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May 1999 31

Saftey First Continued from pg. 6

placed out of play to protect theplayers.

On native-soil fields, it may benecessary to add some drain lines.As far as placement is concerned,drain lines can be adapted to yoursituation. They should be approxi-mately three feet deep and approx-imately two inches wide, and sur-rounded by pea gravel and coarsesand on top.

I recommend allowing the turfto run across the line with rhi-zomes and stolons so an organiclayer is not on top of your line.Compaction

Compaction is another big safe-ty concern. A hard field can makefooting a problem, and injuries canstem from athletes sliding, diving,or being knocked to the ground. Anaerifica tion program can helpavoid these problems.

Aerification helps reduce thebulk density of your soil, creatinga softer, less-compacted field.Aeration tines are available in avariety of sizes; your choice ofequipment will depend on howmuch recovery time your turf willhave before the next event, how

much damage to the turf is accept-able, and the severity of your soil'scompaction.

Your irrigation program willalso affect field hardness. If theproper amount of moisture is notmaintained in the soil, it willbecome so dry that it will crackand become extremely hard. Thistype of field will not cushion anathlete's fall, and the possibility ofinjury increases dramatically.Lips

For baseball and softball fields,lips that occur where the skinnedarea meets the turf create commonsafety hazards. Lips cause horren-dous and unpredictable bounces,and players can be severelyinjured attempting to react. Theyalso create a tripping hazard forplayers running between the skinand the turf.

Preventative maintenance iskey to solving this problem. Usebrooms and rakes on the edges ofyour skin after events, and washany lips with a hose when the fieldwill be out of use for a few days.When large lips develop, you canpull up the sod and rake the excesssoil.

Skinned soilMany factors come into play

with skinned area maintenance.When prepping the field for agame, you need to consider weath-er (humidity, temperature, chanceof rain, cloud cover, dew points,etc.), your soil composition, water-ing practices, and player prefer-ences.

Scarifying the mix will blendthe material and fill in cleatmarks and other indentations. Ifyou only use a mat drag, the divotswill fill with loose material, andyou will not alleviate bad hopproblems.

Once you've scarified, mat dragto make your surface smooth. Youcan then use water to get it to thedesired consistency.

Worn areas created by too muchplay can also cause injury. Wornareas diminish field uniformity.They can give different footingthan surrounding areas, and cangive athletes different thanexpected results.

Time is the key factor here. Ifyou've got the luxury of time, youcan use methods such as topdress-ing, fertilizing, and sprigging the

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32 sporlsTURF· http://www.sportsturfonline.com

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Before the season, during theseason, and after the season, fieldsneed to be monitored for safety.Here is a short checklist of things tolook for:

./ Wet areas (grade/drainageproblems)

./ Compaction

./ Lips on the borders of skinnedareas

./ Skinned area consistency

./ Worn areas

./ Field equipment hazards

./ Irregular irrigation heads

worn areas if it's in the budget.If the turf needs to be repaired

quickly, you must sod. But remem-ber, it's important to keep the turfconsistent for ball roll.

Any material you add to yourinfield should be applied to asmall, IO-foot by IO-foot test sec-tion before it's added to the entireskinned area. If you're happy withthe test area's performance after atrial period, then and only thenshould you incorporate the mater-ial into the entire area.Above the turf

Field safety concerns extendbeyond the playing surface. Allnets, cages, walls, fences, andpoles need to be maintained toprotect the safety of all facilityusers. All of this equipment mustbe checked before each event.

Nets and cages should be exam-ined for holes. These could allowballs to sail out of the field of playinto the crowd, and they can causeballs to bounce back unpre-dictably at players on the field.Walls, fences, and poles need to beproperly padded to lessen theimpact of potential collisions.Below the turfIf improperly installed or main-

tained, equipment within the turfcan be dangerous as well.Irrigation heads that sit too highor too low with reference to thesoil surface can cause players totrip or misstep.

Even irrigation heads thatwere initially installed correctlycan pose problems later on if leftunchecked. Thatch and topdress-ing can cause a field to rise abovethe level of the original installa-tion. You should adjust irrigationhead height as part of your rou-

tine maintenance program.Placement of the heads is also

important. You don't want to sacri-fice field safety for good coverageby placing too many heads or byplacing them in high-traffic areas.

safe, you can watch events withoutworrying, and know that you'vedone your job. ~

The first and foremost job of thesports turf manager is to protectathlete safety. No matter what thelevel of play, you don't want to endan athlete's career. If the field is

Kevin Robinson is headgroundskeeper for Durham BullsAthletic Park, home of the DurhamBulls, AAA affiliate of the TampaBay Devil Rays.

Great Fields Get Noticed.Turfco offers you a strong team of turf building equipment. They're the fastest and most

versatile equipment to let you build hardier and healthier turf. Your sports fields becomesafer to play on and easier to maintain. Originators of Mete-R-Matic® top dressers in 1961,Turfco's professional equipment gives your field a look that gets noticed.

Pro Turf Edger Economy Aerator PrecisionTop DresserSpecial design makes it Now you can afford to breathe Fast, uniform, versatile.easy to follow any edge. life into any sports field. This Patented chevron belt letsEliminates spade work low cost, 62" aerator has no you handle top dressing,around the diamond. hydraulics or mechanical lime, crumb rubber, gypsum,Oscillating blade action linkages for easy use and low calcine clay, compost andcuts fast and clean. Leaves maintenance. Hooks up to even overseeding withno mess or no thrown any vehicle in seconds. precision. Level fields anddebris to clean up. amend soil consistently.

For details and the name of your local dealer, call1·800·679·8201 Choice Performers,Choice Fields.

TurfeD Manufacturing Inc.1655101 st Avenue NortheastMinneapolis, MN 55449-4420


May 1999 33

On March 24,25 people partici-pated in the first day of the thirdannual Irrigation Seminar of

the Mid-Atlantic Field ManagersOrganization (MAFMO Chapter STMA).Turf Equipment and Supply, Inc., a TaroIrrigation distributor, hosted the event atits office in Jessup, MD.

Turf Equipment and Supply providedan irrigation consultant to conduct theclassroom segment of this two-day event.Attendees learned how to assess theirwater needs, and how to design an irriga-tion system that would best fill thoseneeds.

On March 25, 20 of the attendeesregrouped at Montgomery Blair HighSchool to put that knowledge to work in ahands-on irrigation system installationfor the school's field hockey field.

The school had purchased the majorcomponents for the installation, and Turf

Equipment and Supply donated the glue,Teflon tape, and other incidentals. Thecompany's irrigation consultant alsojoined the crew to help put the classroomlessons into action.

The MAFMO group installed the pipe,made the head connections, and startedup and tested the system. The hands-onproject gave those who were new to irriga-tion system design an opportunity to turntheory into reality. The project also gavechapter members the satisfaction of giv-ing the community a great service.

Chapter newsNorth Texas Chapter: The

chapter is planning a field day/golf outingMay 20 in Flower Mound, TX.

For information, contact Rene Asprion,Diamond Pro: (800) 228-2987; or 'IbmWelch, CSM, Central Garden and Pet:(800) 788-9581.


Nor-Cal Chapter: The NorthernCalifornia Chapter will hold a Seminar onWheels tour 8 am-3:30 pm May 21 in theBay area. It will include a site visit to theOakland Raiders Training Facility con-ducted by Superintendent of Buildingsand Grounds Ken Irons and his staff.Participants will also enjoy a tour of theUC-Berkeley athletic facilities conductedby Sports Turf Manager Bob Milano andhis staff. The tour will then visit PiedmontHigh School, where Gary Cook of RobertBothman, Inc. will give a presentation oninstallation of the sand base and drainagesystems for baseball diamonds and multi-use fields.

For information, contact Janet Gift:(530) 758-4200.

Indiana Chapter:A May meeting isin the planning stages. Details will beannounced soon.

For information, contact Terry Updike,

34 sports TURF• http://www.sportsturfonline.com

Itm!addsJili

to one-pass cleanup of aeratorcores with the Super Rake from Goossen

Industries. The Super Rake combines the 1-2-3action of its rotating flails, counter rotating brushand powerful vacuum to clean up aerator cores injust a single pass.

HERE'SHow:

Rotating flails ~unt~ng brush Vacuumed material

1pulverize 2lifts thatch into vacuum 3is blown into a 150-cores throat providing efficient bushel 4' x 6' x 8'

separating removal of thatch while trailer which canthatch from leaving fine soil residue be hydraulically

the soil. behind as a top dressing. emptied when full .

••~~~~~~~~~~#~~,••••~~~~~•••.•••~ •••••••~,Y~~'!~~J?lc'i.~'1f;l'~~P~~' GBM3eK•••~~·••··.%f~'~!~'·•••~~>~!~~~~~~.~,~~~~~~~~~~~Call Toll-Free: 1-800-228-6542In Nebraska: 402-228-4226Fax: 402-223-2245 P.O.Box 705 • Beatrice NE 68310

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Call 1 (800) 817-1889 use Fast Fax #1200599 and/or Circle 120 on Inquiry Card

B & B Fertilizer: (219) 356-8424; or PatHickner: (800) 672-4273.

Iowa Chapter: ISTMA will meet 1-4:30 pm Sat., Jun. 5, in Hawarden. Themeeting will focus on baseball field repair.

ISTMA will hold a Seminar on Wheelstour in the Ames area Jun. 23. Sites willinclude Iowa State University, AmesYouth Complex, Reiman Gardens, andAmes High School.

For information, contact Lori Westrumat the Turf Office: (515) 232-8222, or fax:(515) 232-8228.

Florida Chapter #1: The FloridaChapter will meet Jun. 15 at the OrangeBowl in Miami. Host Dale Sandin willconduct a tour of the facility.The meetingwill focus on sports field fertilization, andDr. George Snyder will be the featuredspeaker.

For information, contact JohnMascaro: (954) 341-3115.

KAFMO Chapter: The KeystoneAthletic Field Managers Organizationwill hold a Grounds Seminar at HersheyStadium Sat., Jun. 19. Morning educa-tional sessions will include presentationsby Bob Hummer of Hummer TurfgrassSystems; John Tshudy, Director ofBuildings and Grounds for Hershey Park;and Steve LeGros, Superintendent ofHershey Stadium. To help make this a

• Temporary field paint• Easy removal following the game• Will hold up to foul weather• Proven effective• Great for multipurpose fields• Apply like normal paints

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CONTACT: DALE FORESTER


family day, KAFMO has put together apackage that includes full-day reducedadmission to Hershey Park and admissionto a Hershey Wildcats Soccer game.

For information, contact Dan Douglas,Reading Phillies Baseball Club: (610) 375-8469, ext. 212.

Tennessee Valley Chapter: TVST-MA will hold a workshop Jun. 23 at theUniversity of Tennessee. Featured speak-ers will include Bob Campbell, Dr. GilLandry, Dr. Jim McAfee, Dr. A. J. Powell,Dr. Tom Samples, and Dr. Coleman Ward.

For information on this event, contactBob Campbell: (423) 974-2977, or call thechapter contacts listed.

For general information, contact TomMcMee, Nashville Sounds: (615) 242-4371; or Bob Hogan: (888) 224-6426.

Colorado Chapter: The ColoradoChapter will hold its first-ever Seminar onWheels tour Jun. 23. Sites will includeCoors Field, Mile High Stadium, and theDenver Broncos Practice Facility.

CSTMA's annual golf tournament, theLawnmower Man Open, will be held Jul.20 at Westwoods Golf Course.

For information, call the NEW chapterhotline: (303) 346-8954.

Mid-South Chapter: A joint meetingthis spring between the Mid-SouthChapter and the Tennessee Valley

Chapter is in the planning stages. Thedate and a mid-state location will beannounced soon.

For information, contact Jim Calhoun:(901) 755-1305, or Robert Bodi: (901) 383-2414.

Great Lakes Chapter: GLSTMA hastwo events in the planning stages: a ten-tatively planned workshop with theCleveland Browns (date TEA), and anathletic field day and workshop at OhioState University Jul. 7.

For information, contact Joe Zelinko:(800) 897-9714, or Boyd Montgomery:(419) 885-1982, or visit the chapter Website: http://members.tripod.com/-glstma.

Wisconsin Chapter: The WisconsinChapter will participate in the WisconsinTurfgrass Association's Summer FieldDay at the 0. J. Noer Facility Aug. 10.

For more information, contact RichRiggs, R. H. Rettler & Associates: Inc.:(715) 341-2633.

Minnesota Chapter: The annualWorkshop on Wheels is in the planningstages. Details will be announced soon.

For information, contact ConnieRudolph: (651) 646-1679.

Michigan Chapter: For information,contact Rick Jurries, West Ottawa PublicSchools: (616) 395-2364.

Midwest Chapter: For information,


May 1999 35

call the chapter hotline: (847)622-3517.

So-Cal Chapter: For infor-mation, contact the chapter hot-line: (888) 578-STMA.

MAFMO Chapter: For infor-mation, contact the hotline: (410)290-5652.

Jeff BouldenGroup Publisher2101 S. Arlington Heights RArlin(847(84jbou

Chapters on the growNew Chapter: A new chap-

ter is taking shape in the KansasCity MO/KS area. For informa-tion, contact Trevor Vance: (816)504-4271, John Cundiff: (816)525-7600, Bill Tritt: (816) 941-4424, Jody Gill: (913) 681-4121,Gary Custis: (816) 468-6215, orJay Sutton: (816) 795-8873.

Arizona Chapter: For infor-mation, contact Bill Murphy, Cityof Scottsdale Parks & RecreationDepartment: (602) 312-7954; orKris Kircher, City of ChandlerParks & Recreation Department:(602) 786-2728.

Nevada Chapter: For infor-mation, contact Ibsen Dow: (702)649-1551; or Alan Paulson, ClarkCounty School District: (702)799-8724.

ElleMarketi2101 S. ngton Heights Rd., Suite 150Arlington Heights, IL(847) 427-2011(847) 427-2006 (fax)[email protected]

IA, IL, MN, WIColleen Murphy

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AR, CO, KS, MO,OK, SD, TX, WYLarry Anderson17733 Bernadine St.Lansing, IL 60438(708) 418-3196(708) 4 7 (fax)lander ail.aip.com

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36 sports TURF • http://www.sportsturfonline.com

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FOR SALENATION'S #1 VERTI-DRAIN distributer hasoverload of trade-in Vertri-Drain's. Model 105.145's priced from $7,495. Completely rebuiltwith all new bearings & seals, large main bearingupdates, shock arms built-up and turned out totighter then factory specs, new slip clutch ptoshaft, and fresh paint. Also available -'97305.200 for $13,400. Ship anywhere! CallCommercial Turf & Tractor, 1-800-748-7497.

Spark plugs to engines! We have it all! E-Z - GO,Yamaha & Melex golf cars factory parts distribu-tor. Huge inventory. Low prices. We ship UPSdaily. Golf Coast Yamaha, 1-800-776-3440.

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E-mail: [email protected]

May 1999 37

HowS h 0 U

L 0

Idn 9I W a

by Dr. Dave Minner

t ?

Have questions? Send them to Dave at: ISU, Hort. Dept., Ames, IA 50011.How soon after natural-turfinstallation is it safe to use

a field for regular playoffs? In the most typical scenario, howoften does a soccer field require repairs, and what are themost vulnerable areas?

-Stan AdanekToronto, Canada

Well Stan, I'll give you some numbers based on myexperience building and renovating fields. Butkeep in mind that no standards have been set for

grow-in time.Ithas also been my experience that very few people wait for

a field to fully mature. Instead, as soon as the soil is coveredwith green plants, and as long as the sod isn't flying under foot,many consider the field ready for play. In truth, young fieldsmay look good, but they decline quickly when play starts andrecovery is very slow:

Seeded fieldsWith a high seeding rate of perennial ryegrass and under

optimum establishment, you can produce a field completely

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• Twelve 8-foot sections per cartonwith 60 - 8" UV-resistant ties forsecuring every 2' to fence.

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Fence Slats• Two 1-7/8" x 150' poly rolls per carton.• Install in a diagonal direction.• Trim with tin snips or industrial scissors.• Reduce wind and visual distraction.• Improve background for sports.

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38 sports TURF • http://www.sportsturfonline.com

covered with green foliage in about two months. The field maylook good, but it will have no mat or biomass cushion betweenthe green blades and the soil. The top ofthe plant is easily wornaway, and recovery from immature buds in the crown islimited.

In general, it takes a complete year for a cool-season grass todevelop a reasonable stand that will tolerate and recuperatefrom moderate traffic. Extensive tillering occurs mainly in thefall. This is when the field thickens up, making a substantialgain in mat production.

The traffic tolerance of a seeded field more than doubleswhen it's allowed to mature for one year, compared to whenplay starts as soon as foliage covers the bare ground.

SodWhen buying sod, you benefit from a mature grass system

that contains thatch mat, crowns, tillers, rhizomes, roots, and asmall amount of soil. Sod that is cut with a conventional soilthickness of 0.25 to 0.5 inches usually takes 60 to 90 days todevelop a four-inch deep root system. Sod will root faster andproduce a stable playing surface sooner in a topsoil field than ina sand-based field. Even with sodding, some sand-based fieldsnever completely stabilize until the second or third year afterplanting.

A specialized procedure which cuts large-roll sod with twoinches of soil attached has been recently used to substantiallyreduce the time between laying sod and playing a game. In fact,with two-inch thick-cut sod, you can literally playa game assoon as the sod has been placed and rolled. Each roll of sod is42 inches wide and 30 feet long and weighs nearly one ton, sothey don't move around.

RepairWear patterns on soccer fields typically show up in the goalie

box, penalty kick area, and throughout the center of the field.Each year, you should budget to replace 50 percent of the

goalie box area with new sod. The small area can be replacedquickly and easily. The sodding operation brings in new soil andhelps keep this area level. Repair by seeding alone is seldomsuccessful, and it often results in dug-out depressions in thegoal areas.

To make your field repair program more effective, I recom-mend you develop a field rotation program. For example, if youhave four fields, use three fields and renovate the fourth field.Allow a full year for your seeded or sodded areas to recuperate.After a year, put the renovated field back into play and rotateout a different field for renovation. ~

David D. Minner, Ph.D., is an associate professor withthe Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.He serves on STM.A:s Certification Committee. Send yourquestions to Dave at: ISU, Hort. Dept., Ames, IA 50011; orcall: (515) 294-2751, fax: (515) 294-0730, or e-mail:[email protected].


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for every Tom, Dick, and Harriet