Officers

President : Sun Roesslein , CSFM

Immediate Past President : James Bergdoll , CSFM , CPRP

President Elect : Nick McKenna , CSFM

Secretary-Treasurer : Adam Thoms , Ph . D .

Vice President Commercial : Paula Sliefert

Directors

Academic : Chase Straw , Ph . D .

At-Large ( elected ): Ryan DeMay , CSFM

At-Large ( appointed ): Zachary Holm , CSFM

Commercial : Erin Boyd Wilder

Higher Education : Jason DeMink , CSFM

Parks and Recreation : Jason Bowers , CSFM

Professional Facilities : Alpha Jones , CSFM

Schools K-12 : Jeremy Driscoll , CSFM

SFMA OFFICE P . O . Box 1673 Lawrence , KS 66044 Phone : 800-323-3875 Email : SFMAInfo @ SportsFieldManagement . org www . sportsfieldmanagement . org

SFMA EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Chair : Brad Thedens , CSFM Board Liaison : Chase Straw , Ph . D . Members : Matthew Arms , CSFM ; Philip Braselton ; TJ Brewer , CSFM ; Joe Churchill ; Forrest Jammer ; John Kmitta ; and David Schwandt .

August is a very exciting month ! Many SFMA members are involved in volunteering at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville , North Carolina , and the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport , Pennsylvania . There are almost 50 total volunteer grounds crew members between the two tournaments .

Last year at the softball series , the grounds crew for the last four days of games was a group of 16 women . This year we have 20 women from throughout the country , all segments of SFMA membership , and at all stages of their careers ; plus , we have expanded to covering all eight days of the tournament . There are several local guys from the Carolinas chapters who are also volunteering to make the tournament a success , in addition to all the preparations that go into switching the grass infield baseball field over to a full skinned infield . Those who make up the baseball series crew have similar depth — from first time volunteers to seasoned veterans — and are covering an entire two weeks of games !

Regardless of who we are or where we work , our overall goals are very similar . There is a worldwide focus on these fields , and we want to provide top-notch playing fields , give these players an incredible experience and make an impact .

Every volunteer has the opportunity to spark interest in sports field management . Athletes at their level have probably never seen eight people watering the infield for them , or had a logo painted for their tournament . The players , families and fans all see us work each day and experience the pride we take in providing the best fields possible .

One evening last year , there was a family with two young girls who stayed after and watched the entire post-game process . They asked questions , cheered for the crew , got lots of high fives and we signed a softball for them . It made the little girls ’ weekend ! There were players from other countries who thanked us between innings , took photos with crew members and chanted “ Let ’ s go grounds crew !” when we pulled the tarp .

ESPN commentators mentioned the women on the grounds crew multiple times throughout the televised games . With the reach of those broadcasts ,

the potential exposure of sports field management as a profession is huge ! It ’ s just a start , and I know many of us would love to see the day that every field management crew is recognized for sports at all levels .

Those interactions , along with the visibility events like this provide , are priceless . Reaching an audience of young athletes , the spectators and even fans on TV might just inspire some young people to take interest in sports field management . SFM

Sun Roesslein , CSFM

Sun Roesslein , CSFM SFMA President Sun . Roesslein @ jeffco . k12 . co . us sportsfieldmanagementonline . com August 2023 | SportsField Management

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