SFMA Environmental Facility Certification
This certification was developed to help document the environmental stewardship of SFMA members and is awarded to those facilities that meet the requirements. The program involves an electronic assessment, which you can take from any computer or smart device. To begin, go to SFMA’s product button at the top of the website, go to page 2 of the shopping cart and at the bottom of the page, you will see Environmental Facility Certification Initial ($50) and add it to your cart. After payment is received you will be emailed a link to the assessment form. To see the questions on the form click here.
How can this certification benefit your facility?
Certification will help managers show that your facility is employing environmental best management practices. Given the current pressure that many fields are under regarding the use of water, pesticides and additional environmental restrictions; this certification will show the public that you are aware and utilizing the most up to date environmental practices.
Version 3.0
SFMA has issued version 3.0 of its Environmental Facility Certification program and we invite you to participate. Version 3 includes two new sections for assessment: Managed Landscape and Open Spaces and Synthetic Surfaces. SFMA does allow a synthetic surface to be assessed but only within a Complex that is primarily natural grass fields. A synthetic complex does not qualify for assessment.
The Process
1. Purchase initial certification for $50, which can be accessed through the Products icon at the top of the page or by clicking this link.
2. You will receive a link to the Environmental Facility Certification Report Card Parts I & II. Complete the assessment electronically and submit. (Paper forms will not be accepted).
3. After you have completed the assessment, SFMA will score it. If you have achieved 80 percent compliance on each of the 12 sections, you will be notified that you passed.
4. The next step is to engage an attester who is a Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM) who can do a walk-through of the facility with you to validate your environmental practices.
You are free to choose your attester as long as he/she is not employed at your facility, and he/she meets one of the following requirements:
1. An SFMA certified member (CSFM). The CSFM will receive Industry Service Points toward recertification.
2. An academic or extension agent; or
3. If you cannot find someone to be the attester, please contact SFMA headquarters at ph. 800-323-3875.
5. A PDF of your assessment will be sent to you and your attester and a link to the attestor’s form will be sent to your approved attester for them to easily confirm that your practices are in place. If the attester verifies your practices, the facility will be designated an SFMA Certified Facility for Environmentally Responsible Management.
6. SFMA will notify you within two weeks of the status of certification.
Fees
There is a $50 initial fee for this program. This fee is to evaluate the answers to determine if you qualify to move to the next step, attesting. If the attester validates that your practices are in place, you will be awarded Environmental Facility Certification.
You will have the option to order the Environmental Stewardship plaque, which costs $100.
Certification is valid for three years. At the conclusion of three years, a simple form will need to be completed that validates the environmental practices are still in place. That form will be sent to you automatically when the recertification fee is paid, which is $50. Upon recertification, you can purchase a new date plate for your plaque reflecting your current certification period for $20.
