SAFETY AND SECURITY

By Mary Helen Sprecher

While the year we ’ ve just said goodbye to ( with no great regrets ) has been all about safety , it ’ s time to look to the future . Sports are returning to fields , spectators are returning to the stands , and field owners and managers are returning to their responsibilities .

But safety remains important . And while there are certainly plenty of health protocols that will be essential in the months to come , it is imperative not to lose sight of safety on the field itself . In particular , it is essential to control physical risks to players .

According to the American Sports Builders Association ( ASBA ), for designers , builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities , observing important safety requirements is going to be as important this year as any . Many teams are returning to the field for the first time in more than a year , and unfortunately , fields may have been neglected in the interim .

John Schedler , CFB , CTB , an athletic facility consultant with Bakara Sport , noted that the first consideration should be the surface of the field itself . For synthetic fields , regular maintenance protocols should be observed , such as field grooming and decompaction of the infill .

“ The owner should look at the small things and details like on baseball and softball fields , including the high-wear areas that often need spot maintenance after each event or at least on a regular basis so that the infill doesn ’ t migrate out of the area and lead to irreparable turf damage ,” he said .

Surface testing can help verify they are having the desired effect .

“ It is essential to have proper maintenance and regular testing of the field surface itself ,” said Schedler . “ Gmax or HIC testing for player safety , as well as owner due diligence should include attention to force reduction , vertical deformation , rotational resistance , ball roll etc .” These , he added , are already required by FIFA but are applicable to field performance in general .

Lee Narozanick , CTB , CFB , of American Athletic Courts , Inc . and Florida Turf and Track , said that grass fields merit attention as well .

“ Both synthetic and natural fields need to be inspected daily before each event . Different types of fields will require different attention ,” said Narozanick .

All photos courtesy of the American Sports Builders Association

In addition to ascertaining the field surface is acceptable for play , field managers should turn their attention to the structures on the field itself . In high-wind areas , fastening down moveable objects such as goal nets or other objects can enhance area safety . But just as important are the design considerations . “ One of the most common safety issues I see is in the ‘ runout ’ areas for fields ,” said Todd Smith , Ph . D ., PE , LEED AP , CFB , of R & R Engineers-Surveyors , Inc . “ While the industry has improved its knowledge and design around the minimum areas outside the play field ’ s formal end or sidelines , there seems to now be an increase in

34 SportsField Management | February 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com