Consistency and stability is what athletes want and deserve.
Recent NFL and NCAA studies reported a higher incidence of knee injuries on artificial turf when compared to quality natural grass. This is why athletes prefer quality natural grass and why engineering an artificial surface that replicates it is the ultimate goal.
How we test traction safety
Athletes want a surface that is stable under foot. Rubber infill can cause the foot to rock and slide, leading to less stability through the movement. Increasing foot stability and producing a faster release time from the surface (like natural grass does) may be an important factor in lowering these painful and dangerous injuries.
NFL: 2012-2016, all 32 NFL teams. NCAA: Study published in 2019 by the American Journal of Sports Medicine using data from 2004-2013 seasons, data included 3+ million subjects.
Traction: BrockFILL vs. Rubber infill
When you see the plumes of crumb rubber in a game, that is an indication of infill movement and foot sliding that can be avoided with a more stable infill. This instability is one reason athletes prefer to play on natural turf vs. artificial turf with rubber. Using high-speed photography, you can see how a more stable infill will provide better traction.
Grip and Traction: Stable Footing. Responsive Release.
Every sprint, cut, and change of direction begins with the connection between an athlete’s cleat and the playing surface. Athletes need dependable footing to plant and push off, along with the ability to release their cleats as they move. That makes the infill between the turf fibers an important part of field performance.
In a study conducted by Colorado State University biomechanics researchers, turf with crumb rubber showed more foot movement and longer cleat release times than turf with BrockFILL. In separate testing at the University of Tennessee, synthetic turf with BrockFILL demonstrated traction forces similar to those measured on high-quality Bermuda and Kentucky bluegrass natural turf.
These findings highlight why specifying a synthetic turf field means looking beyond the turf fibers. The interaction between cleats, infill, and the complete surface matters. For architects and field owners, evaluating both footing stability and cleat release helps keep the focus where it belongs: on the athletes who depend on the field beneath them.
Watch Now
Whitesboro High School athletes and coaches talk about the excitement of having a new Brock surface to play on. The new surface will improve grip and traction as well as help mitigate large impacts with the turf.
Ready to Build a Safer Field?
Too much rotational resistance sends injurious force up through the knee and ankle. Learn how Brock gets traction right.
Traction describes how an athlete’s footwear interacts with the playing surface during running, stopping, accelerating, and changing direction. The goal is to provide enough grip for confident movement while allowing the cleat to release from the surface appropriately.
Athletes rely on the surface to respond predictably. Consistent traction helps provide a stable platform underfoot so players can accelerate, decelerate, and change direction with greater confidence.
Yes. Excessive rotational resistance can make it more difficult for a planted cleat to release during a turn or change of direction. Too little traction can allow unwanted foot movement. A well-designed system seeks an appropriate balance between grip, stability, and release.
Cleat-release time measures how quickly an athlete’s footwear disengages from the playing surface during movement. Researchers study this interaction because delayed release may increase the rotational forces transferred through the foot, ankle, and knee.
Brock evaluates traction using laboratory testing, biomechanical research, field observations, and high-speed photography. These methods help researchers examine foot stability, infill movement, rotational resistance, and cleat release across different playing surfaces.
BrockFILL is engineered to settle consistently among the turf fibers and support the athlete’s foot during movement. Its smooth, rounded wood particles help create a stable playing surface while maintaining the mobility needed for natural cleat release.
In controlled testing conducted by Colorado State University Biomechanics, the comparison surface showed more foot movement and a longer cleat-release time than the turf system containing BrockFILL. The results provide insight into how infill selection can affect athlete-surface interaction.
Separate testing at the University of Tennessee found that an artificial turf system containing BrockFILL produced traction forces similar to those measured on high-quality Bermuda grass and Kentucky bluegrass. Performance can vary based on the complete system, footwear, maintenance, moisture, and field conditions.
No playing surface can eliminate or prevent every injury. Traction is only one of many factors that can influence athlete movement and injury risk. BrockFILL is engineered to support consistent footing and appropriate cleat release as part of a thoughtfully designed turf system.
Traction can be affected by turf-fiber design, infill type and depth, shock-pad selection, footwear, moisture, temperature, field age, grooming, and maintenance. The entire system should be evaluated rather than judging performance from a single component.
Brock can provide technical documentation, biomechanics findings, high-speed testing results, and product specifications for architects, athletic directors, field owners, and other decision-makers. Contact our team to request the research or discuss the traction requirements for your project.
Have more questions about Traction safety?
A Brock specialist can help answer any questions you might have about traction when planning your next project.
