IN-GAME SAFETY The preceding tips help to ensure your facility remains safe at night or when nothing is scheduled; but what are some of the steps that can be taken to ensure safety during games?
Again, it goes back to awareness. Nobody expects an emergency, but you and your staff can prepare for and respond to such events by making sure your facility is properly appointed.
FIELD AMENITIES Regularly inspect all parts of the field, and look for problems that could result in injuries. These include problems with the field itself, any equipment players use, and even seating areas for spectators and players. Remembering that a repair now could prevent an injury( and a lot of headaches) later.
Photo courtesy of Nur Andi Ravsanjani Gusma | Pexels. com
Photo courtesy of Mathias Reding | Pexels. com
EMERGENCY EXITS Every field should have emergency exits— and the gametime staff should memorize their locations and be ready to open them. Hold practice drills periodically to ascertain that everyone on staff remains aware. Should the area need to be evacuated for any reason, there will be no time to scramble for information.( Note: If there are no emergency exits, a fence contractor can add them.)
AMBULANCE ACCESS Every field with perimeter fencing should have at least one gate wide enough to admit an ambulance in the event of an emergency. And although that gate should remain locked when there is no one present at the facility, it must be left unlocked during games( and practices as well). If an emergency should arise, there will be no time to hunt for the key.
WARNING SYSTEMS Lightning detection and storm warning equipment can play an invaluable role in keeping athletes, staff and spectators aware of sudden changes in weather conditions— particularly when a warning must be sounded across multiple fields( such as at a youth sports complex where a large tournament in taking place). As with other scenarios, staff should be aware of how to safely evacuate occupants from the area.
Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association( ASBA). For more information, see ASBA’ s Sports Fields: Construction and Maintenance Manual, available in both PDF and hard copy at www. sportsbuilders. org.
20 SportsField Management | June 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com