BY SHAIN GILLET

Clipper Sports Editor

KAYSVILLE — Football has a way of trending towards a new idea every generation or so.

First, there was the forward pass. Later came the triple option offense, the run and gun, then the West Coast offense.

When it comes to turf, however, most professional teams have stood by using natural grass to fall on during practices and games. With a few professional and college teams trading in the dirt and grass for the newest version of artificial turf (called

“FieldTurf” or “Synthetic Turf”), the trickled-down effect of replacing natural grass has started to trend down to the high school level.

Before high school spring sports wrapped up, Davis High School announced on its website that they will soon be installing the new FieldTurf along with a new track, scoreboard and sound system. Upon the completion of the new field, Davis High will be the third high school in south Davis County high to have the new turf installed. The first was Woods Cross High School, quickly followed by Viewmont High School in the following year.

Clearfield High School also installed the synthetic turf and now local fans of football and soccer are looking at four synthetic turf fields out of eight high schools in the Davis County area.

“I’m very happy about us getting this new surface,” said Ryan Bishop, Davis’ football coach. “I think it makes sense for our high school to have this resource available for our players and kids at the high school. (The students) get the most use out of it for classes, P.E. and so on; plus, the durability of the field makes it easier to maintain.”

sgillet@davisclipper.com

For more information check out the July 5 edition of Davis Clipper.