SAFETY AND SECURITY
ASBA 2022 Outstanding Sports Facility Award Winner . Photo courtesy of SCG Fields LLC
fact that the perimeter fence has the fabric on the wrong side of the framework ,” said Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks in Boone , Iowa . “ It is almost always hung with the fabric facing the spectators . It should be hung on the track side of the framework . There have been some very severe injuries where a hurdle has hit a fence post and come back at the athlete as well as the athlete that has tripped and tangled up with a fence post . The fabric being on the track side helps mitigate the potential severity of an injury .”
And that , said Arcella , is one of many reasons schools should work with an experienced sports contractor who understands what he calls , “ the nuances of sports facility design and construction .”
Something else to consider , added Todd Smith , Ph . D ., PE , LEED AP of R & R Engineers-Surveyors , Inc . in Denver , Colo ., is the method of grooming baseball and softball fields .
“ For the infields , the main mistake is not doing a little maintenance each day or each time the field is used . The second-most often made mistake , in my experience , is always dragging from the center in a spiral to the outside to avoid equipment tracks if they end in the center . This is the number-one cause of what is called the “ infield lip ,” which is when the infield mix is deposited into the first two to three feet of the outfield edge . This raises the rootzone and the grass grows through it . Then it gets raised again , the grass goes through it again .”
That lip not only creates a dam that impedes drainage , it can cause a ball that has hit the ground and begun to roll to spike back up . ( If a player is chasing it , that flying ball can cause injury .)
Also in baseball and softball facilities , netting to contain batted balls is a concern ; check with the governing body for the appropriate level of play your facility is hosting and make sure you are in compliance .
ASBA 2022 Outstanding Sports Facility Award Winner . Photo courtesy of Byrne & Jones Sports Construction
FACILITY WALK-THROUGH Start your audit by walking your field . This is going to be your chance to get up close and personal with the surface and to see any problems in the making .
John Schedler of Baraka Sport in Fort Worth , Texas , said that early inspections , done regularly , can keep minor problems from worsening . Nothing , he added , improves with inattention .
“ I ’ ve seen many surfaces that were left without any repair , advice or attention for way too long . This typically accelerates the age , and early replacement is more likely . Repairs become more invasive , time consuming and costly if left unattended for too long .”
In order to improve your recordkeeping , bring these three things when doing your facility audit :
Your phone or tablet to take pictures of any areas of concern ( don ’ t turn the audit into screen time , though , or you stand to miss potential problems in the making ).
A notepad to write down any questions , concerns or problems ( or you can use the note app of your phone or tablet for this purpose ).
Something easy to carry that will allow you to temporarily mark problem areas on the field or track until you can address them ( or have them addressed by your builder ). Some builders advise using small plastic cones or temporary flags that can be collected later .
As you travel the field , look for areas of concern ; these might include sections where the field is skinned , worn , dry or rutted . Muddy areas or those with pooling water could indicate a problem with drainage that needs to be addressed .
“ If you ’ re looking at tracks , keep an eye out for delamination , especially in high-wear or stress areas ,” said Schedler . “ If you ’ re walking across a synthetic sportsfieldmanagementonline . com April 2023 | SportsField Management
19