The Synthetic Turf Council is launching the Search for the Real Field of Dreams, a national contest looking for the high school with the most compelling story about its synthetic turf field.

Synthetic Turf Council launches “Search for the Real Field of Dreams”

From ‘Rudy’ to ‘Remember the Titans,’ everyone knows a heartwarming sports story. Unfortunately, some of the best stories are never heard. That’s why the Synthetic Turf Council is launching the Search for the Real Field of Dreams, a national contest looking for the high school with the most compelling story about its synthetic turf field. Synthetic turf empowered the Barrow Whalers to become the first Arctic high school football team in northern Alaska and helped Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York win the New York State Field Hockey Championship in 2006. With more than 1,000 synthetic turf fields installed in the United States annually, the success stories are endless.


From the legacy of the hometown football hero to the recent defeat of Texas Tech over Texas, everyone knows a great sports story. Unfortunately, some of the best stories are never told. That’s why the Synthetic Turf Council is launching the Search for the Real Field of Dreams, a national contest looking for the high school with the most compelling story about how its synthetic turf field positively impacted the school, its students or the community.


Open to any public or private high school with a synthetic turf field, the winning school will be awarded $2,500 for its athletic program. Nine runner-up schools will receive funding for their programs as well.


Synthetic turf empowered the Barrow Whalers to become the first Arctic high school football team in northern Alaska and helped Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York win the New York State Field Hockey Championship in 2006. With more than 900 synthetic turf fields installed in the United States annually, the success stories are endless.


“We’ve seen the way synthetic turf fields have helped teams go from worst to first and brought together entire communities,” said STC president Rick Doyle. “It’s important for the inspirational stories behind these fields to be shared. The pride high school students have in their sports teams is unique, and the Search gives them an opportunity to inspire others nationwide.”


The Search for the Real Field of Dreams is open to any public or private high school in the United States that has a synthetic turf field. A winning school will be selected in April by an outside panel of judges and will win $2,500 for its athletic program, along with a sign recognizing its field as a contribution to the overall success of its athletic program. In addition, the second place school will receive $500 and eight national finalists will receive $250 for their schools.  Interested students, coaches, faculty and parents can nominate their school by filling out the application at www.syntheticturfcouncil.org. Entries are due by March 31, 2009.