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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/113699
Facility&Operations Tips on tarps BROCK PHIPPS, Springfield Cardinals I'm sure with a lot of minor league teams when it comes to dealing with the tarp, safety has to be the biggest priority. I always try to stress to our new employees how to handle the tarp with care yet respect what can happen in severe weather conditions. We have all been in that situation when the wind takes control and it's either protecting the field or protecting someone from getting hurt. I let my staff know that if you don't feel in control and your feet is coming off the ground it's probably time to let go. At Hammons Field we have both the Missouri State Bears and the Springfield Cardinals using the facility. When the Bears are playing I use their players to cover the field with the tarp. On game day it's my staff, which consists of 6-7 members, along with the players and coaching staff. To pull the tarp during the Cardinals season, I use my staff along with the office staff. Communication is the key when dealing with both teams. When rain is approaching I will send out a text message or email just to let them know they will be needed. I have found that it's helpful to send out a notice before the season to all staff to have extra clothes on hand. There is nothing like working in the office with soggy clothes all day. Another key is to have the office staff stagger their lunch schedule; it's not a good feeling when bodies are needed and no one is around. With minimal staff in the minor leagues one of the first things I ever did was to roll a rope into the tarp. Talk about saving time and some energy—when it's crunch time to place the tarp on the field during the game. To roll the tarp out we simply hook on with our utility vehicle and proceed to roll the tarp out. The tarp is positioned on the right field warning track. I like to have the tube positioned on the wall that when the tarp is rolled out it's one fold and go. This also enables half of the skin to be covered from the first fold. It's very important to pull the tarp with the seams. Here at Hammons Field we have four tarp drains in shallow right field. This enables us to remove a lot of water in a short amount of time. It's always nice to have a little breeze in the right direction when it's time to remove the water. The air movement under the tarp makes it like adding 10 staff members to the tarp crew. After dumping the tarp in right field we then pull back across the infield and begin the folding process. We fold the tarp twice and then roll it up. It's very important to keep all the seams and 26 SportsTurf | March 2013 >> Above: PULLING THE TARP AT HAMMONS FIELD, home to the Missouri State Bears and Springfield Cardinals, maintained by Brock Phipps. >> Below: A SHELF CLOUD looms over Hammond Field in Springfield, Missouri. With minimal staff in the minor leagues one of the first things I ever did was to roll a rope into the tarp. Talk about saving time and some energy—when it's crunch time to place the tarp on the field during the game. www.sportsturfonline.com