Bringing a Synthetic Turf Field to [name of school] [date] [Insert Your Logo]

Purpose of Presentation  To gain support from the (name of organization – such as Board of Education/School Board) in moving forward to research, raise money for and install a state-of-the-art synthetic turf field at [name of school].  Share the goals and the expectations for athletics in the [name of school] local school district:  [Include your personal goal/mission here]. Example: We want to create well-rounded students who are intellectually and physically fit. A synthetic turf field creates more opportunities for students to participate in team sports, build leadership skills and confidence, improve physical education course offerings and provide additional practice time for the band.

What Makes A Sports Facility Great?  Safe, high-performance playing surface.  A facility that inspires pride among students, staff and community.  Multi-purpose playing field that can be used extensively, even in the rain and during months when grass doesn’t grow.  Environmentally-friendly fields that conserve water, eliminate the need for fertilizers or pesticides and decrease maintenance costs.  Close proximity to school’s main campus.

The following few slides should display photos of your current field and its condition in comparison with a synthetic turf field. Current Field: Synthetic Turf Field:

What is Synthetic Turf?  Synthetic or artificial turf is a grass-like surface that replicates lush natural grass in appearance and function.  When used on playing athletic fields, it provides a consistent year-round, all-weather playing surface built to withstand extended use without downtime for recovery.  Most synthetic turf systems installed today include a drainage layer, a multi-layered backing system, and resilient grass blades that are infilled with a resilient granular filler to resemble natural turf.

What is Synthetic Turf? (cont.)

Synthetic Turf: What You Should Know  Synthetic turf can be utilized around 3,000 hours per year with no “rest” required, more than three times that of natural grass.  All synthetic turf fields are not the same. There are a variety of synthetic turf systems and infill materials.  As of December 2011, more than 7,000 synthetic turf fields are being used in North America for football, soccer, hockey, baseball, rugby, lacrosse and many other sports.  About half of all NFL teams currently play their games on synthetic turf and, since 2003, over 70 FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup matches have been played on synthetic turf soccer fields.

Greater Peace of Mind Made with resilient materials for safety, synthetic turf sports fields provide a uniform and consistent playing surface. Traction, rotation and slip resistance, surface abrasion and stability meet the rigorous requirements of the most respected sports leagues and federations. During the past few years, more than 75 independent, credible research and studies have validated the safety of synthetic turf from groups including:  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  U.S Environmental Protection Agency  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation  New York State Department of Health  California Environmental Protection Agency  Connecticut Department of Public Health

Positive Environmental Impact  Depending on the region of the country, one full-size synthetic turf sports field saves 500,000 to 1,000,000 gallons of water each year. During 2011, about six billion gallons of water were conserved through its use.  Most of the current synthetic turf sports fields feature crumb rubber infill recycled from used tires, keeping more than 105 million used tires out of landfills.  The estimated amount of synthetic turf currently installed has also eliminated the need for nearly a millions of pounds of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, which has significant health and environmental implications.

Why [name of school]?  Best use of space:  Provides athletic teams game and practice space  Band practice  Physical education classes  Cost-effective maintenance:  Upkeep of a synthetic turf field costs two to three times less than natural turf  Community use and involvement:  Community sports leagues can rent the field; fees will bring additional revenue  Allows for a multi-use facility that we can showcase. It’s a facility our community and students will take pride in.

Which Local Schools Have Synthetic Turf?  [Insert bulleted list of all schools in the area that have a synthetic turf field. Include the school name, athletic director/contact name and phone number]. Which Local Schools Are Considering Synthetic Turf?  [Insert bulleted list of all schools in the area that are considering or are in the process of installing a synthetic turf field. Include the school name, athletic director/contact name and phone number].

How Much Does it Cost? “Ready to Play” Estimated $ Depending on the type, size, and markings of your field, the price will vary. Contact your local installation company for an estimate. An independent licensed professional can help.

How Can We Pay for This? Insert amounts currently raised by your school. Then determine where you can bring in more funding. Athletic Boosters $ Corporations$ Band/Other Boosters$ “Friends of the School”$ 30 people x $5, people x $1,000 TOTAL:$

Proposed Timeframe  Month, Year: Gather a committee to develop an overall goal and objective. Include engagement from businesses and community members. Educate community on the possibility of this project and how it will affect the school district and community.  Month, Year – Month, Year: Get bids for the project.  Month, Year – Month, Year: Collect donations from all resources.  Month, Year – Month, Year: Install synthetic turf at name of school.  Month, Year: Hold opening game/ribbon cutting ceremony to show off the new field.

How Do the Coaches Feel? Insert a quote from an athletic coach that is passionate about synthetic turf and will benefit from the project. Example: “At Oak Hills, we have always strived to provide our student athletes with the finest educational and athletic experiences. This new surface would assure that our kids have the best possible chance to be successful. It would solve our practice problems for football.” -Steve Sheehan, Head Football Coach

Other Thoughts Insert additional quotes from a community leader or coach whose voice matters. This should emphasize the need for a synthetic turf field at your school. Examples: “Oak Hills High School is land locked! Practice fields and fitness education stations are very limited with no room for expansion. With a synthetic turf field the weather would not limit our outside activity. Keep in mind that each period of the day there are five to six classes taking place at the same time. By having synthetic turf the fitness program would be able to expand the curriculum to meet the needs of the student body.” -Dick Roche, Department Chairperson of the Fitness Education “A synthetic turf field would give the softball program a place to condition outside in the Spring when the weather is questionable. It would be a huge advantage for the Oak Hills softball program” -Sara Cohill, Head Softball Coach

What Else Would This Allow Us To Do?  Currently: Are any of your sports teams or bands forced to practice at other schools or in the parking lot?  Add information about specific areas where synthetic turf would benefit your school here. This can include increased revenues from renting your field to the community or the ability to play on your own field even during poor weather conditions. Examples:  Currently, our soccer teams are forced to practice on another campus. With the addition of a synthetic turf field, our football practice field will become the soccer practice field so soccer (girls and boys) can practice on our campus on certain days and use the pool and weight room as well.  For the past three years, the band has been forced to practice in the school parking lot. Because synthetic turf can endure constant use, the band will now be allowed to practice on the new field instead.

The Bottom Line  Installation of a synthetic turf field will provide a first class multi-purpose facility to maximize the use of the [name of school] stadium in a way that will benefit both the student athletes, sports teams, parents and the entire community.

Committee Members  List all committee members and their roles in the project:

Next Steps? With the Board’s approval, next steps will include:  Define your needs and research your synthetic turf system options in order to find the best fit for [name of school]. Consider hiring an experienced design professional or independent consultant.  Engaging school community members and educating them on the benefits of a synthetic turf field.  Meeting with (list vendors here) vendors and get bids for the project. This will include working with other schools to get the best price option.  Requesting the opportunity to meet with Board and district leaders again in [Month, Year] to answer any questions and to present our overall progress.

Questions?