SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/369217
www.stma.org September 2014 | SportsTurf 27 Facility & Operations | By Mary Helen Sprecher of an additional grounds maintenance person would have been far less than the cost of set- tling the injury litigation. The third option for the athletic adminis- trator to address this need is to seek in-kind labor from either the booster club or compa- nies in the community who specialize in turf products or services. In many schools, the booster club can be called upon to provide labor and companies in the community can provide the expertise. Acquiring the resources necessary to main- tain safe fields does not have to be directly related to the athletic department or district finance available. Yes, it would be optimal if the athletic department or school district budget allocated necessary funds to purchase the required products, equipment and ser- vices but that does not always happen. In many communities a partnership between the school district and the park department or golf course can result in a sharing of the equipment to meet the needs of all entities. Partnerships between the school district and local businesses can also be developed. The school district might offer some advertising opportunities to local businesses in the event programs, on the public address during events or on signage at the venues in exchange for products or services. Athletic administrators face a greater chal- lenge today to provide safe athletic fields, but it is something we owe to the students participating in our athletic programs. It is a challenge that can be met if the school, the community and the sports turf companies come together in partnerships. Bruce Whitehead, CMAA, has 33 years in public education as a teacher and coach, and for the final 25 years was Director of Athletics at Crawfordsville (IN) High School. While an ath- letic administrator, Bruce was a member of the IIAAA board (Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association), the IHSAA Board (Indiana High School Athletic Association) and the NIAAA Board. Bruce has been employed by the NIAAA for 13 years and has been the execu- tive director for the past 9 ½ years. About NIAAA The NIAAA is located in Indianapolis and is the national organization for high school and middle school athletic administrators with 9,000 individual members. The mem- bership includes athletic administrators from organizations in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and internationally. The NIAAA champions the profession of athletic admin- istration through education opportunities, advocating ethics, developing leaders and fos- tering community. ■ School districts should realize the cost of [professional] grounds maintenance personnel can be far less than the cost of settling injury litigation.