Switching from turf to grass has been a game-changer. Not only do the ball and the players move faster, but players have to change their play style. It also is a whole new environment for the West Delaware soccer teams.
This year, West Delaware soccer players are playing their games on Brown Field with the new turf rather than in the middle of the track on grass.
Four-year soccer player Guilford Johnson, who has played on grass and turf, feels the play style completely changes with turf.
“Grass has a lot of planting your foot, but on turf, it is so easy to cut back and move around players,” Johnson said. “The ball goes twice as fast on turf as on grass. The ball moves even faster when the turf is wet.”
Johnson loves the turf. “At the end of the day, I’m not muddy, and I’m not twisting my ankles. Turf is faster gameplay,” Johnson says.
Sophomore Clay Mather feels the turf makes the team more professional. “The gameplay was better. We knew where to go on the field because of the yardlines and the hashes.”
“The looks of the field gave the team confidence. It makes us feel more official,” Mather says.
The new field led to Mather having to change his play style.
“The ball goes straighter and faster, so you have to anticipate the ball’s movement.”
Junior Jaxson Weber also had to change his style. “The grass is a lot bumpier, but on turf, the ball slides a lot more,” Weber said. “There is less friction.”
Junior Kile McNelly felt the differences between the Anamosa game played on grass versus the home game played on turf.
“The main issue is with the grass; there are lots of potholes, and the ground was uneven. Therefore, it was harder to move around,” McNelly says. “The turf is not as rough; turf feels better when you fall. The ball moves farther and faster. Overall, turf is better than grass.”
