FCArmstrong

The transition from indoor to outdoor is aways a good time of year for me. Instead of 10 yard sprints, we now have 40 yards. March is typically “competitive” youth games from U19 to U12. Let me remind you it is much easier to officiate an open men’s game that it is an U10 game. While the speed and technical ability is much faster and greater I can expect where to be and what to look for in those games. U10 is where I put my coach, cheerleader and shoe tie hat on first. The parents have limited knowledge of the laws of the game. The developing players are starting to make the progression to playing with the ball from the ball is playing with me. The biggest challenge for me is covering anywhere from 3-6 miles per game since the play moves in ways that I cannot expect. On Sunday I made one trap better than the player in front of me and had to award a drop ball. During that same game I had to dummy a ball twice because I had no idea that the player wasn’t going to switch fields at the last second.

Yes we only play on turf fields in March–Snow, Rain, Hail, Flooding, Downpours, Freeze, Thaws, Wind. However not all turf fields are the same. I know there is a push for referee shoes that look like soccer shoes, but I’m typically doing a half-marathon of miles on a Saturday. When I only have one game my Mundial Team Turfs or Diadora Sala shoes are my go to. If it’s a half-marathon day, I pack my Mizuno Wave Horizon 8, Nike Trainer and Nike Structure depending on the type of turf. This past weekend I used all three since I was on three different types of artificial turf.

Field 1–HS Stadium just outside the south part of Pittsburgh- The turf is at least 8 years old. It has shorter blades, monofilament, approximately 1.25″ with no root type layer. There is no pad so it is on top of the crushed stone base. The rubber is now hard packed and is the only thing slowing balls played on the ground. This is almost like running on concrete so the Mizuno Wave Horizon 8 work as both a referee and AR.

Field 2–Baseball Diamond near an air strip North of Pittsburgh- The 6 years old and doesn’t take as much wear and tear as an American Football field. The all purpose turf has monofilament blades approximately 1″ with no root type layer. There is no pad so it is on top of the crushed stone base. The rubber is groomed often so balls on the ground more more naturally between the blades and rubber. There are some old wear places around 2nd base and pitchers mound, so not having great traction is OK. This is not as hard as field 1 so I typically will wear the Nike Structures as a referee and the Nike Trainers as an AR since AR2 typically can take two steps back and run on the limestone warning track that has a wood lip.

Field 3–Indoor/Outdoor pitch in the City of Pittsburgh used primarily for U10. The turf is less than a year old and gets groomed regularly. The blades are soccer specific with 1.5″ blades, no root structure, no pad. The ball rolls almost like natural grass allowing the younger players to learn to play the ball instead of chase the ball. Due to the age group and only one referee I need to move at a safe speed and keep all players in my field of vision. I normally will not hit top speed, so the Nike Trainers are my go to shoe.

Field 4–Outdoor HS Stadium just north of the City of Pittsburgh–The turf is 3 years old, gets gets normal use for American Football, field hockey, lacrosse and soccer. The turf is an all purpose monofilament blade approximately 1.25″ with no toot system. There is a shock pad under the turf. The field is also the widest in the area at 73 yds allowing for more time and space to the players. The field is groomed frequently so the ball plays similarly to natural grass. The shock pad allows me to wear my Nike Trainers instead of a running shoe. If I only have one game I’ll use the Diadora Sala shoe as an AR.

Field 5–Indoor/Outdoor pitch at a dedicated soccer facility for youth and adults. The turf is less than a year old, gets groomed regularly. The blade are slit-film aroudn 1″ with a root structure. Players typically slip when cutting in molded cleats. The infill is limited due to the root layer. There is no shock pad just crushed limestone. Typically I’ll wear Nike trainer.

Do I love turf fields?

Yes

• Yes- because of the predictability.
• Yes- because we can play games in Pittsburgh March through November outside.
• Yes- because there is no such thing as a flooded pitch or snow covered pitch.
• Yes- because there is consistency in footing and no holes to roll an ankle.
• Yes- because most of these fields also have lighting that allows the players of all levels to utilize the fields.
• Yes- when the fields are a community investment.

No

• No- because not all turf systems are assembled with the same impact absorbtion.
• No- because not all fibers are designed to trap the infill the same way.
• No- because not all players have the higher level skills to play on the faster playing surface.
• No- because I see too many players playing games on back to back days without a rest day in between.
• No- because I see too many players learning to play a speed game instead of a technical/tactical game due to full field 11v11 year round.
• No- because I feel more players need to train more and make the game the teacher, instead of the results of the game counting.
• No- because I’m seeing too many regional leagues and younger ages.
• No- because I’m seeing too many younger kids spending more time in a car than playing with a ball on their foot.
• No- because the wear and tear on the body from turf is still harder than natural surfaces.
• No- because nobody explains to developing players that you need the right shoe for the field. (back to not all turf is the same!)
• No- because this is supposed to be a game played for fun and the more turf, the more leagues, the more tournaments- the higher the costs to the players and families.
• No- can be a yes, if we find ways to focus on the important steps in developing better players and better humans.

What do I do to optimize my performance on turf fields?

I train daily so my body can be strong, flexible and explosive to prepare for running on these fields. I work on my proprioception, acceleration and change of direction. I use the Peloton bike and row app to condition(HIIT, Intervals, Endurance, Steady State) without daily pounding on my joints. I strength train in the gym with weights(machine, dumbbell, kettlebells and barbell). Yoga is added in the recovery process. Most importantIy I change my footwear based on the field and how my body feels.

I have adjusted my footwear to optimize cushioning and consistency over optimal speed and performance. I realize this change is also one of the reasons I stopped playing five years ago. As an athlete I need to be able to beat my opponent to the ball. As a referee I need to achieve the best positioning so I can have the angle for the best decision making. I’m able to give up a few steps to get that angle.

My footwear selection is the easiest part of the solution. I was having a nostalgic moment reflecting on the shoes I wished still existed so I could make them my referee shoes in 2026. If all three of these shoes existed I’d likely have them in my equipment rotation.

Diadora Soccer/Running Trainer

adidas No.9 Hybrid Trainer

Nike Soccer Trainer