, and both the reflecting heat, as well as the smell of the fumes, are that much more intense for them. To finish this chapter, over the past two years, almost all of my daughter’s training, and most of her games, took place on the artificial turf surface, and I personally blame it as a decisive factor that she needs to take a break from her beloved sport for at least a season now, for the first time in her eight years of playing, due to developing knee condition that is directly hard surface impact related. Simply put, the surface was too hard for her growing and developing bones, tendons, ligaments and joints, which without doubt contributed to the development of mentioned condition. And her practices or games have never been canceled due to heat either, and it was often as hot as hell. I was there, too.

The presented above is my own, and my own kids’ experience, which I am willing to share with you here in hope it will resonate and make you think about it. There has been a lot of research conducted already on the subject of how harmful artificial turf fields are to both the environment and the player’s health. Many more long term studies are currently in progress. I encourage everyone concerned to do their own internet searching. Below, I will only re-post one piece of statistical evidence pertaining to alarming number of cancers among young soccer players, and more specifically goal keepers who also happen to interact with the surface the most:

Artificial Turf: Cancers Among Players
Cancers among soccer players who have played on synthetic turf and reported their cancers to U of Washington associate women’s soccer coach Amy Griffin.

The percentage of goalies continues to be an important factor, as is the number of blood cancers. What is of interest in these numbers is: (1) the number of blood cancers that the players have gotten versus other cancers. Some blood cancers are sensitive to environmental toxins; (2) the largest number of cancers among players is among the goalies — the most heavily exposed to the crumb rubber on the synthetic turf fields; and (3) these cancer numbers only include those players who have gotten cancer and have known to contact Amy with their cancer case. That data could be anywhere from 10% to 90% of all the cancers among those players who have played on synthetic turf fields.

Even if people dispute the total number of cancer cases——and no one actually knows how many of the cancer cases ever get reported to Amy——one cannot discount the number of affected goalies. Goalies are the most exposed players on a soccer team and the data shows that they are the most affected.

What about the ovarian cancers in young women? Lung cancers are usually very rare in young people. Again, we thank Amy for keeping this list.

Amy Griffin’s Cancer List as of March 2018
Total Number of Cases of Cancer
253 total athletes with cancer
120 females
133 males
Of the total number, 155 are blood cancers or 62%
On average, goalkeepers account for 10% of a soccer team—yet of the 201 soccer players with cancer, 116 are goalkeepers, or 58%

Number of Cases by Cancer, Soccer and Goalkeeper

101 Lymphomas (Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas combined)
75 soccer players, 38 are goalkeepers or 51%

Of the 101 lymphoma cases, 68 had Hodgkin’s lymphoma
51 soccer players, 26 are goalkeepers or 51%

Of the 101 lymphoma cases, 35 had Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
26 soccer players, 12 are goalkeepers or 46%

55 Leukemia
46 soccer players, 31 are goalkeepers or 67%

31 Sarcoma (soft tissue cancer)
22 soccer players, 9 are goalkeepers or 41%

15 Testicular
12 soccer players, 7 are goalkeepers or 58%

11 Thyroid
10 soccer players, 8 are goalkeepers or 80%
ALL females
All between ages 16-26

10 Brain
ALL soccer players, 6 are goalkeepers or 60%

4 Ovarian
ALL soccer players, 1 is a goalkeeper or 25%
Their ages are 14, 15, 23 and 34

3 Lung
ALL soccer players, 3 are goalkeepers or 100%
Their ages are 19, 26, and 27

Source: http://www.ehhi.org/turf-cancer-stats.php

I personally find the statistical data presented above really troubling. And it is not only about soccer, folks. Any other game or sports activity performed on “real grass” vs “artificial turf” will equally apply. Football, lacrosse, field hockey, even track and various field day sports activities will have our kids equally exposed.

Going back to Central Middle School, and for that matter other public schools in town that may soon be similarly impacted, I believe our kids deserve quality grass fields, which town like Greenwich should be able to provide. And if not immediately available, any properly maintained grass is better – in my humble opinion – than synthetic fibers and toxic rubber granules.

What can you do about it? Join in the conversation. Comment below, and also make sure to visit Stop Artificial Turf Fields, Protect Greenwich Children website, where you can sign a petition that will be presented to our Board of Education.

Sincerely,

Blazej Cichy
Founder and Managing Member
Licensed Soccer Coach and Player
Greenwich United Recreational Football Club