Field Maintenance & Goal Safety

1. Field Maintenance & Goal Safety Todd A. Alexander, Parks & Facilities Director

2. In This Presentation • Overview of Diamond Community Park • Year-round turf maintenance • Goal safety and care • Hosting large-scale tournaments

3. An Overview of Diamond Park • Located at 2782 Diamond Street NE, Plain Township, Stark County • 42-acre property • Open year-round • 12 multi-sport fields fit for soccer, lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee and more • 16 fields for tournaments • 5 baseball fields • Indoor sports complex to host indoor soccer leagues and tournaments • Community room • .9 mile jogging track • Official field provider for GAASA, GSCASL, Community Soccer Club and Big Dog Lacrosse • No park levy

4. Equipment Maintenance & Repair • Mowers, attachments, stripers & power equipment • Address known equipment issues • Look for broken and worn parts • Refer to manual and/or vendor • Document service performed

5. Miscellaneous Tasks • Order new nets • Check if new goal numbers are needed • Assess condition of corner kick flags • Inventory goal anchors and net stakes • Inform league, club and tournament directors of any block-out dates

6. Rolling • Many different kinds • Walk Behind • Ride On • Pull Behind • Should have rounded edges • Typically 300-2,000 lbs • Weight can be increased by adding materials • How much stress can turf withstand? • Soils ability to resist compaction • Whether soil is sandy or native • Moisture content

7. Benefits of Rolling • Smooth out uneven surfaces/minor undulations • Produce a firmer surface that would be considered faster • Newly seeded or sodded turf • Create mowing patterns for aesthetics

8. Disadvantages of Rolling • Does not improve turf quality • Overuse can cause compaction • More aeration is needed • Will not promote field speed with 100% grass cover and moderate thatch

9. Rolling Frequency • Athlete safety and playability • Soil moisture • Recoverability of turf • Should only roll fields as needed Fields are already prone to compaction. Aggressive aeration programs are needed if you choose to roll!

10. Aeration • Definition: The mechanical process of removing small plugs or breaking up compaction. • Removes small plug of thatch and soil • Improves natural soil aeration • Also known as coring, slicing and spiking

11. Benefits of Aeration • Healthier turf • Reduces maintenance requirements (BMP) • Enhances soil water uptake • Improves fertilizer uptake • Reduces water runoff • Stronger roots • Reduces soil compaction • Enhances heat and drought tolerance

12. Aeration Equipment • Core • Shatter Tine • Open Tine or Solid Tine

13. Aeration Frequency • 2 times each spring • 1 time each summer (late June) • 3 times each autumn

14. Fertilization • FOOD, FIBER & FUEL • Provides a guaranteed level of nutrients • Helps grass grow thick and lush • Curb appeal • Naturally chokes out weeds • Keeps root systems cool and draught tolerant • Too much in spring = excessive shoot growth • Applying extra nitrogen in fall = greener and stronger turf

15. 5-Step Fertilization Program • Crabgrass and pre-emergent (March 25 – April 25) • Weed ‘n feed (April 25 – June15) • Summer fertilizer (late May – August 15) • Fall fertilizer (September 1 – October 15) • Greener fields for season finales • Stored in root system for winter • Withstand summer stressors • Winterizer (October 15 – November 15)

16. Plain Township Parks Fertilization • Spring fertilizer with crabgrass preventer • Fall fertilizer is 12-12-12 • Up-down-all-around • Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash.

17. Crunch Time! (April 8 – 12) • Set up 15 soccer fields • Good measuring tapes/string • Consider field rotation • A 15-20’ can make a difference • Consider portable goals • Paint fields/dilute paint = COST SAVINGS • Goals • Put out bleachers • Trash cans • Post schedules at kiosk or message board

18. Mowing Spring Through Fall • HR9016 Jacobson Mower with bat wings • Specifically designed for sport fields/golf courses • Mowing height is 3” • Cutting width of 16’ • Four directions (BMP) • Stored at Diamond Community Park • Hustler Zero-Turn • Used in goal mouths and adjacent to goal posts • Double cut and stripe for tournaments • Mowing height is 3” • Outer areas/curb appeal

19. Upkeep and Safety • Weed eat • Backpack Blow • Pick up litter daily • Trash can liners • Check for ruts in goal mouths & penalty kick areas • Assure goal anchors and net stakes are in place • Assure nets are hanging in place • Lost and found

20. Summer Months • Discontinue painting of fields • Aerate using shatter tine attachment • Address broadleaf leaves

21. Use of Herbicides • Commercial applicator license required through OEPA: • Apply for hire • Apply as employee of government agency • Apply restricted use chemicals • Schools • Applicator fee is $35 annually • Imitator Plus/Rural King • Equivalent to Roundup • Use around fence posts/walkways/parking lots • 30 gallon quantity • Apply with backpack sprayer • Threeway/Lesco • Use on broadleaf weeds, dandelions, buckthorn, knotweed, ground ivy • Apply when warm, not hot • Spray Drift • Apply with boom sprayer

22. Fall Through December • Set up fields • Rotate fields if necessary • Distribute games evenly to all fields (fall season can be hard on fields) • After last game: • Teardown • Remove goals, bleachers, garbage cans • Clean slate = happy employees, efficiency and saves goal mouths • Inventory • Goals • Nets • Net stakes • Corner kick flags • Anchors

23. Top Dressing Top dressing is the addition of a thin layer of soil on turf surface. • Heavy use/depressed areas • 1/8” layer can smooth areas • Reduces thatch • Best after fertilization and active growth • Light, frequent dressings • Similar texture to existing soil • Cost: Shipment of material, 45 yards needed to cover large soccer field at ¼” depth • Dry storage area

24. Overseeding Overseeding is the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf or the soil. It’s an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass varieties and enhance your lawn’s color. Overseeding is a must if: • Worn out turf • Diseased or insect prone

25. Benefits of Overseeding • Can overseed with an athletic mix • Help withstand insects, disease, draught, shady conditions • Aides in helping heavy use/wear areas • Thicker, healthier turf Diamond Community Park • Overseed in fall after core aerating • Use athletic mix • 2,000 lbs • Applied with broadcast spreader

26. Best Management Practices (BMP) Best Management Practices (BMP) are those that are the most efficient, practical and cost-effective to guide a particular activity or to address a particular problem. Nonpoint source BMP’s are specific practices or activities used to reduce or control impacts to water bodies from nonpoint sources, most commonly by reducing the loading of pollutants from such sources into storm water systems and waterways. • Minimizes the use of chemicals • Achieved through proper turf grass management • Saves money

27. Policies and Procedures • Reserves the right to alter schedules • Limit the number of games • Determine time needed between games • On-site judgment guidelines • Notified of field closures by 2:00 p.m. • Playing on closed fields may lead to payment or suspension • Direct vehicles to proper areas • Litter pickup • Provide information on severe weather safety • Dogs prohibited • No metal detecting • No remote-control airplanes or rockets

28. Goal Safety • For safety and wellness of • Players • Coaches • Referees • Spectators • OYSAN suggests • Coaches for each game or other responsible person inspect goal prior to game/activity. • Coaches of last game of the day make sure goals are safely stored per the CPSC guidelines. • All parents/guardians are told of dangers of unsecure goals. • League/club board members conduct random site survey. • OYSAN requires all member leagues to certify to state association each year that goal safety policies have been implemented by the member organization. • OYSAN defers to federal soccer goal safety guidelines

29. Diamond Park Soccer Goals • Off-season stored together and locked • Once in place for season, checked M-F • Issues addressed immediately • All league/club presidents have Parks contact info • All goals assessed currently • Tips: • Use anchors that are difficult to remove • 1” aluminum backstays are used U-12 and up • Do not change field size weekly/daily • Train league/club presidents on proper goal removing • Be cognizant of saturated grounds

37. Goal Care • Store neatly/safely off playing surface • Assess welded joints, set screws, posts and crossbars • Once in place for season: • Keep clean • Check nets daily and assess issues • Address improper use immediately/followup • Inventory of net clips, net spikes and anchors

38. Hosting Tournaments • Provide clean, safe facilities year-round • How to rest fields while maximizing use • Be available = good customer service • Consider: • Time of year • Field conditions • Weather • Revenue/cost associated • Communication • EMS • Security • Other sports • Parking • Concessions • Vendor space • Garbage removal • Portable toilets

39. Hosting Tournaments: X-Factors • Inside amenities • Field sustainability • Make tournament directors feel at home

40. Questions? Todd A. Alexander Parks & Facilities Director Plain Township, Stark County 2782 Diamond Street NE Canton, Ohio 44721 (330) 499-0000 talexander@plaintownship.com www.plaintownship.com