No Difference in NCAA Football Groin Injury Rates Between Turf and Natural Grass
Comprehensive 16-year study finds statistical similarities between adductor-related groin injuries occurring on heavyweight infill systems and those on natural grass
ARTICLE SUMMARY:
A 16-year study of 2,243 NCAA Division I FBS games found no difference in adductor-related groin injury rates between heavyweight infill artificial turf (≥9.0 lbs./ft²) and natural grass.
The majority of injuries (87%) were minor muscle strains, with similar severity across both surfaces.
Defensive plays (41%) and non-contact sprinting (39%) were the most common situations in which injuries occurred, showing no relation to turf characteristics.
Researchers recommend focusing on early detection, rehabilitation, and structured resistance training rather than attributing groin injuries to the type of playing surface
FieldTurf demonstrates leading player safety with heavyweight infill turf systems, reaffirming its commitment to science-based innovation and athlete welfare
“In collegiate football, heavyweight artificial turf was found to be as safe as natural grass with respect to adductor-related groin injuries.”
That is the key finding of a landmark study that compared heavyweight infill artificial turf systems (≥9.0 lbs./ft²) to natural grass across 2,243 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) games. The study's results showed there were 9% fewer injuries on artificial turf than on grass.
During the study, 1061 games were played on heavyweight infill artificial systems, compared to 1182 on natural grass, while sustained injuries were evaluated by athletic trainers from 41 FBS universities.
The multi-institutional prospective cohort study—the largest of its kind—was conducted over 16 seasons and led by researchers from East Tennessee State University, Idaho State University, and Baylor Scott & White. The findings from the study, entitled: Adductor-related groin injury: Prevalence and etiology during NCAA football games on artificial and natural grass surfaces, were published in PM&R, the official scientific journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Other key findings from the study showed:
No significant difference in injury incidence between surfaces: 48 adductor-related groin injuries occurred on artificial turf, compared to 63 on natural grass.
Injury severity was similar across both surfaces, with the vast majority classified as minor muscle strains (87%).
Injuries occurred most frequently during defensive play (41%) and non-contact sprinting (39%). Injuries were unrelated to turf characteristics.
Player position, cleat type, weather, and turf age showed no significant impact on injury occurrence, according to data subjected to multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs).
“This extensive research reaffirms the proven safety of FieldTurf systems with heavyweight infill,” said Jason Smollett, Director of Innovation & Product Management at FieldTurf. “Not all turf is created equal, and these results speak for themselves. Player safety must be grounded in science, and this 16-year study underscores our dedication to delivering surfaces that rival the best natural grass while providing superior consistency, accessibility, and durability.”
The study concludes that the type of playing surface—artificial or natural—should not be viewed as a key risk factor when it comes to groin-related injuries. It recommends instead concentrating on treatment and rehabilitation as follows:
“Focus should be placed on early detection and understanding long-term health outcomes rather than surface influence. An athlete who sustains such an injury may benefit from engaging in a structured resistance training program that progresses from general lower-body development in the days after injury to adductor-specific training in the weeks following.”
This study adds to a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence supporting the performance and safety of FieldTurf heavyweight infill turf systems. These findings will further strengthen our ongoing commitment to transparency, innovation, and athlete welfare.
Visit FieldTurf’s Proven Safety page to learn more about our dedication to performance and safety through continuous innovation and improvement.