Why Field Quality Matters for Sprinting and Changing of Direction

In team sports, explosive performance often comes down to fractions of a second—how fast you get off the mark, how quickly you decelerate, or how sharply you can cut and change direction. While we often focus on player conditioning and tactics, the quality of the field also plays a role in how athletes move.

This article explores how field quality and characteristics can influence key movements like acceleration, sprinting, deceleration, and changing of direction, and why understanding your surface can make a practical difference.

1. Acceleration – You Can’t Push Off What You Can’t Grip

Imagine trying to sprint from a standing start on a slippery floor in socks. You won’t get far before your feet slide. That’s similar to what happens when athletes try to accelerate on a field with poor traction—whether that’s worn-out natural grass, soggy turf, or slick artificial surfaces.

Good traction—created by the interaction between stud configuration and surface texture—helps athletes translate their force into (horizontal) movement. If studs can't penetrate the surface (e.g. dry, compacted grass), or if the surface is too slick (e.g. worn grass with little coverage), athletes lose push-off power. On the other hand, well-maintained natural grass or a good artificial turf gives athletes a reliable surface to accelerate.

Example: In a study comparing surface types, players accelerated faster on artificial turf than on a dry, hard grass field. The turf allowed their studs to grip the surface effectively—leading to faster times in the first two steps of an agility drill (Sánchez-Sánchez et al., 2020; Lambrichts et al. 2024)

2. Sprinting – Harder Isn’t Always Better

Once an athlete is in motion, straight-line sprint speed depends on how well force is transferred to the ground. As surfaces compact under load, they become stiffer, which enhances their ability to return energy fast—helping athletes accelerate and reach higher speeds. But if the surface is too hard and doesn’t allow stud penetration, it can feel like trying to sprint on a smooth concrete surface—fast, but less stable.

At the other extreme, very soft or muddy fields absorb energy, like running in sand. This reduces stride length and frequency, making even fast athletes feel slower.

Best-case scenario: A dry, dense natural grass pitch or high-quality artificial turf with good infill—both provide the firmness needed for speed and the grip for control.

3. Deceleration – Stopping Is Just as Important as Going

it is not just about how fast you can go—it is about how fast you can stop. Athletes need reliable footing to brake and change direction without slipping. When the field is too soft, or when traction is low (e.g. in wet grass or worn-out areas), athletes often brake earlier and more cautiously, reducing the effectiveness of their movement.

Example: A study measuring agility test performance on natural grass and artificial turf found that players decelerated more effectively on turf. The harder and more uniform surface helped maintain balance and control during braking (Lambrichts et al. 2024). 

4. Change of Direction – Grip and Give Work Together

Agility relies on quick, sharp cuts. This requires a mix of lateral traction and a small amount of surface give—enough for the foot to engage with the surface without sliding or sticking.

Did you know? Players perform agility drills fastest on a slightly more compliant, high-traction surface compared to harder surfaces. The top-layer compaction can inhibit the shoe to penetrate the soils and gain grip and push off more effectively.

But too much give (e.g. waterlogged grass or deep mud) leads to poor support underfoot, making sharp movements harder and potentially increasing injury risk. Too little give (overly compacted soil or hard, dry turf) can also increase joint stress and limit cutting ability.

So, Which Field Performs Best?

Field performance is shaped by several key characteristics—particularly surface hardness, rotational traction, and stud penetration. These factors directly influence how athletes accelerate, reach top speed, decelerate, and change direction.

• Surface hardness affects how much energy is returned when force is applied. A moderately firm surface allows for efficient force transfer during sprinting and acceleration. However, if it is too hard, studs may not penetrate properly, leading to reduced grip and an increased risk of slipping or cautious deceleration.

• Rotational traction impacts stability during direction changes. High rotational traction supports sharper cuts and faster agility movements, but excessive levels can increase joint loading during pivots. A balance is ideal—sufficient grip without locking the foot.

• Stud penetration refers to how well footwear engages with the surface. On compacted or dry fields, poor stud penetration reduces traction, limiting effective push-off. On softer, denser grass or quality turf, studs can anchor better, supporting more powerful movement.

What You Can Do as a Practitioner

• Know your field(s): Use available tools or observations to assess surface conditions such as hardness, traction, and variability. It is important to ensure similar in-field values for these characteristics, as large differences within the same field can force the body to continuously adapt with every step. This may increase fatigue or injury risk over time. Differences between fields can also affect performance and comfort, especially when transitioning from one surface to another.

• Match footwear to surface: The higher a surface’s grip, the less aggressive the outsole should be (AG or FG cleats), whilst lower grip requires longer studs that better penetrate the turf (SG cleats).

• Adapt training: For optimal change-of-direction performance, prioritize high-traction surfaces. Lower-traction or softer ground is better suited for submaximal or conditioning-focused work.

• Be aware that very high traction—especially on hard surfaces— increases joint and ligament stress during transitions and changes of direction, raising the risk of injury. Strive for a balance between grip and give, and adopt the necessary footwear recommendations.

• Communicate with players: If athletes don’t feel stable, they won’t move as confidently. Perception often aligns with measurable surface properties.

Final Thoughts

Field quality isn’t just about how the pitch looks—it affects how well athletes can perform key movements like accelerating, sprinting, and changing direction. Whether you're working with elite players or youth athletes, the surface underfoot can make a noticeable difference in how they move.

Taking time to understand and adapt to surface conditions can help practitioners better prepare athletes and reduce the chance of performance limitations caused by poor footing.

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