SPHS Turf Field Alignment Petition

We are concerned that the proposed field alignment of the new turf athletic field at South Pasadena High School will create unsafe and adverse playing conditions for students and other participants playing soccer on the field.

Specifically, the proposed alignment, which orients the field to its northernmost possible position, rather than centering it on the track, will create dangerous conditions at the northeastern and northwestern corners of the soccer field.

These conditions include:

1. Inadequate field area for players taking corner kicks, forcing players to begin the kick on the track surface (which is not suited to soccer cleats and may cause players wearing soccer cleats to slip and fall) and then transition in the middle of their kick to the field surface.

2. Inadequate out-of-bounds area for players who may leave the northern corners of the field a high rate of speed. In such situations, the players will immediately transition from the playing surface to the track surface, which is not suited to soccer cleats and may cause players wearing soccer cleats to slip and fall.

The potential injuries that could and likely will be caused by this alignment include sprained and/or broken ankles, sprained or torn knee ligaments, lacerations to the hands, knees, hips, legs and face.

For these reasons, we request that the School Board modify the proposed design of the turf field and direct that it be re-aligned so as to reduce these hazards.