Fairfield Ludlowe boys lacrosse coach Chris Parisi is a fan of artificial turf, but he knows it has its downside. Like those little rubber pellets that get into your shoes and cause discomfort as the game goes on.

“These fields work, there’s tons more advantages to these fields, but they are going to have their drawback,” Parisi said. “And one of those is the pellets. You get one of those in your shoe and it’s going to bother you.”

But instead of complaining about those little pebbles, Parisi and former coaching mate Mike Mulvey did something about it.

They created a product called Turf Dawg, which as it turned out, became more than apparel that slips over your cleats to keep the pebbles out. They also became an additional accessory to a lacrosse team’s uniform.

“The exciting thing for us is we’re rolling them out to programs and getting players’ numbers on them,” Parisi said. “The kids are so fired up to get these, because you can customize your shoe.”

Here’s how Turf Dawg works: The neoprene sleeve slips over the shoe like a sock. The laces slip through the Turf Dawg’s grommets to help keep the rubber pellets (and other field debris) from getting in the shoe.

“The beauty of it is there’s only one attachment point, so it’s universal, you can use it on any shoe that you like,” Parisi said. “No matter the type of cleats you have, how thick the bottom is, they’re going to fit.”

Parisi said he is working on getting Turf Dawg into retail stores, but for now, it’s a custom team product. Wakeman Boy’s Club of Fairfield’s lacrosse teams are using them this season, and Fairfield University will use them starting this fall.

How is the Turf Dawg message being spread? Mostly by word of mouth. It helped sell the FCIAC and CIAC Class M champion Darien Blue Wave consider them for the future.

When Ludlowe played at Darien this season, Parisi said the Blue Wave players were complaining about getting pebbles in their shoes. And when he showed the players the Turf Dawg product, Parisi said they all wanted to know where they could find a pair.

Darien kids, were complaining about all the stuff getting in their shoes and I was standing right there. “You out to get Turf Dawg,’ I told them. It was like a perfect commercial for Turf Dawg. They were like, ‘Yo, where did you get that? Where can I find one?’” and now the team will be wearing them.

Parisi said he had another marketing breakthrough in the form of an audience. He tested concepts and product names and designs on his homeroom students.

“I don’t know what’s cool, I’m 40 years old,” Parisi said. “So I ask them, what do you think is cool? If you think it’s cool, and you want it on your shoes, then we’ll do it. But I do rely on the kids a lot. My designer in Maryland will draw something up, I’ll show it to my kids. I rely on them.”

Parisi says he’s hoping to spread Turf Dawg beyond the lacrosse fields this fall, by encouraging it as an offering for field hockey, soccer, and football.