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/60100
Facility&Operations (used in practice) and so on. The equip- ment itself, being light and portable, is often brought to the field or stored nearby. Storage cages or sheds may be necessary if multiple teams will be using the field. Because games move quickly, spectators enjoy lacrosse. And while folding chairs and picnic blankets are a time-honored tra- dition, your players' families and friends will enjoy the experience more if there are bleachers available. (In this respect, lacrosse is no different from any other spectator sport, where the wish list includes conces- sions, rest rooms and shaded picnic areas as well). "An item we feel would be particularly useful would be high nets beyond the end of the field to catch those balls that are overshot," notes Jeff Shyk of K&W Engi- neers in Harrisburg, PA. FIELD MAINTENANCE As with all sports, lacrosse causes wear in specific areas of the field. >> BOSTON COLLEGE. Photos courtesy of Stantec, Boston, MA "Care should be concentrated in the goal crease area," says Wright. "The goal crease area is where the majority of concen- trated play occurs. For synthetic turf fields, this area requires additional grooming to keep the infill material depth consistent. This is where the most damage will occur on a natural turf field. Re-sodding and/or re-seeding may be required to bring these areas back to a condition suitable for other sports." Part of the reason for the wear and tear is the pace and positioning of the game, says Lee Narozanick of American Athletic Courts in Vincentown, NJ. "There can be 50 shots on goal in most games. Shortly after the season begins, the goal areas on grass fields lose their grass and by the end of the season, it can be treacher- ous during a rainy game. Most synthetic turf fields hold up well, but the area still gets the most wear." Besides, Narozanick notes, he has a unique perspective. "I know a lot about the goal area because my daughter took up the illustrious job of being a lacrosse goalie. Go figure." As with all athletic fields, regular main- tenance is needed to keep the field in good condition generally. Natural grass needs mowing and irrigation as well as seasonal fertilizer and repair of worn areas. Synthetic turf should be groomed, cleaned and checked on a regular basis. In all cases, good drainage will be tied to the perform- ance of the field throughout its useful life. A shortcoming all field managers have to deal with is the constant use of facilities. Whereas the Native Americans who in- vented lacrosse could simply move on to another area when their field became de- nuded of grass or looked a bit worn, many of today's facility managers are land-locked. But for those who are in the enviable posi- tion of being able to redistribute play among different fields, the pros urge taking full advantage of that ability. "If I could give any extra tip, it would be to have more maintenance, and to rest the field and let it recover from usage," says Dan Wright. "The more rest a grass field gets, the better it will perform," says Narozanick. "So rotate, rotate, rotate." 30 SportsTurf | April 2012 www.sportsturfonline.com