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/726375
www.stma.org October 2016 | SportsTurf 45 www.stma.org October 2016 | SportsTurf 45 FIELD OF THE YEAR download the app and run the quick cycle on her own, without someone from my staff needing to be at every game. ST: What's the greatest pleasure you derive from your job? What's the biggest headache? Pritchard: Walking into our football stadium on a crisp Saturday morning as the sun is coming up and seeing the fi nal product from the hard work of the crew. I choose to be positive. We have our headaches, but they are no larger than any other crew. ST: What's the best piece of turf management advice you have ever received? Pritchard: "We are in the business of fun," Bobby Campbell told me. "We help kids, students and adults play games. Stay positive and have FUN," he said. ST: Are you yet involved in "sustainable" management practices? If so, what are you doing? Pritchard: In the state of Virginia, all state-owned properties must have a state certifi ed Nutrient Management Plan. This plan limits when we can apply fertilizer and the amounts and types of nitrogen and phosphorous we can apply. We have come to use more organic based fertilizers and much smaller, more frequent applications of synthetic-based fertilizers so we keep what we apply out of the Chesapeake Bay. ST: How are using social media at work? Pritchard: Twitter and Facebook are real time education. I absolutely love the giving/sharing/teaching nature of my colleagues within the industry. I have picked up numerous little tricks from around the country. A student just coming into this industry is going to be so far ahead of where I was when I graduated college, because of the education they receive through social media. ST: How do you see the sports turf manager's job changing in the future? Pritchard: I see water and fertilizer restrictions being implemented by the state and localities with ZERO knowledge of what they are doing and how it affects end users. I believe individually, we as sports turf managers will need to become more professional and political to be considered the asset we truly are to our companies and communities. We will need to insert ourselves within these political discussions before decisions are made based on fear, not science. I also believe the push for every high schooler to attend college is going to elevate the pay for those that have a technical skill such as a sports turf manager. Combine that technical skill with a professional, political approach, and I anticipate the demand and pay for Sports Turf Managers to continue to rise. also able to verticut a second time at the end of the month. One issue that needed more attention at this time was the sideline (some of which was sodded). Aerifi cation cores were used in an effort to grow in the bare sidelines. ■ Aerifi ed 3⁄4 inch hollow tines at three inch spacing, drag and blew cores ■ Verticut two times ■ Deep cored 10" with 1" hollow tines on 6" spacing (picked up cores) ■ Mowed minimum three times a week at 5⁄8 inch ■ Added cores on sidelines ■ Irrigation head replacement ■ Irrigated to ET ■ Sprayed Floratine Hi-Five @3oz/1000, Per"4"Max @3oz/1000 bimonthly 20-0-20 @1lbN/1000 JULY With a little less than two months remaining before the fi rst match, the majority of the fi eld had grown in. Larger weak areas, such as the four corners of the fi eld, random spring dead spots and the sideline (cores did not work) were plugged for immediate coverage. ■ Topdressed 45 tons (broomed three directions) ■ Mowed minimum three times a week at 5⁄8 inch ■ Dolomitic lime (the rest of recommended rate) ■ Plugged ■ Spot sprayed crabgrass ■ Aerifi ed 3⁄4 inch hollow tines at three inch spacing, pick up cores ■ Finished irrigation head replacement ■ Irrigated to ET ■ Sprayed Floratine Per"4"Max @3oz/1000, Harrell's N30 @6oz/1000, Primo Maxx@11oz/Acre ■ Earthworks 5-4-5 @. 5lbN/1000 21-0-0@. 5lbN/1000 AUGUST August 17th was the fi rst match of the new year with eight matches scheduled through the end of the month. During this fi nal stretch fi nishing touches were completed such as continuing to plug the four corners of the fi eld and giving a fi nal edge to the border (the area between the fence and the fi eld). We also aerifi ed one last time, topdressed and rolled with a 2-ton roller. ■ Edged border ■ Aerifi ed 5⁄8 inch hollow tines at four inch spacings, picked up cores ■ Broom dragged fi eld Topdressed 45 tons USGA sand ■ Rolled ■ Mowed at maximum four times a week 5⁄8 inch ■ Soccer fi eld layout and painted according to schedule ■ Blew the fi eld following all games to remove desiccated grass and debris ■ Irrigated to ET ■ Sprayed Harrell's Potassium+Calcium @3oz/1000, EarthMax @3oz/1000, Nitrate Plus @3oz/1000, Fe/Mn/Mg @6oz/1000 20-0-20 @1lbN/1000 SEPTEMBER Nine matches were scheduled for the month of September. At this point, the fi eld has held up as expected, goalmouths and sidelines are showing wear match-to-match. As the schedule permitted, we overseeded (into the fi rst week of October) and replaced the goalmouths with thick cut sod to allow play on a championship fi eld through the end of the season. ■ Mowed at maximum four times a week 5⁄8 inch ■ Painted fi eld according to schedule ■ Air Spike once a week ■ Hand topdressed sand (sidelines, goalmouths) and fi lled divots ■ Blew the fi eld following all games to clear the fi eld of desiccated grass and debris ■ Irrigated to ET ■ Sprayed Harrells Potassium+Calcium @3oz/1000, EarthMax @3oz/1000, Nitrate Plus @3oz/1000, Fe/Mn/Mg @6oz/1000 20-0-20 @. 5lbN/1000 ■ Sprayed Turf Fuel Element 6 @3.2oz/1000, Photo Fuel @3.2oz/1000, Quick Green @4.8oz/1000 OCTOBER With 17 matches played by the fi rst of the month and fi ve matches scheduled for October, rye grass is growing and noticeable wear has started to be apparent in the goal mouths and sidelines. ■ Solid tined with 8mm tines at three inch spacing ■ Hand topdressed sand (sidelines and goalmouths) and fi lled divots ■ Mowed at a minimum of three times per week at 0.75 inch ■ Blew the fi eld following all games to remove desiccated grass and debris ■ Overseeded 1000 lbs. of Field General blend perennial ryegrass (we broom dragged one time prior to seeding and one time after to incorporate seed to soil contact) ■ Painted the fi eld according to the match schedule ■ Irrigated to ET ■ Sprayed Floratine Per"4"Max @3oz/1000, Envy @40oz/120gal ■ Sprayed Par @32oz/120gal 14-20-14 @1lbP/1000 NOVEMBER With 22 matches played and one regular season match on the fi rst of the month, we hosted one ACC play in match and four NCAA regional matches. With the cooler temperatures and shorter days the grass is acclimating towards dormancy. Wear areas are a continuous problem as the inability to help relieve compaction becomes more apparent and prior spot seeding and use of green sand become ineffective. ■ Mowed at a maximum of three times per week at 0.75 inch ■ Hand topdressed sand (sidelines, goalmouths) and fi lled divots ■ Blew the fi eld following all games to remove desiccated grass and debris ■ Painted fi eld according to schedule ■ Irrigated to ET ■ Sprayed Floratine Per"4"Max @2oz/1000, Foursome @32oz/120gal DECEMBER All matches are done, however, prior to attending the NCAA Soccer Championships, both teams used the fi eld for practice through the fi rst two weeks of the month. Our goal was to ensure the fi eld was safe and playable for practices. With 1.46 inches of rainfall during these two weeks, total fi eld compaction became apparent with standing water. ■ Blew out irrigation lines ■ Seed and hand topdressed green sand in goalmouths prior to putting on grow mats for the winter ■ 18-5-10 >12.60%Slowly available N from MU @1lbN/1000