INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
a sports field manager , you have to understand there will be a worklife balance sacrifice . However , compensation is by far my biggest fear . I fear my future family ’ s quality of living won ’ t be what I ’ d like it to be unless I become a head sports field manager .
I am confident in the upcoming years as industry professionalism and as sports field managers everywhere get included in conversations dealing with the bigger picture of their organizations , upper management will begin to realize what our positions require . It all falls back on the product you put out , though . Your proof needs to be in the pudding .
THE FUTURE OF SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT Looking even further into the future of the industry , we asked the young sports field managers and students who took our survey what they think is the key to getting more young people in sports field management .
“ Social media is being totally underutilized from the SFMA national and local chapters ,” said one respondent . “ It is way too easy to go viral , and the TikTok / Instagram / X user is the exact demographic that we are looking for . In fact , a YouTube video of the Phillies grounds crew is what showed me that this could be a career .”
Added another , “ I think increased visibility of the sports field management industry is key to attracting more people to our industry . For example , the NFL has done a great job publicizing the efforts of the field crews leading up to the last couple of Super Bowls . I think similar campaigns in other professional and collegiate sports would be very successful in attracting young turf managers .”
Another respondent expressed concern that it will be tough to attract the next generation . “ There are long , grueling hours and the pay is not the best . At the end of the day , the pay needs to increase . The field is such a valuable aspect of the sports industry , yet it ’ s not paid the same way . To attract more people to the turf industry the pay needs to represent the work .”
“ TikTok / Instagram Reels is probably the best way to gain awareness from the general public , just to give them an idea as to what all we do . The most effective way I believe is having elementary / middle school / high schoolers out to our facilities , spend half a day with the crew , and getting them on the equipment . Whatever will get them hooked on this as a career . The way I see it , the more people that know what we do and why we do it , the more appreciated we all will be , which in turn hopefully increases our salaries .” SFM
Jakob Scales is a grounds crew intern for the Kansas City Royals . The survey was conducted in June 2024 .
Although we could not share all responses within the context of this article , SportsField Management will be sharing additional responses and more survey details online at SportsFieldManagementOnline . com .
22 SportsField Management | August 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com