SportsTurf

December 2014

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.

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D eveloped to assess the playability of fields, the Playing Condition Index (PCI) from the Sports Turf Managers Association provides a snapshot of that playability at a spe- cific point in time. The continued use of the assessment tool provides invaluable informa- tion to the sports turf manager and can help guide field management practices, assist with communication to user groups, can help to substantiate the need for more resources, and as needed provides a way to provide informa- tion to the media relations department. The PCI is in a worksheet form that allows you to allot points for each question and then total the points, and the program is required for those entering their fields in STMA's Field of the Year Award program. I asked two recent Field of the Year win- ners to share their experiences working with the PCI. Here's what Noel Harryman, manager of turf operations for the City of Glendale (CO), and Casey Griffin, direc- tor of field operations, Albuquerque (NM) Isotopes, had to say: In your experience, what have been the most notable benefits to your using the PCI tool? Harryman: "The biggest benefit for us is that the PCI tool gives us a gauge to measure things by. We also try and take pictures fre- quently to give us a frame of reference. It is really easy to say this is the worst I have ever seen the playing surface. By documenting your work you can show your crew we can make it through this and this is how we did it in the past." Griffin: "To me, this is a great self evalu- ation tool that allows you to synopsize your year regarding the playing conditions, where you can look back on it and say this how we did it, this is what we saw and this is what I think we should do in the future." Have you shared PCI results with others in your organization, e.g., media relations, budget decision makers, etc., and if so, what was your purpose? Have you seen tangible results from doing so? Griffin: "I share these results with some of my crew members (assistants and interns). It is just another way to get everyone on the same page and present something that allows us to see change on our field and get us thinking on how we remedy those changes if necessary." Harryman: "I have shared our results with others in our organization. The results that I have seen is a better understand or realization that there is a lot of science and professionalism that goes into being a turf manager. The PCI has also benefited me in giving visual on the impact of certain events and scheduling that occurs." Do you have any recommendations for turf managers who are considering starting to use the PCI that might help them find it most useful? Harryman: "The advice that I would give them is to use it frequently to give you the best data and be honest with yourself." Griffin: "It is a tangible tool that has limitless benefits if used properly. More than anything, I think it can help turf managers by showing how important documentation can be when working on a particular field." ■ From the Sidelines Eric Schroder Editorial Director eschroder@specialtyim.com 717-805-4197 Using STMA's Playing Condition Index tool 6 SportsTurf | December 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com EPG Media/Specialty Information Media 3300 Fernbrook Lane N, Suite 200, Plymouth, MN 55447 The Official Publication Of The Sports Turf Managers Association President: David Pinsonneault, CSFM, CPRP Immediate Past President: James Michael Goatley, Jr., PhD President-Elect: Allen Johnson, CSFM Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Salmond, CSFM Vice-President Commercial: James Graff Professional Facilities: Phil McQuade Academic: Jeffrey Fowler Higher Education: Tim Van Loo, CSFM Parks & Recreation: Sarah Martin, CSFM K-12: Andrew Gossel Commercial: Doug Schattinger Elected-at-Large: Mike Tarantino, CSFM Elected-at-Large: Bradley Jakubowski Chief Executive Officer: Kim Heck STMA OFFICE 805 New Hampshire Suite E Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 800-323-3875 Fax: 800-366-0391 Email: STMAinfo@STMA.org www.STMA.org EdITORIAL Group publisher: David Voll Editorial director: Eric Schroder Technical Editor: Dr. James Brosnan Art director: Brian Snook Production Manager: Karen Kalinyak Stma Editorial Communications Committee Chairman: Brad Jakubowski; Tyler Clay; Jim Cornelius, CSFM; Mark Frever, CSFM; Jamie Mehringer; Scott Stevens; and Brad Park SportsTurf (ISSN 1061-687X) (USPS 000-292) (Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off.) is published monthly by Specialty Information Media at 75 Pike Street, Port Jervis, NY 12271. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sportsturf, PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823. For subscription information and requests, call Subscription Services at (847) 763-9565. Subscription rates: 1 year, $40 US & Poss.; 2 years, $65 US & Poss.; 1 year, $65 Canada/Foreign Surface, 1 year, $130 Airmail. All sub- scriptions are payable in advance in US funds. Send payments to Sportsturf, PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076- 7823. Phone: (847) 763-9565. Fax: (847) 763-9569. Single copies or back issues, $8 each US/Canada; $12 Foreign. Periodicals postage paid at Port Jervis, NY and additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT 2014, SportsTurf. Material may not be reproduced or photocopied in any form with- out the written permission of the publisher.

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