Athletic field painting is commonly conducted on natural turfgrass fields to create boundary lines and aesthetics for sporting events. Previous research has shown that paint pigments can suppress photosynthetic activity and cause declines in turfgrass quality. However, the focus of our research was to determine the potential effects of painting on soil characteristics, ryegrass germination, and athlete biomechanics. A comparison of two different soil moisture measurement sensors was first performed to establish a credible and rapid method to guide soil sample locations. Findings from laboratory and greenhouse studies suggest painting may cause an increase in bulk density, but no differences were observed with respect to perennial ryegrass germination. Athletes were recruited to perform maneuvers on painted and non-painted running lanes to determine peak accelerations and knee angles. However, biomechanics results varied among surfaces. Future research should consider further soil characteristics and athlete populations that may be affected by painting practices.
