Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields introduces video series on field safety

LAWRENCE, Kan. (Via STMA) – The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE) – with the support of the Sports Turf Managers Association(STMA) and the Toro Company – has introduced a series of short, instructional films titled Sports and Recreation Fields, Safety First.  SAFE is the charitable arm of STMA, the professional association for 2,600 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide.

The video outreach program aims to increase awareness and educate parents, players, coaches and volunteers about safe and playable athletic fields. The complimentary videos can be accessed below:

• Natural Grass Field Safety
• Synthetic Turf Field Safety
• Sports Facility and Equipment Safety

The first three videos explain how professionals and users can identify potentially unsafe surfaces and facilities on natural grass and synthetic turf fields, while also providing a helpful sports facility and equipment maintenance checklist.  SAFE plans to release additional sport-specific videos in 2016.

“On behalf of SAFE and STMA, we are pleased to offer the Sports and Recreation Fields, Safety First videos to help communities provide safe sports and recreational field for all athletes,” says Cathy Bradley, SAFE Foundation Chairman of the Board. “The SAFE Foundation and its Board of Trustees recognize the tremendous need in local communities for safer and more sustainable sports fields, and we are proud to lead the effort to better educate sports turf managers and the people who use the fields.”

The Sports and Recreation Fields, Safety First videos are the beginning of a five-year campaign for SAFE to increase outreach, award scholarships, fund educational programs and create partnerships with community members and industry organizations.

Ross Kurcab, former Denver Broncos Turf Manager for over 30 years and owner of Championship Turf Systems, is featured in the SAFE videos. He is the first person to earn the designation as a Certified Sports Field Manager from STMA. Dedicated to improving sports surfaces and facilities nationwide, Kurcab is an ideal spokesperson for the SAFE videos.