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/318924
Facility & Operations Athletics. "Tournament season is a great time for field managers and tournament hosts to give the diamond a look that leaves a last- ing impression." Oftentimes, Langner says, a little goes a long way to creating that visual impact. For example, while it can create dramatic visual impact to com- pletely change the infield color with a dyed conditioner, a field manager can apply colored particles in select areas only, at a much lower cost. It only takes a few bags of a professional-level infield conditioner applied to the mound and plate areas to help them stand out. Other aesthetic changes to think about for tournament season include repainting the coach's boxes and the foul lines in the out- field. 3. Better the Base paths A firm base path means a fast base path, which is a trait of any quality field worthy of tournament play. Top the first and third base paths with calcined clay—about two bags into the top inch of dirt along the paths—and moisten without saturating. Then, roll the paths until they are firm to maintain a safe infield throughout the tournament. Avoid dragging the base paths; instead, hand-rake those areas as necessary, which will keep the infield mix tight. 4. prep the skin "Keeping a field safe and playable for the athletes should be first and foremost on the mind of any field manager put in charge of a tournament, even more than aesthetic upgrades," Langner says. "Preparing the field for the elements and ensuring the ball bounces true throughout the weekend are great ways to pulling off a tourna- ment worth remembering." Proper infield maintenance is critical for quality of play for the players. For starters, fix any low spots in the infield before each day of play. These are more likely to occur near the bases, in leadoff areas and sliding pits. Low spots can be built back up by scraping away any loose material or conditioner; adding infield mix to the low spot (preferably matching the sand/silt/clay content of the base soil); and tamping it firm. Repeat this process until the area is up to grade, and then top with a light layer of conditioner. Also, be on the lookout for lips, which can create dangerous conditions for the players. Hand-raking the infield edges will prevent materials from build- ing up in the edges of the turf and causing a lip to form. If infield mix works its way into the turf during routine maintenance or the course of a game, take a broom and sweep all loose materials lying in the turf back onto the skinned surface. Then remove any grass that is swept onto the infield with a rake. Another option to remove lips is to use a garden hose and high- pressure nozzle and spray the infield mix and conditioner out of the grass back onto the infield dirt. Spray at a 45-degree angle toward the infield while someone else helps to pull the loose material out of the grass, using a hard-tooth rake. 5. prevent rainouts Summer thunderstorms are a part of life for many regions of the US during tournament season. Unfortunately, that means a lot of rain can pour down on a field in a short amount of time and cause long delays or even cancellations if the proper preparations aren't made before tournament play begins. Prevent infield puddles from forming by properly grading the infield, taking proper care when dragging the field, and fixing low spots if they form. Again, topdressing with a calcined clay helps soak up excess moisture from a rain event to ensure good footing and prevent delays. Preventing slick, muddy spots from forming in the outfield grass is important too. Apply a topdressing of soil conditioner like at a rate of 500 pounds per 1,000 square feet to protect the turf in advance of rain. This will help absorb any future moisture on the field while also helping amend the soil long term. If a storm has already passed through the area, it's not too late to prevent a major delay in play. To clean up puddles in the infield, specially designed drying agents like can be dumped onto the area and raked as needed to eliminate water and mud. In the outfield turf, apply a soil conditioner directly out of the bag into the puddle or muddy area. Allow it to absorb the water and rake the material into the turf and resume play. Take the time to walk your field and look for any potential hazards before the start of tournament play. Making minor repairs and small improvements can have a huge impact on whether your tournament is fun, safe, and memorable for players and spectators alike. ■ Swanson Russell represents Turface Athletics, which markets among other products Professional Mound Clay, MoundMaster Blocks, Turface MVP, Pro League, Pro League Heritage Red, Champion Brown, Field & Fairway, and Turface Quick Dry. 32 SportsTurf | June 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com Georgia Tech chose a dyed conditioner to give its field a distinct look. Photo by Profile Products.