I worked a JV game today (in the rain, yay). The game went well, but the layout of the field got me thinking...

On either side of the field, there was only 4 foot of grass outside the sidelines. Then there was a 4-inch metal drainage grate thing then there was the track. The track had the standard rubber-fleck covering, whatever that's called. I was a little concerned that the hard track was so close. On both sides between the 25's there was a foam padding over the track, more or less so the players don't ruin the surface. But from the 25's down to the endlines there was no covering.

What do you guys think?

play ball.

Cover that metal thingy
 

Was the drain grating covered?

If so, play ball.

Tracks are nice to have around the field.

It keeps those parents and fans back so I don't hear them. :)

There was a school in my region back when I was in high school, who's track was so close to the playing field, that part of the endzone extended onto the track......

Here in Southern NJ we had a track in the endzone. They put down sod to cover it. Sometimes they had 2x4's as the endline. Back in those days we just played the games. The track has been redesigned but it is still very close to the endline. When I started officating in 1975 the officials always brought up the flag pole that had just been just removed from within the endzone at one of our schools. They told me that the game just went around it. I never saw it myself and can only imagine what it was like.

On the field where I played middle school ball, there is a tree that is in the corner of one end zone. It is in the field of play.

Also, there are no end lines -- there is a fence.