FACILITIES AND GROUNDS

By Steve Peeler , CSFM

All photos provided by Steve Peeler , CSFM

Sports facilities come in all different levels of play , size , and types of events that occur . Regardless of level of play , type of sport played , or other events , there is one thing that they all have in common , and that is player safety . Safety is the number one priority when it comes to playing surfaces – both natural grass and synthetic . Each sport has areas that are more sensitive in protecting players and participants . Maintaining these areas requires different maintenance practices , moisture management , firmness , and playability .

First , the playing surface must be consistently level and true so the best playing conditions can be maintained while making the games more enjoyable for all involved . At the professional level , playing surface management is more important than ever before . Even at the recreational level of play , playing surfaces have become the focus of liability lawsuits .

Surface runoff and internal drainage is the first ingredient required to pass the safety test of a playing surface . Traveling sports teams pay a lot of money and often travel great distances to compete . Therefore , fields must be ready to play immediately after – or sometimes during – inclement conditions . It is also in the best interest of promoters that sponsor the events to make sure drainage is the number one priority , as they don ’ t want to have to reschedule events and refund money back to teams because they can ’ t play .

Should a playing field lack the proper drainage , a rain event that occurred prior to a sporting event may take hours or days to return to safe playing conditions . As an industry standard , most college and professional fields throughout the United States must have an elaborate drainage system and , in some instances , mechanical assistance in making sure fields return to safe play in a very short timeframe .

PLAYING SURFACE Once an adequate drainage system can be confirmed , the next most important area of concern is the playing surface itself . Surfaces must have proper slope so runoff can be accomplished to 100 % certainty . Furthermore , all playing surfaces should be without large undulations , ponding water , depressions , or irregularity for the safety of the athletes . Large stadium venues must take the proper steps to conserve the integrity of the turf and grade of the playing field . Even when protection has been exercised and precautions in place , the surface can still be damaged with irregular growth patterns , stunted growth , and diseases . Once the playing surface has been transformed back into its natural state , unsafe conditions still may be present .

36 SportsField Management | January 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com