Fielding Questions
Sports field designs and options for high-performance and high-use
By Stacy St. Clair

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

PHOTO COURTESY OF PERMALINE Unlike paint that wears away, permanent field markings can keep fields looking sharp—and the lines looking straight. "And the lines weren't even straight," he says. "I wasn't very good at using the paint machine."

Joe Berger had a pre-game ritual he had come to loathe. As coach of both the men's and women's soccer teams at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan., he spent three hours before every game lining the field.

When the school needed a new machine last year, he and some other coaches came across a manufacturer of permanent field lines while doing an Internet search. The company proposed placing white, artificial turf where lines typically would be painted.

The turf, which would be installed in a small trench, would be anchored by the adjacent grass. As the grass grew into the turf, it would secure the synthetic lines and create a seamless playing field.

It cost $7,000 to line the soccer and ball fields. Though the price tag was higher than the paint machine, Burger and other coaches estimated it would pay for itself in 18 months by saving money on paint and equipment. Not to mention time and aggravation.

Industry experts estimate the artificial lines will last an average of 10 to 15 years. The lines, however, could have a longer life span in baseball outfields, where they don't take such a heavy pounding. It also could last longer in the North and Midwest because they will have less exposure to UV rays.

After one season, the Barton County Community College athletic department crunched the numbers and determined the artificial lines were saving them money.

"We've shown that it's paying for itself already," Burger says.But it isn't just the financial benefits that make Burger a happy customer. He welcomes the extra time he has before each game. Field preparation has dropped from three hours to 30 minutes. The only thing he has to do now is mark the six-yard box, commonly known as the goal area. "It lets me stay on top of other things I have to do on game day," Burger says. "It frees me up for a lot more important things."

Burger also believes the lines help with his recruiting efforts. When prospects visit the school, he shows them the field.

Before the permanent lines were installed, the players had to imagine the college field. Now when Berger shows them the facilities, the pristine white lines provide an impressive image for the college.

"It's added some aesthetic benefits," Burger says. "Our game field and our practice field are back-to-back, and there's no doubt as to how good the game field looks." And, most importantly, the lines have no impact on the game. The players don't notice when they run over them, the ball doesn't change direction when it hits the lines, either.

"The ball plays true," Burger says. "It's great. And the lines are actually straight."