3G pitches a health hazard?

[Prestwich_Blue]

Saw stories about this earlier today and they're just talking about it on Talksport. Amy Griffin, an American college coach was visiting a young player suffering from cancer and the nurse happened to say "We seem to get a few goalkeepers in here. That's the fourth one I've seen recently".

Griffin started investigating and found that 3G pitches are coated with 'crumb rubber', which is a by-product of recycling old tyres. On examination, they found a number of dangerous substances in this crumb rubber and, out of 158 cases Griffin tracked down, I believe 2/3rds were goalies. The inference is that goalies spend more time down on the turf and are more likely to inhale particles or be in contact with the pitch.

The industry is denying there's a problem but it's potentially quite worrying.

 

[Paladin]

I help run my local club, with around 20 teams, most of whom train on 3G pitches these days. We had an issue recently that the 3G pitches we sometimes use for league games are not sanctioned for use by the FA. Warrington BC, who owns the pitches, then hastily had the pitches inspected and they are now all FA approved. The inspections though, are to make sure the posts are secure and the carpets aren't torn or damaged.

I envisage the FA panicking about news like this, and removing their approval for league games to be played on all 3G pitches. This will leave junior football in a pitiful state, as very few games have been played since November because grass pitches are retaining rainwater.

 

[richardtheref]

This will be worrying for the FA as they are pushing these pitches big style. Even after evidence previously from the USA which indicated that if you played any sport on this surface the chances of picking up ankle/knee/hip injuries was greatly increased. However, the FA will probably do nothing as it is too much of a money earner for them.

 

[Why Always Ste]

In terms of a cancer hazard the possibilities is probably more higher inhaling the car fumes on the road at the side of the 3G pitch than the actual pitch itself... maybe the goalkeeper posts are just closer to the car parks?

But in terms of muscle/joint strains I personally always felt heavier whilst running on AstroTurf, the way in which you twist/stop your body has more of an impact on the harder surface... the same would apply with a frozen grass pitch as well.

With football being much more of a stop/start quick cardio burst type sport it's much safer to play on a softer surface such as real grass...

 

[SWP's back]

I help run my local club, with around 20 teams, most of whom train on 3G pitches these days. We had an issue recently that the 3G pitches we sometimes use for league games are not sanctioned for use by the FA. Warrington BC, who owns the pitches, then hastily had the pitches inspected and they are now all FA approved. The inspections though, are to make sure the posts are secure and the carpets aren't torn or damaged.

I envisage the FA panicking about news like this, and removing their approval for league games to be played on all 3G pitches. This will leave junior football in a pitiful state, as very few games have been played since November because grass pitches are retaining rainwater.

Still better than cancer.

 

[BlueTG]

I train on AstroTurf and 3G. Both are terrible IMO.

AstroTurf wrecks your body, the impact has some of the healthier lads aching and complaining at times. It's hard to train with intensity without injury or feeling the effect.

3G, those little rubber bits always end up in my eyes!!

 

[chaddblue]

I was playing on a 3G end of November, the pitch was very dry. Turned on the ball with no-one near me, tore my cartilage in two and ruptured my ACL

 

[Claytop]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35585392

On BBC Sport website now.

 

[richardtheref]

I train on AstroTurf and 3G. Both are terrible IMO.

AstroTurf wrecks your body, the impact has some of the healthier lads aching and complaining at times. It's hard to train with intensity without injury or feeling the effect.

3G, those little rubber bits always end up in my eyes!!

Be very careful my friend. There was a report a year or so ago where someone got one of those rubber pellets lodged in his eye and ended up losing his sight.

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

Broke fibula after my foot caught in 3G and I fell over - to the outside of the leg with my foot still flat on the floor. (Like rolling your ankle but the other way - even though you can't normally make it go that way).
Having said that, still prefer it a million times over to astroturf.