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October 2007
TURF RUNDOWN
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Many sports organizations, from the NCAA to local high school sports have developed specific policies to protect the athletes and fans from lightning. But, do these policies apply to you and your crew? When games are called due to lightning, fans and athletes exit the field and the stands, but the sports turf manager and his crew often can be delayed due to field care issues.
Lightning kills approximately 300 people each year, which accounts for more deaths than those caused by hurricanes and tornadoes combined. The only other weather hazard that kills more people each year is floods.
If your sports facility does not have a lightning policy, take a proactive approach and develop one. If there is a policy in place, be certain that your crew understands it and your expectations for their safety.
For more information on lightning, click here.
To view the NCAA’s lightning policy, click here. (see pg. 130)
For a general lightning policy, click here.
For a lightning policy that requires a lightning detector, click here.
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The 2-Minute Tip for Success
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by Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
There are many ways we learn; let us look specifically how they relate to improving the spoken word. We learn by what we see, hear, experience, reflect on, and by teaching others.
Learning by What You See
When you are listening to and observing a great speaker, or a member of your Toastmasters Club, or perhaps a business speech or sales presentation, look with fresh eyes.
Observe how they move around the front of the room or the stage, and if you arrive early, watch how they act in preparation.
A couple of years ago, I was hired to deliver a one-day presentation skills training for a group of twenty engineers, scientists, and astronauts. We met for a 7:00 am continental breakfast ready for the 7:30am start. They were sitting in their seats eating, and I made a point to introduce myself to each person and shake their hands.
After being introduced my opening line was, "What have you already learned that would make you a more effective speaker before we officially started?"
Being an intelligent group, they all shouted out at the same time. "You went around and met everyone before you started." This is the point…we are rarely nervous of one individual. We're only nervous when they become an audience or a committee. Letting the audience reinforce what they see helps internalize the message.
There's a lot you can learn that will make you more effective by what you see. For convention speakers your performance actually starts when you're at the airport baggage claim. How you interact with other passengers and act when you're on the shuttle bus to the hotel leaves an impression with people who are probably going to be in your audience.
Learning by What You Hear
Certainly you learn by what you hear from the content of the speech. You can also learn by watching the vocal variety. Notice if the speaker pauses to give you the chance to reflect on what you have heard. Few speakers understand the importance of the pause and are comfortable with silence. We speak to be remembered and repeated, this requires appropriate pauses and good variety.
Learning by What You Experience
As you listen to the Toastmaster World Champions and other great speakers, you learn new ideas and techniques. Go out and try them! A word of warning, don't try six new techniques in one presentation. It will be too much and confuse you. Just take one technique at a time to incorporate in your presentation.
Perhaps you are going to make better eye contact on silence. Or, you are going to pause longer. Maybe you are going to add more creative gestures. Record your presentation for evaluation. Ask yourself what you learned from the experience of incorporating the new ideas.
Learning from Reflection
We've often heard "There's the speech that you plan to give, the speech you gave, and the speech you wish you'd given."
Whenever you finish a presentation…reflect. Do an after-action analysis. What did you do superbly well that you should repeat? If you were giving the speech again what would you improve?
Always start with what you did right. Your future success will come from building on your past success, which means you have to acknowledge it. This is one reason at least some of your presentations have to be in a mutually supportive environment.
The Best Way to Learn
The best way you learn is to teach somebody else. Take the best ideas, use the handout or workbook, and explain to somebody else what you learned. It can be your spouse at dinner, in a staff meeting, or at your local chapter. Remember, you can't give away what you don't have. Once you teach somebody else what you learned, it reinforces and improves your speaking skills.
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News You Can Use
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Don’t forget to submit your Field of Year application by the Oct. 15 deadline. Winners are featured in an article in SportsTurf magazine, and receive a conference registration, up to $500 toward lodging expenses at the conference, STMA clothing, and a prestigious plaque. The application is also available in a Word document.
New Membership Year Begins Soon
Look for your STMA membership renewal notices next month. The new membership year begins Jan. 1, 2008. We also offer an easy, one-payment option for your chapter dues, national dues and your conference registration. You can renew online or use the handy form included in your conference brochure to pay for your national and chapter dues and your conference registration. Please contact STMA if you have any questions, 1-800-323-3875.
Founders’ Nominations Due Nov. 1
We all know someone who has impacted our profession, either front and center or behind the scenes. Take a few minutes to nominate an individual for STMA's highest honors — The Founders Awards. The Dr. William H. Daniels, the Dick Ericson, the George Toma and the Harry Gill awards will be presented at the Friday night banquet, Jan. 18, at the STMA Conference in Phoenix. To nominate a peer, fill out the short form and submit it to STMAinfo@STMA.org by Nov. 1.
STMA Conference Quick Facts!
The full conference brochure is now available online! The full printed conference brochure will be delivered to you via the US Postal Service this month. Don’t forget that STMA will be mailing conference credentials to those who register prior to Dec. 14. Be sure to bring your badge to the conference to avoid waiting in line and incurring reprinting fees. The conference badge holders can be picked up on site.
USA Football Highlights STMA Information
STMA continues to provide content for USA Football’s website on field management tips for volunteers through a cooperative partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). STMA is collaborating with NRPA to provide hands-on management tips for the USA Football website. The Information Outreach Committee has produced two information sheets for USA Football and is working on two additional resources. STMA also sponsored two sessions at the NRPA Annual Conference and Exhibition last week in Indianapolis. Amy Fouty, CSFM, presented Synthetic or Natural: What is right for our participants? Kevin Trotta presented Athletic Fields Role in Environmental Stewardship .
The SAFE Foundation Unveils a New Logo
To present a closer alignment with the STMA, its charitable arm The SAFE Foundation, has developed a new logo. With the new visual statement, SAFE will be refocusing its efforts to grow the Foundation. This growth will allow SAFE to fund more education, scholarship, and research projects that will provide value to STMA members. SAFE is a 501(c)3 organization, and donations to it are usually tax deductible. SAFE has engaged a grant writer to explore appropriate and available grants for The Foundation. In addition, SAFE is evaluating two research proposals and is increasing its funding of STMA educational resources. In 2006 and early this year, SAFE provided partial funding for the STMA/NIAAA DVD on Mound-building and Home Plate Maintenance, funded $12,500 in scholarships to STMA student members, partially funded the Student Challenge participants’ conference registration fees and provided $8,000 for the Student Challenge awards. To donate to SAFE, fill in your gift amount on the Conference registration form, on your renewal notice or contact SAFE headquarters at 800-323-3875 for a separate donation form.
Make Plans Now to Take the Certification Test at the Conference
Now is the time to find out if you have the 40 points required to take the certification exam at the conference. STMA has a simple form that will let you know if you are eligible. To request a copy of the form, contact STMA at
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