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/460594
www.stma.org March 2015 | SportsTurf 21 should be opened and checked to relieve the air and to also check for possible leaks that might have occurred. Once all zones have been opened and the correct operating pressure has been accom- plished with no air remaining in the lines, the system can be fully charged. PSI should be monitored during the charging operation so no major fluctuation is witnessed. Once the system has been shut down, the static pressure should be consistent. Safety: The biggest concern of all sports field managers is safety. Accidents can occur even when proper steps have been taken to minimize all injury risks to the players. However, the main goal is to produce a field that is safe, playable, and injury free. Before play, the entire field and facility should be inspected via a checklist that itemizes each area of the facility. Infield skins, base anchors, bases, pitching rubbers, home plates, grass edge and lips, warning track, fencing, backstop netting, field screens, dugouts, and spectator bleachers should all be included in this pre-season checklist. Playability: A field that is playable is a field that is safe. Not only does playability refer to safety, but it also can refer to a fun- damentally sound playing surface. Each player on the field must be made comfortable in each position and have confidence in the sports turf managers ability to provide a superior playing field. Talking to the coaches and players before the season and in the season can help improve the facility and develop a player's ability. Maintenance: All facilities must have a designed, routine maintenance program for all aspects and sections of the play- ing field that are beyond turfgrass maintenance or infield skin maintenance. Cleaning, pressure washing, painting, and cos- metic repair are areas that are beyond regular maintenance of the playing surface. Grading: Regardless of how many times a sports turf man- ager grooms their infield or edges the turf, leveling and using a laser grading device is recommended to save money on materi- als, increase surface runoff and drainage, and maintaining safety. Soil amendments: Adding soil amendments to the infield skin, home plate, and pitching mounds is an industry standard. Depending on the composition of your infield skin, additional soil amendments could be needed. Before the season and after hard freezes in the soil, it is recommended that a sample of your infield skin be taken and tested to see what percentage of mate- rial is actually required for optimum performance. Backstop: Different materials have been used over the years to construct backstop structures. Chain-link fencing was most popular in the past, and still in use today. Fencing fabric has a tendency to bend and curl after repeated use and ball strikes. Panels of the fencing could become sharp and pointed. Returning the fencing fabric back to original form is most dif- ficult. Inspecting this potential safety issue should be performed