Sports Turf Manager Association

STMA Attains Record-High Conference Attendance

The 17^th annual Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Conference and Exhibition brought more than 1,000 conference attendees, an association record high, to Orlando, Jan. 18-21, for classroom and hands-on education. This was a 10 percent increase in attendance from the 2005 conference, which was held in Phoenix. The conference kicked off a year-long celebration of the associations’ 25^th anniversary.

Integral to the conference was the 86,000 sq. foot exhibition that showcased the sports turf industry’s products, services and equipment of more than 155 companies.

Thirty-eight educational sessions and workshops, a dozen roundtable discussions, a four-hour chapter officer’s training session, and two full-day and one half day, off-site seminars were packed into the four-day conference.

The conference events were enhanced by the support of Barenbrug, Beacon Athletics; Covermaster; Cynet Turf; Ewing Irrigation; Hunter Industries; Kubota, Midwest Rake; Pro’s Choice; Rain Bird, Southern Athletic Fields, TLI Sports; The Toro Company; Turface Athletics; Weatherbug, West Coast Turf, and World Class Athletics.

Opening Session Highlights the
History of the Profession and Forecasts for the Future

To recognize the 25^th anniversary, a panel of long-time STMA members shared their views about the profession’s progress and milestones during the past 25 years. The panel was moderated by STMA Past President Dr. Gil Landry, University of Georgia, who probed panelists about the changes in sports turf management practices, research, education, design and construction, media coverage and environmental issues. Panelists were Steve Wightman, QualComm Stadium and Steve Cockerham, University of California-Riverside, who are past presidents of STMA, Mark Heinlein from the Motz Group, and Reggie Williams, former NFL star and Disney’s Wide World of Sports visionary. In a follow-up presentation, Dr. Dave Minner, University of Iowa, delved deeper into the technological changes that are driving the profession and how they will affect the future of sports turf management. Dr. Andrew McNitt, Penn State University, discussed the skills and abilities that a sports turf manager will need in the future to be successful. Keynote presenter Dr. Larry Helms motivated sports turf managers to be the best they can be and offered immediate strategies to help STMA members get ahead personally and professionally.

STMA Membership Elects 2006 Board of Directors

The following officers and directors were elected to serve on the 2006 STMA Board of Directors
Officers
President - Mike Trigg, CSFM, Waukegan Park District, Waukegan, IL
Past President - Bob Campbell, CSFM, University of Tennessee Athletic Department, Knoxville, TN
President-Elect - Mike Andresen, CSFM, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Vice President-Commercial — Tra DuBois, World Class Athletic Surfaces, Inc., Leland, MS
Secretary - Abby McNeal, CSFM, Bridgeview Stadium, Home of The Chicago Fire, an AEG operated Facility, Bridgeview IL
Treasurer - Chris Calcaterra, CSFM, City of Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria, AZ

Board Members
Professional Facilities - Darian Daily, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Colleges & Universities - Jay Warnick, CSFM, BYU-Idaho, Rexburg, ID
Schools -George Trivett, CSFM, Hudson Middle School, Lenoir, NC
Parks & Recreation - Lance Tibbetts, CSFM, Town of Windham, Windham, ME
Research, Teaching, Extension - Dave Minner, Ph.D., Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Due to the election of Tra Dubois to the Vice President - Commercial position, the Commercial Director position that he previously held became vacant. In accordance with STMA Bylaws, President Trigg appointed a commercial member to fill the remaining term of that position. He appointed Dale Getz, CSFM, SCPS, from The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN.

STMA Highest Honors Presented

STMA awarded its highest honors, The Founders’ Awards, at the 17^th annual STMA Conference and Exhibition, which was held in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 18-21. The awards, which are kept secret from the winners, were presented to four members during the annual awards banquet on Fri., Jan. 20. The awards are named in honor of STMA’s founding members: Dick Ericson, Dr. William H. Daniel, George Toma and Harry C. Gill.

Floyd Perry, owner of Grounds Maintenance Services, Orlando, Fla., received the Dick Ericson award, which is given to a sports turf manager who positively impacts the sports turf industry and exhibits effective team leadership. Jeff Fowler from Penn State Cooperative Extension received the Dr. William H. Daniel Award,which acknowledges his significant contributions to the sports turf industry through research, teaching and extension outreach. The George Toma Golden Rake Award, which acknowledges an individual’s strong work ethic and job performance, was presented to Jim Wigginsfrom the Tomball Texas Independent School District in Tomball, Tex. The Harry C. Gill Memorial Awardwas presented to Bob Christofferson who is with the Seattle Mariners. The Gill Award recognizes an individual for their hard work in the sports turf industry and acknowledges their dedication and service to the STMA.

Perry has owned and operated Grounds Maintenance Services since 1992, and has devoted his time and energy to the motivation, education and training of those involved in athletic field maintenance. Traveling to all fifty states to deliver presentations Perry is much in demand as a public speaker. He also serves as an athletic field consultant and is involved in contract service work for athletic field refurbishing in Central Florida. He served as the head groundskeeper for the softball venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Columbus, Ga. Prior to forming his own company, Perry was employed for five years as the Director of Baseball for the Boardwalk and Baseball theme park in Baseball City, Fla. From 1971 to 1987, he was the head baseball coach and facility coordinator at Valencia Community College in Orlando Fla. He authored four groundskeeping pictorial guides and produced a three-part video presentation that highlights timesaving maintenance techniques for baseball, softball, soccer and football field maintenance.

Fowler is the County Extension Director for Venango and Forest Counties in Northwest Pennsylvania. He has been working for Penn State University as a County Extension Educator since 1988. He has his Bachelors Degree from Delaware Valley College and his Masters Degree from Penn State University. Fowler is the editor of the quarterly newsletter, “Between the Lines,” which is published by the Pennsylvania Chapter of STMA. He serves on the Board of Directors for Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization (Pennsylvania Chapter of STMA), as well as serving on many boards including the Red Cross and the United Way - Funds Distribution. He and his wife have one child, Evan, who is eleven years old. Fowler is a volunteer for his local little league and also volunteers at the Little League World Series on the grounds crew. He is a third generation County Extension Educator, following in the footsteps of his father and Grandfather. Fowler’s educational programs and research are focused primarily in the area of turfgrass management and athletic field safety. He has visited hundreds of fields providing recommendations on making the playing surfaces safer, and has given presentations all over the Northeast United States. He serves as the chair of the editorial sub-committee for SportsTurf magazine, has been on the program planning committee for the STMA annual conference and is currently serving on the education committee.

A fifteen-year employee of the Tomball ISD, Wiggins has been the school district’s athletic grounds supervisor for the past four years. He oversees the field and practice areas for football, baseball, softball, soccer and tennis. His softball and baseball fields received 2004 Field of the Year honors from the Texas Turfgrass Association. The softball field was also named the 2004 National Fastpitch Coaches Association/Turface High School Field of the Year. In 2005, the football field was honored as the Texas Turfgrass Association’s Field of the Year. Wiggins also devotes time as the clock operator for football games and both boys and girls basketball games. He volunteers his time to community organizations by preparing the practice areas for the local little league and for Tomball’s developmental children’s version of Special Olympics. He attended and played baseball at Rose State College (formerly Oscar Rose Junior College) and also attended the University of Oklahoma. Jim and his wife, Cheryl, have two children, Shannon and Nick, who are his constant supporters.

Christofferson is entering his seventh season as Head Groundskeeper for the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. During his tenure, Safeco Field has been host to the 2001 All Star Game, American League Playoff games, NCAA Football Bowl game, and World Cup qualifying soccer matches. Previously, he spent 20 years in the Pacific Coast League in Tacoma in a dual role as Stadium Manager and Head Groundskeeper at Cheney Stadium. In 1992, MLB presented Christofferson with its first ever PCL Groundskeeper of the Year Award, which he received again in 1998 and 1999. He has been a member of STMA since 2001 and serves on the Conference Committee. He was instrumental in developing the Pacific Northwest Chapter of STMA and was its first president from 2001 through 2004.

The STMA Conference and Exhibition brought more than 1,000 conference attendees, an association record high, to Orlando for classroom and hands-on education. This was a 10 percent increase in attendance from the 2005 conference, which was held in Phoenix. Integral to the conference was the 86,000 sq. foot exhibition that showcased the sports turf industry’s products, services and equipment of more than 155 companies.

Synthetic or Natural Grass?

The STMA Natural/Synthetic Task Force has completed its work on the Guide to Synthetic and Natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields: Selection, Construction and Maintenance Considerations. The Synthetic/Natural Grass guide will be available in PDF format on the STMA web site, beginning Feb. 6. It provides balanced information about natural grass and synthetic turf and directs the reader to additional resources. The guide should be helpful to non-sports turf managers such as athletic directors, coaches, parent groups, school boards, etc.

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society." Mark Twain

Strategies to help sports turf managers advance the image of the profession have been the focus of this monthly column. Communication has been a consistent theme throughout many of these tips. How you dress is another way you communicate to your peers, your staff, your employer and the ends users of your sports fields.

Dressing in a professional manner suggests that you are well organized and portrays self confidence. The impression is of one who is knowledgeable and in control. (Wow, all of that from a pair of Dockers and a golf shirt!). Obviously, we aren’t talking coat and tie — unless the occasion calls for it. When you are physically working beside your staff on the field, of course you will be wearing work clothing, but think about keeping a change of clothing at your office for meetings or when you will be spending several hours in the office more visible to your employer.

Consider providing collared staff shirts to bring a more unified appearance to your crew, but wear a different color shirt so that you are distinguishable as the manager in charge. Be conscious of what your clothing says about you — faded tee shirts promoting old rock groups may bring a bit of nostalgia to your day, but they do not do much to position you as a professional sports turf manager.

Impressions do count. According to Ollie Stevenson, author of 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Job Search Problems, found that in an interview situation, interviewers make an immediate overall judgment about you in the first five seconds. That applies to all first impressions. Five seconds isn’t long so you are being judged on what you wear and how you react. Make the first five seconds count. Be dressed appropriately and remember, professionals do shake hands. Be sure your grip is firm and sincere and you make direct eye contact when you greet someone.

How do you dress for your chapter meetings? What type of role model are you for those who are just entering the profession and what type of message are you sending to them?

The job of a sports turf manager requires a strong knowledge of agronomy, pest management, environmental issues, sports strategies, and intimate knowledge of rules and regulations so that you can manage safe playing surfaces for your athletes. Be recognized for the knowledge, skills and abilities you bring to the game and garner the respect you deserve. Don’t let a sloppy appearance downplay your importance when it is so easy to dress more professionally.

Athletic Field Use Capacity

Grady L. Miller, Ph.D., Environmental Horticulture Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

A common question is how much play can a field withstand? There is no definitive answer to that question because field wear is influenced by so many variables. Schools and municipalities are facing increasing legal questions and liability regarding injuries associated with poorly designed, constructed, or maintained facilities. There is a struggle to accommodate all participating groups without damaging the fields. If fields are overused, then the likelihood of a player becoming injured due to poor field conditions increases.

Planning

An ideal situation is to have adequate numbers of fields so that use can be limited. It is best to have game and practice fields dedicated to only one sport to eliminate compound wear of two or more sports. Additionally, there should be a sound turf maintenance program that promotes turf growth and recovery. Unfortunately, budgets for field management are often the most limiting factor.

Good fields begin with a sound construction strategy, and careful planning is imperative for long-term success. This publication is not intended to address construction, but it is helpful to consider some basic concepts when planning for a new field.

Questions to ask in the planning phase include:

1. What are the expectation levels for use and performance?

2. Are these expectations realistic considering the proposed construction and maintenance budgets?

3. Is the field manager qualified for the proposed facility?

4. Are sufficient machinery and labor available for necessary maintenance in a timely manner?

5. Will the use of the field increase over time, and if so, will the maintenance budget be increased?

Construction

There are several construction tips that can be used to maximize field durability. It is important that a field have adequate drainage. Since wet fields are more prone to damage than dry fields, adequate drainage not only prevents rainouts, but can also prolong the use of a field. Drainage can be achieved through the use of surface flow off crowns or via subsurface drainage lines. Subsurface drainage depends on good infiltration of the field. For this reason, the surface of a sand-based field will drain much more effectively than the surface of a field that relies on surface flow alone. In addition, sand-based fields are not as likely to compact. A compacted field generally has lower water infiltration, so the surface may remain wet for longer periods of time following a moderate rain.

In terms of turfgrasses, bermudagrass is the ideal turfgrass surface for Florida's athletic fields. It forms a tight, resilient playing surface with high wear tolerance and fast recuperative potential. These traits are best in the summer and early fall when it is actively growing. If the turf goes dormant in late fall or winter, the above-ground tissue can be easily worn off during heavy play. Maintaining reasonable fertility practices during the fall can help the turf recover through the winter and spring months. Bahiagrass is an alternative that should only be used on low-maintenance recreation fields, not fields designed for competitive play.

Use

The question still has not been answered regarding how much use a field can handle. This question is best answered using actual data on field use from previous years. This requires some careful documentation of games, practices, and other events. As the demand for fields increases, it seems that more entities are starting to track field use. Probably the easiest data to track is the number of hours the fields are used during the year.

Using data from a number of fields located around the state of Florida, and talking with turf managers and municipality supervisors, I have made a few general estimates related to field use (Table 1). These educated predictions are for football and soccer fields that are used nearly year round. Baseball and softball should be evaluated differently since so much of the game is played on a clay infield. The estimates assume the field is surfaced with a quality bermudagrass and begins the year with good coverage. The values relate to well-constructed fields that receive at least moderate maintenance and are used under reasonable conditions. The reality is that it only takes one extremely wet game to destroy a field. The values are based on all the events that occur on the field, including practices. Practices can also cause appreciable damage due to their repetitive nature in particular areas of a field, so they must also be put into the equation.

The number of events a field can handle will ultimately depend upon field construction, weather conditions during the season (especially just before and during games), maintenance practices, recuperative periods, and the time of the year.

To maximize field conditions,

1. Make every effort to begin the sporting season with 100 percent turf coverage.

2. Adjust maintenance practices to address the condition of the fields.

3. Schedule recuperative times during the season, realizing that non-overseeded bermudagrass fields will not recuperate very quickly in the late fall or winter months.

4. Overseed if you expect excessive wear during cooler months that are not conducive for bermudagrass growth. The need and timing for overseeding also depends on your location. Below Orlando, overseeding is typically not necessary.

Obviously, the more traffic you put on the field, the faster the turf declines. Also, particular sports cause more severe damage in localized areas on the field. Football tends to cause extreme wear between the hash marks. Soccer wears the quickest in the middle of the field, in front of the goal mouths, along the sidelines (due to linesmen) and the corner kick areas. Any repetitive action on the same area of the field accelerates wear. That is why practices and warm-up drills are often more damaging than games. But it is not just the athletes on the field that can cause wear problems. A marching band is extremely hard on a field because they tend to march along the same lines all the time, both during a game and in practice. Cheerleaders and pep squads during games may also result in turf damage due to heavy use in a confined area.

You can get some reduction in traffic damage by doing the following:

1. Restrict use when soil is very wet

2. Restrict use when soil is very dry and turf is wilted

3. Always have coaches rotate heavy play areas during practices

4. If possible move soccer field sidelines of field during the year

5. On game fields, restrict all practices to a minimum

6. Restrict field use when grass is dormant

7. Do not allow unofficial play

8. Use tarps (covers) on bench areas to reduce severe wear by coaches and team members, and on sideline areas used by the cheerleaders

Conclusion

In most cases you will need to educate field users. Most do not understand the damage that they can cause. While it may be obvious to you that the field is too wet for play, it is not obvious to most field users. Close fields when it is necessary. If you are not allowed to close the fields, at least make the decision makers aware of the potential short- and long-term damage that may result from field use given the situation. Unfortunately, some fields are scheduled the same as basketball courts or hard-surface tennis courts, without consideration of wearability of the turf surface. The field manager is in the best position to decide how much is too much.

Tables

Table 1. Expected field condition based on hours of field use per year.

Field Condition	Hours per Year
Sustain good field conditions	200 hours or less
Fair to good field conditions, some thinning turf and localized wear areas	400 to 600 hours
Significant turf loss, field surface damage, increased potential for athlete injury	Over 800 hours

Source: Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 21, 2004, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu .