Abstract: A drainage system for a natural turf athletic field includes a buried drainage network located above a water impermeable membrane which conforms to the topography of a compacted subsoil, the drainage network including a plurality of water impermeable pipe rows partially recessed in depressions in the subsoil and a plurality of water permeable conduit rows oriented perpendicular to and intersecting the pipe rows. At each intersection, a low profile coupling interconnects the respective pipe row to the respective conduit row, the coupling having a vertical dimension less than the combined vertical dimension of the pipe rows and the conduit rows. A fill layer covers the membrane and supports natural turf thereabove. The drainage network connects to a a gravity drain and a water supply. The design of the drainage network results in reduced excavation and simplified construction, thereby lowering the installation cost for the system.