title: Comparison of speed and agility performance of college football players on field turf and natural grass.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in 40-yd dash and proagility times performed on field turf (FT) and natural grass (NG). Red-shirt freshmen National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II college football players (n = 24) performed 2 trials each of a 40-yd dash and proagility run on each surface. Sprints were timed by an electronic timing system (ET) and by 2 hand timers (HTs). Agility was timed on each surface by 2 HTs. There was no significant difference in 40-yd dash times between FT and NG using ET (FT: 5.34 ± 0.30 seconds, NG: 5.33 ± 0.33 seconds) or HT (FT: 5.06 ± 0.31 seconds, NG: 5.11 ± 0.29 seconds). Hand timer 40-yd dashes were significantly faster than ET 40-yd dashes on both surfaces, with the difference between HT and ET on FT (-0.28 ± 0.11 seconds) significantly greater than the difference on NG (-0.22 ± 0.06 seconds). The time differences between surfaces were significantly correlated (r = 0.12, p = 0.56). Proagility times were significantly faster on FT (4.49 ± 0.28 seconds) than on grass (4.64 ± 0.33 seconds). Thus, it appears that straight-ahead sprint speed is similar between FT and NG, but change-of-direction speed may be significantly faster on FT.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Graydon L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gains
authors.forename: Andy N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Swedenhjelm
authors.forename: Jerry L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: H Michael
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Houser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D006109:Poaceae; D012420:Running; D013499:Surface Properties; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult