SSF Home
Maintenance Department
Compiled by: Ashley Lightfoot, Director of Business Operations
August, 1999
Internet Version
Table of Contents
Part I: Problems and Causes
Introduction
Turf Management: Discussion of Issues
Turf management Triad
Turf Selection
Part II: Uses and Maintenance Practices
War Memorial
Recommendation
High School Football Field
Wear pattern
Usage
Maintenance
Recommendation
Part III Solutions: The Turf Management Plan
Introduction
Overall Responsibility and Authority
Turf Management Plan: Usage and Maintenance
War Memorial
Costs
High School Football Field
Costs
Overall Costs
Turf Usage and Maintenance Plan Summary
Conclusion
This document is presented as a discussion on the current condition of War Memorial and the High School football field, the issues involved, and the proposed solutions. It has been compiled with the help of various turf experts, in-house knowledge and experience, and numerous texts and technical papers on the subject. We at Support Services have strived to compile an accurate, reasonable, and logical analysis and solution to the problems faced in maintaining the fields to their proper level.
All turf designated as a Sports field requires special consideration and maintenance. Turf management is necessary to ensure safe and playable fields for all users of the facility. Open field policies lead to worn, uneven, and unsafe playing surfaces.
A successful turf management program involves three basic components:
1. Turf Selection
2. Turf Maintenance
3. Turf Usage
Each of these elements is equally important, much like the legs of a three-legged stool. You can not compensate for one by increasing another. The "stool" is then out of balance. It is important to remember this triad principle throughout the following discussion.
What type of turf?
This is an important decision and should not be approached with a lackadaisical, "we'll use whatever's on sale" kind of attitude. One must consider the following issues when selecting the proper turf :
1. Climate
2. Soil type
3. Wear tolerance
4. Wear characteristics
5. Mowing requirements (height, frequency, etc.)
6. Fertilization needs
7. Mode of planting available (seed, sprig or sod)
8. Aggressiveness
9. Spreading characteristics
10. Irrigation needs and drought tolerance
Most turf grasses are considered in one of two categories; cool season or warm season. Generally, if the local climate has hot summers and warm nights, warm season grasses do well. Cool season grasses do better in milder climates. Many turf managers mix cool and warm season grasses in the same field to capitalize on the positive aspects of each.
It is important to have the soil analyzed to determine salt content and pH. These two factors will also help determine the type of turf grasses that will do the best on the field. Additionally, it will help identify any potential problems with the soil.
Different turf will have varying degrees of resistance to wear, and when they do show wear, they will show it in different ways. For example, tall fescue will show wear by clumping with bare spots in between. Most ryes tends to go bare completely with no clumps.
Different grasses need to be cut to different heights and may require special equipment, especially when cutting low. Also, different grasses have different textures that may reduce the speed at which the mower can cut, thus increasing mowing times. Additionally, if a grass is a fast growing type, it will need to be cut more frequently.
Turf types have different feeding requirements. This also depends on soil type and composition.
Many grasses come in seed form and can be sown using standard broadcast or slice-seeding methods. However, most hybrid grasses only come in sprig and sod form and may require specialized equipment to plant. This is especially important when planning follow-on maintenance on a newly sodded field. Can you obtain the same grass in seed form that was used in the sod?
Newly established turf needs to be able to survive in competition with weeds, wear and other things that effect its growth. It also needs to be able to repair itself and fill in weakened or bare areas as much as possible. If it is a spreading grass, does it spread by runners (bermuda), clumping (fescues), or other means?
All turf requires some degree of water to stay alive. Different grasses have varying tolerance to periods without water. For example, bluegrass has very little drought tolerance, whereas many fescue varieties can go for extended periods without irrigation.
All of these characteristics should be researched and matched to the fields individual needs. For our purposes, the desired characteristics are:
Wearability - Sports and play field turf should be as durable as possible.
Ease of Maintenance - Turf must be easy to maintain; it has to be available in seed form to enable an over-seeding program for continuous or spot repair.
Fast Germination - Schedules require seed to "pop" and establish quickly with minimal regard to soil temperature.
Texture - Should be as soft as possible, yet coarse enough to withstand heavy use.
Water requirements - Should be as drought resistant as possible.
Heat tolerance - Must be able to withstand high summer heat and sun (110 deg.F).
Growth characteristic - Can not be a heavy clumper; must have some degree of creep.
Cost - Must be as economical as possible.
Sod would establish itself readily and would give us an "instant green" effect. Sod is available in a "thick cut" form so that it could be added to the field quickly and be ready for use within two to three weeks. Sod can be used in following ways:
Sod, then over-seed - Sod is used to establish a desired turf and then maintained using over seeding. This requires that the turf be available in both sod and seed forms.
Sod annually - One of the most desirable but also the most expensive option. Sod is an expensive option. The cost for a contracted sod field is around $0.40 sq.ft. installed, or about five times more expensive than seeding. Most of the turf that is available in sod is a hybrid, and thus, is not available in seed. This would preclude over seeding with the same grass. Sod also increases the chances of introducing incompatible surface interfaces, thus forming a "boundary layer" which can lead to water channeling causing the sod to "float".
Stolons and sprigs are rooting portions of viable plants ("sprigs") or plugs of rooted plants ("stolons") that are planted similarly to row cropping. These stolons (or sprigs) then grow and spread to cover the area around the planted stolon. Obviously, these methods are restricted to creeping or spreading grass types (bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass) and are a cost effective way to plant any of the hybrid grass forms. (Hybrid grasses are not available in seed form.) The costs for sprigging are generally $0.06 to $0.10 per sq.ft. for materials plus another $0.04 sq.ft. for labor and equipment.
Recent advances in sprigging techniques and equipment offer an alternative for planting hybrid grass types. The sprigs are planted with a device that is similar to a slice seeder yet does not require the scraping of the soil to bare earth as traditional methods of sprigging do. This results in a significant savings, and for the first time, surpasses seeding in cost effectiveness and growth results. The costs are about $.06 sq.ft. delivered and planted.
Seed is usually the least expensive of all methods, but takes time and patience to establish. Germination times change dramatically based on soil and water contact and soil temperature. The seedlings require over three months to establish themselves well enough to handle light traffic. Some grasses, like bermuda and bluegrass, have longer germination times and are more likely to have lower germination rates in cooler early spring climates. The introduction of scarified seed has drastically reduced germination time in some types from many weeks to one day. This allows the seeding to begin establishing itself many weeks earlier than has been previously possible with seed. The cost per square foot with scarified seed is approximately $0.07 per square foot and can be accomplished with in-house labor and equipment.
Perennial Rye - Used by most professional sports facilities. This grass grows rapidly from seed and is inexpensive by comparison. Some of the newer strains have creeping tendencies and are substantially more wear tolerant. Ryes also tend to be shallow-rooted and water-thirsty. They can tolerate heat with ample water supply.
Fescues - Very tough, durable grasses with coarse texture. These grasses are generally drought tolerant. They are clumping and show wear by forming scattered tall clumps throughout the area. This grass is used almost exclusively on the District's play fields.
Bluegrass - Used by many sports facilities in sod form - An all-time favorite grass with dark green coloring. Cool season grass is very well suited for the moderate coast climate. Not suited to heat at all. Very thirsty. Seed is moderately expensive.
St. Augustine grass - Coarse, creeping grasses that require ample heat and water. Goes dormant at first frost; killed by temperatures in the lower teens. New hybrids have improved quality and durability, but are only available in sod form.
Bermuda grass - Tough, creeping, matting grasses that require moderate to high heat to thrive. Goes dormant during cold season. New hybrids and seed treatments have accelerated the germination process and made success possible in areas where bermuda grass has traditionally failed.
The maintenance practices required for a particular field will vary significantly based on the following factors:
1. The Purpose of the field (i.e. Varsity Athletics, Elementary playground, public park)
2. Turf type
3. Climate characteristics
4. Available manpower
5. Budget
The maintenance required for a varsity football field is on quite a different level than that of a public park. For example, a football field has to be maintained at a uniform height and smoothness. It can not have dips and divots or else it may become a safety hazard for play. A public park, however, will frequently have protruding roots, limited turf coverage, hills and valleys, etc. All of these things determine the process for maintaining the turf.
On hilly terrain, irrigation water will run off much more quickly than on a relatively flat football field. Accordingly, irrigation schedules should be established so that the area is irrigated in short but frequent periods. Also, parks and play fields can go longer between mowing since turf height is not as critical on these fields as it is on a soccer or baseball field.
On establishing mowing schedules, athletic fields generally set the pace since they have to be in playing shape at set times during the week. Maintenance schedules for play fields essentially are established around the athletic field maintenance schedule.
Fertilization also has to be established based on growth rate of the turf and soil analysis. Turf in a shaded park setting will probably not require heavy fertilization since its growth is limited due to lack of sunlight. If the shade is provided by trees, chances are that fallen leaves have decomposed into the soil, perhaps to the point that fertilizer application could become detrimental. Open athletic fields, on the other hand, require frequent and consistent application of fertilizer. A soil analysis will help determine the proper amounts, types and rates of fertilizer application.
As was discussed previously, turf type will effect frequency and type of maintenance. If your budget and manpower are limited, a lower maintenance grass, such as the tall fescues, will be helpful on many of the ancillary fields. This way, one may focus on the heavier maintenance requirements of the athletic fields. Turf type also dictates irrigation requirements (keep in mind that irrigation repair and adjustment is the single greatest maintenance requirement second only to mowing). Turf with high irrigation requirements would be unsuitable for dry, arid areas despite whether or not you could pump tons of water to it. Likewise, grass that is drought tolerate will often grow exceptionally rapidly in wetter climates and can quickly over run one's ability to maintain it.
Climate not only effects the turf selection but also will dictate frequency of maintenance and the regularity of adhering to a schedule. Obviously, turf grows faster during certain times of the year and requires more frequent mowing. During the heavier growth periods, an "untimely" rainstorm can throw even the most flexible schedule completely "out of whack". Additionally, wind and storm damage can multiply the maintenance problems faced by crews following the storm. Heavy rains will leach nutrients out of the soil so that more frequent fertilizer applications are necessary. Other climate associated problems, such as insect and fungus problems, can be significantly exacerbated with climate swings, causing unanticipated expenses and drains on manpower.
Few grounds departments have unlimited budgets and manpower. Obviously, some departments have more money than others. Professional sports stadiums have budgets that rival multiple school grounds budgets added together and multiplied by 10. Yet, many of the users of the turf wonder openly "why the field doesn't look as good as the field they saw their favorite team play on just last Sunday". Reality is that you can only do your best with what you have. Certain pieces of equipment, such as a slice seeder, mulching mower with an over-sized engine, etc., can act as a force multiplier, allowing one man to do the work of two. Also, buying higher quality irrigation parts can reduce repair and replacement costs, not to mention seed or sod costs to replace an area of turf that died because of the irrigation failure.
Of course, all of this is moot unless an appropriate budget is in place to accommodate the needs of the maintenance department. It's unrealistic in the public sector to believe that your budget will always fit your needs. However, with careful study and record keeping, a solid case for a budget can be established to present to a Superintendent or a governing Board.
The current field conditions at both War Memorial and the High School football field are generally unacceptable to the users and to the public at large. Many people offer their opinions as to the origin of the various wear patterns; fertilizer burn, faulty irrigation, secret midnight grounds keepers scraping the earth bare to ensure job security, etc. However, in-depth study and expert consultation reveals that the patterns conform to the frequency and types of usage that both fields experience.
Damage to turf by sports activities can generally be placed into two distinct categories: Ripping and divoting, and crushing and compacting. Each of these categories has its own unique visual indications and can be caused, in differing degrees, by any user of the field.
This is the type of damage most often associated with turf usage. It is heightened by cleated shoes and wet or moist turf conditions. The damage is immediate and obvious to not only the turf repair crew, but the users of the turf. This is the most widely recognized damage because it is so immediate and visible. There's no question that it happened and by whom. The turf that is damaged or completely destroyed must be replaced.
This type of damage is much more difficult to prove and much more detrimental to the health of the turf. This damage occurs with all types of foot traffic and is worsened through continued use. This damage is caused when the individual grass plants are continually pressed into the ground by foot traffic. The tissues of the plant are crushed and mangled as the traffic continues. As the plants are crushed, the soil continues to be compacted, causing stress to the root system of the crushed plant. At this point, newly established grass (within a year of first growth) will not recover, and is essentially dead. It will remain green, however for the next few days, much like grass clippings on a freshly cut yard. Since the plant is now dead, it will not recover and over a period of 3 to 5 days, a bare area will develop. Older, more established turf will also begin to die but can be brought back with extensive care and no use. This process causes the difficulty in demonstrating the source of the problem. The bare or worn area develops after the event, so the user believes he left the field without damaging it, when in fact, the damage has been irrevocably done and will begin to show within 48 hours.
It is important to note that this type of damage is the result of repeated uses and not necessarily of a single event. For example, this type of damage also appears when non-sports activities are held on turf fields, such as festivals, fairs or graduations. When these events are set, tents, chairs or other obstacles tend to channel pedestrians into single areas of grass. If the traffic is frequent and the event long, the traffic areas will become bare footpaths, although often not until after the event has ended. More than any other type of damage, crushing and compaction are responsible for the wear patterns that develop on a field.
Football - Football wear patterns are characterized by a single strip of thin or bare ground along the crown of a field. This problem is exacerbated with prolonged use in a short time span and wet conditions. The width and severity of the strip is determined by size and scope of the players and the duration and number of games played consecutively. Bare spots also develop in the sideline areas where the players and coaching staff continually stand.
Soccer - Wear patterns are large circular bare patches in the center of the field and in front of each goal area. Sideline bare areas also develop.
Marching band - Wear is characterized by rutting vertically along paths of travel and spotted depressions where the band marches in place for any length of time. The marching essentially pounds the grass and breaks up the tissues of the plant.
General field use by large groups, i.e. P.E. - These groups tend to make various erratic bare spots causing a clumping effect with most grasses. The frequency of use in a single photoperiod and the few, if any, days to recover, add to the destructiveness of these groups. Additionally, the prominence of flat-bottomed court and street shoes exacerbates the problem.
Bare spots -
Grass is not as resilient as many believe. The grass plant can take a significant beating as long as it has about 10 times as long to recover. For example, if a two hour event is held on a field, the field should require about 20 hours to recover. If two two-hour events are held on a given day (or photoperiod), then 40 hours are needed. This is a general rule of thumb for normal sport use. However, as use increases in intensity or length, the rest time required approaches infinity, or, simply put, the field can not recover. The tissue is destroyed, the plant dies and breaks up, the soil actually engulfs much of the plant matter, and a bare area develops. Once the area is bare, water evaporation occurs much more rapidly and the soil becomes compacted, allowing even less water to penetrate. The root zones of the surviving and peripheral grass die rapidly and the bare area enlarges.
Field moisture content - Grass needs water to grow. In order to get water to soak through to the root zones, water must be applied gradually in order to minimize runoff and achieve maximum soil penetration. This gives the soil a "spongy" consistency and is also the time the soil is most susceptible to compaction. If the field has been freshly watered (within the last 8 hours) heavy use can irreparably damage the plant root zones and begin the "spotting" process. P.E. classes are notorious for being on the grass from early morning (when the grass and soil are still wet from irrigation and dew) to afternoon (when the heat dries out the base areas of the plant after it has been pressed into the ground during numerous hours of use), again leading to plant die-out and compaction.
Rainfall and soggy turf present other problems. Plant root systems are anchored in loose, muddy substrate in these conditions and are easily uprooted by any sports activity. This is also the situation when ruts and uneven soil areas develop. Any use during rain-soaked conditions will severely damage the turf and the soil plane.
Heat - All turf types require heat and sunlight in order to thrive. Turf tolerance of excessive heat varies greatly from species to species. Bermuda and most tall fescues tolerate high heat. In fact, bermuda needs higher temperatures to thrive. Bluegrasses and ryes, considered "cool season" grasses, do not do as well in high temperatures and show stress rapidly during the summer months. Use of the turf during periods of high temperature adds even a greater factor of stress on turf. Bermuda and fescue will show wear more rapidly when used during the hot summer and early fall months. But cool season grasses like bluegrass and rye, can be stressed so much as to die off with very little use. This factor alone can make mid-day use of a field more damaging than evening use by the same activities.
Shoe types - In a perfect situation, there would be no foot traffic and grass would not be damaged. This is, of course, a ludicrous expectation since the purpose of the field is to be played upon. Accordingly, some discussion is necessary in regards to shoe types and the potential problems of each.
Cleated sports shoes are optimum for use on turf because the pressure exerted by the foot is concentrated in the smaller area of the cleat, thus limiting the damage to the grass stalk and base, allowing the plant to recover more quickly after use. Granted, cleated shoes can dig into and rip out chunks of turf, but the overall damage is more readily repaired. Flat-bottomed court or street shoes distribute the pressure from the foot broadly, but completely, damaging the stalk and significantly weakening the plant. Heavy, repetitive use will kill the plant rapidly. Though flat-bottomed shoes do not create the immediate effect of ripping turf, they do contribute significantly to compaction and crushing.
Purpose of Field - The primary purpose of the field at War Memorial Stadium is to provide a safe playing surface for the athletic teams of Paso Robles High School. Other uses are permitted which do not substantially impact the primary purpose. First priority for other uses is for the physical education program at Flamson Middle School, with a secondary priority given to youth sports activities sponsored by recognized community organizations.
Grass type - Mix of Nomad Perennial Rye and common Bermuda. Various patches of Kikuyu, St. Augustine, and noxious weeds such as broadleaf Plantain.
Wear pattern - Bare strip down center of field with wider area towards center of field. Bare areas at football sideline team areas and beneath oak tree. Various bare patches in Flamson PE play areas. Spotted clumping adjacent to bare strip and in Flamson PE areas.
Daily- Flamson PE - uses various areas of the field daily from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Activities are generally isolated to one quarter or half of the field. 4 one-hour uses a day for 100 days, or 400 hours.
Weekly - HS Band - One two-hour practice on Thursday night before a game, for six (6) home games. Additional practices, 10 hrs. 22 hours
HS Football - Two two-hour games, for 6 home games, usually alternating weeks, in a season. Additional practices and warm-ups, 12 hrs. 36 hours
Youth Football - Four two-hour games, once a week, for eight (8) weeks in a season. 64 hours
HS Soccer - 22 two-hour games, two each week for eleven weeks. Only in conjunction with Flamson PE use. 44 hours
Annual - Flamson and Lewis Graduation - practices and graduation, 2 @ 6 hours (two two-hour practices and one two-hour ceremony) plus 8 hours for set- up and dismantle. 22 hours
HS Passing league - one 8 hour event. 8 hours
Meet the Bearcats - one 4 hour event. 4 hours
Totals -
Flamson PE 400 hrs (*1.50 wetness, flat shoe, rep. factor) = 600 equ. hrs.
HS Band 22 hrs (*1.50 wet and flat shoe, rep. factor)= 33 equ. hrs
HS Football 36 hrs 36 hrs
HS Soccer 44 hrs (*1.50 wetness factor) = 66 equ. hrs
HS Passing L. 8 hrs 8 hrs
HS Bearcat nt. 4 hrs (* 1.20 flat shoe factor) = 5 equ. hrs
Graduation 22 hrs (* 1.20 flat shoe factor) = 26 equ. hrs
Youth Ftbl 64 hrs (* 1.50 flat shoe and repetition factor)= 96 equ. hrs
_____ ____
600 hours 870 equ. hours
Total event hours as recommended by sports turf experts ( for public stadium) = 100 hrs
* Factors - Wetness factor, under wet field conditions, reduce the field's usability by approx. 50%, or a multiplier of 1.50 for an hour played on a wet field verses a dry field.
- Flat shoe factor, cleats have a rating of 1, or optimum. Flat shoes do about 25% more damage than cleats to the plant itself, thus the multiplier of 1.25.
- Repetition factor, imposed when more than two events are held consecutively within the same 24 hour period. This reduces field resiliency by approx. 50%, or a multiplier of 1.50.
Some factors are a combination or a degradation of these factors, depending on the severity of the conditions. Factor values are set as an arbitrary value assigned in conjunction with experienced consultants in the turf management area.
Seeding - Field is over seeded annually and spot seeded as necessary with perennial rye (Nomad) using a broadcast seeder and top-coated. Estimated germination: approx. 40% seed germination.
Cost: $6000 annually.
Fertilization- Field is fertilized eight times annually with high grade, slow release fertilizer. NPK value: 16-16-16 used in early spring and fall, 29-5-16 used in summer. Rate is 5 lbs per 1000 sq.ft.
Cost $2000 annually.
Cutting - Field is cut via rotary method once a week normally, twice a week during rapid growth, to 1" height. Grass kept at 2.5" during summer months before football season. 66 cuttings a year @ 2 hrs each.
Aeration- Plug aeration 3 times annually.
Watering - Irrigation runs twice a day, first three days of the week. Field allowed to dry for three days in preparation for game on seventh day. Schedule may be modified to allow for light watering according to weather patterns.
Labor - 616 man hours on field maintenance and preparation.
Cost $12,320 annually.
In comparison to other fields in the local area, we are the only district that allows unlimited access to our main playing field to any P.E. department and full game access to Youth Football. Case in point, Atascadero Unified only allows Varsity and Junior Varsity football home games and very limited band practice. Youth football is only allowed periodically and then only two games during off weeks. Please note that it is not the goal of this document to suggest adopting whatever policy Atascadero USD has in place at a given time, but simply to make the point that limiting use of a sports field is not uncommon.
Also note that most professional sports and college facilities allow less than 150 event hours per year. If they entertain more, they use an aggressive re-sodding program annually.
War Memorial - Use a combination of Perennial Rye and Bermuda. The use of our fields, coupled with the temperature swings of our climate, require that we combine the two grasses to get the best of both worlds. They are both available in seed form and are reasonably priced. Additionally, the prospect of sprigging the new hybrids adds a new dimension in field durability and appearance. With an initial program of sprigging followed by annual over seeding to patch bare spots, the fields would be able to build up a protective thatch layer. This would greatly enhance the field's ability to withstand aggressive use. Also, in a bermuda over-seed situation, perennial ryes have been shown to provide a much better playing surface than bluegrass or other turf grasses available in seed form.
Sod would be the best solution if the District had an unlimited budget. To sod the whole field would cost approx. $20,000 each time. This equates to the entire annual budget for both fields. If we sodded only the central area (between hash marks), it would cost $8000. Additionally, there is still the cost of fertilizing and seeding the areas where not sodded. Accordingly, sod is not recommended as a cost effective solution.
Purpose - The primary purpose of the football field located at Paso Robles High School is to provide a safe practicing and playing area for school athletic teams and a playing field for the high school physical education program.
Grass type - Mix of Nomad Perennial Rye and Bermuda.
Wear pattern - Very wide bare strip down center of field with wider area towards center of field. Spotted clumping adjacent to bare strip and within main play areas. Bare circles around goal posts. Wide bare areas in front of goals, 2 foot dia. depressions and bare spots along eastern boundary line.
Daily- High School PE - uses various areas of the field daily from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Activities are generally isolated to one quarter or half of the field. 5 one-hour uses a day for 100 days, or 500 hours.
Weekly - HS Band - Three two-hour practices before and during football season for 12 weeks. 72 hours
HS Football - three three-hour practices for 10 games, with an additional ten two-hour practices before the season and playoffs. 110 hours
Freshman football - A two-hour game, every other week for 10 weeks in a season. 10 hours
HS Boys and Girls Soccer - Five three-hour practices per week for 12 weeks. 180 hours
HS Track - Heavy foot traffic throughout meet. Tables, chairs, etc. 30 hours
Annual - Taco Bell Track Meet - Heavy foot traffic and facility set-up. 10 hours
24 hr Relay - Heavy foot traffic and facility set-up in field. 28 hours
Various events that occur with or without notice, including weekends. 40 hours
Totals -
HS PE 500 hrs (*1.50 wetness, flat shoe, rep. factor) = 750 equ. hrs.
HS Band 72 hrs (*1.50 wet, flat shoe, rep. factor) = 108 equ. hrs
HS Football 110 hrs 110 hrs Freshman ftbl 10 hrs 10 hrs
HS Soccer 180 hrs (*1.50 wetness factor) = 270 equ. hrs
HS Track 30 hrs (*1.20 flat shoe factor) = 36 equ. hrs
Taco Bell 10 hrs (* 1.20 flat shoe factor) = 12 equ. hrs
24 hr Relay 28 hrs (* 1.20 repetition factor) = 34 equ. hrs
Various 40 hrs = 40 hrs
_____ ____
980 hours 1370 equ. hrs
Total event hours as recommended by sports turf experts (for practice/play fields) = 300 hrs
* Factors - Wetness factor, under wet field conditions, reduce the field's usability by approx. 50%, or a multiplier of 1.50 for an hour played on a wet field verses a dry field.
- Flat shoe factor, cleats have a rating of 1, or optimum. Flat shoes do about 25% more damage than cleats to the plant itself, thus the multiplier of 1.25.
- Repetition factor, imposed when more than two events are held consecutively within the same 24 hour period. This reduces field resiliency by approx. 50%, or a multiplier of 1.50.
Some factors are a combination or a degradation of these factors, depending on the severity of the conditions. Factor values are set as an arbitrary value assigned in conjunction with experienced consultants in the turf management area.
Seeding - Field is over seeded annually and spot seeded as necessary with perennial rye (Nomad) using a broadcast seeder and top-coated. Estimated germination: approx. 40% seed germination.
Cost: $6000 annually.
Fertilization- Field is fertilized eight times annually with high grade, slow release fertilizer. NPK value: 16-16-16 used in early spring and fall, 29-16-5 used in summer. Rate is 5 lbs per 1000 sq.ft.
Cost: $2000 annually.
Cutting - Field is cut via rotary method once a week normally, twice a week during rapid growth, to 1" height. Height will vary between 1" to 2" between mowings.
Aeration- Plug aeration 4 times annually, with supplemental as necessary
Watering - Irrigation runs during late evening, early morning hours. Schedule is too impacted to provide proper soaking of root area.
High School Football field - Since the High School football field receives so much wear and tear, it only makes sense to constantly over seed with rapid growing turf to try and offset the intense wear on the field. Based on all of the information available, we have chosen a perennial rye to use exclusively on the field. The maintenance plan (described later in this paper) outlines the frequent over seeding with this grass to establish and maintain the field.
It may also be prudent to consider sprigging this field with a bermuda hybrid to augment the constant over-seeding. Again, an aggressive bermuda hybrid will increase the wear tolerance of this highly used field. If consistently over seeded throughout the growth season with a perennial rye, this field will have a much better chance of surviving with minimal damage.
Obviously, we want to provide the playing surface capable of meeting the purpose of the facility. We have drawn from various experts on all sides of turf management along with our in-house expertise to compile the following usage guidelines and maintenance programs.
Because of the expense of maintaining these two fields, there should be established a single authority who will work in conjunction with the High School Athletic Department in order to ensure that the field is used properly and appropriately. The responsibilities of this position focus on the implementation of the Turf Management Plan and the authority to manage the use of the fields in accordance with the plan. This "turf czar"position is commonly filled by the Director of Grounds Maintenance in large organizations. For the District, this position should be added to the duties of the Director of Business Operations.
1. Limit the number and frequency of events. There should never be more than three (3) football games at War Memorial in a single week, no more than two (2) on a given day. War Memorial is not a practice field, so practices should be very limited. The band should only practice once a week and for no more than one hour. Youth sports organizations (i.e. Youth Football) should only play two games and only during a week when there are no other events. Flamson PE activity should also be limited during football season as to not interfere with the recovery period and irrigation program for the turf. Additionally, if the turf is rain-soaked, play on the field must be avoided at all cost. A single game in rain-soaked conditions could destroy the field and make it unusable for other games in the season.
- Varsity and Junior Varsity Football Home Games
- Varsity Soccer Home Games
- Limited band practice
- Junior High Graduations
- Passing League
- Absolutely no vehicle traffic on the field
- Limited use by Flamson PE
- Limited use by Youth Sports
This usage maximizes the field for the purpose it was designed for.
2. Modernized maintenance program. We now have on staff the horticultural expertise to accomplish the rigorous and technically sophisticated maintenance program required for this field. There are two options discussed here. (A) involves seeding only; (B) involves sprigging.
- Spring (Early March)
- Close field to use.
- Scalp cut current turf.
- Spray Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) to inhibit growth of current plants.
- (A) Lay treated bermuda seed with slice seeder to germinate within 36 hours.
(B) Sprig with hybrid bermuda shoots.
- Begin aggressive irrigation and fertilization to establish seedings/sprigs within 3 weeks.
- PGR dissipates and initial grass begins to grow along with new bermuda seedlings.
- Allow turf to grow to taller height to conserve moisture and establish better matting and root structure.
- Mid Summer (Early August)
- Cut grass to 1" height.
- Broadcast spread Perennial Rye (Nomad) at half normal rate.
- Continue aggressive irrigation and fertilization.
- Rye will maintain color and protect Bermuda plants as Bermuda begins to go dormant towards the end of the football season. Rye can be over seeded again to firm the turf for soccer season. PGRs will not be needed.
- New watering schedules will emphasize heavy watering for two days, off for one, light watering on fourth day, then off for three. This will promote saturation of root zone and encourage deeper root growth.
- Additional 400 man hours to identify and patch trouble spots before they become major problems.
Costs: (annual, unless otherwise specified)
Seed:
Bermuda seed 800 lbs @ $5.00 lb. For 1 application = $4000
- or sprigging 60,00 sq.ft. @ $.06 sq.ft. for 1 appl. = $3600
Nomad Rye 400 lbs @ $2.50 lb for 2 appl. = $2000
Fertilizer:
16-16-16 600 lbs @ $0.40 lb for 4 applications = $ 960
29-16-5 600 lbs @ $0.40 lb for 4 applications = $ 960
Top dressing and amendments as needed = $1600
PGR Application:
One (1) application annually @ $300 = $ 300
Slice Seeder $7800 (one time)
1. Establish a rest and repair period for the field.
This field is in use almost non-stop all year. In order to have a suitable play field, there must be a period of at least five (5) months to rest and repair this field. Though grass will germinate and establish in three months, the plants need the extra two months to penetrate deeper into the soil and allow them to withstand the punishment. We would also recommend two additional rest days during the week, especially during the fall and winter. In discussions with the high school Athletic Director, Friday or Saturday (depending upon usage requirement) and Sunday seem to be the best days to rest the field. Additionally, the field needs to be taken off-line and repaired in the early spring, March to early April, with traffic limited only to runners for the discus throw during track meets.
- Current usage with two days set aside as "No Use" days.
- No use when field is wet from a recent rain or late irrigation.
- Field is taken off line in March or early April and is not used until late August.
- Track use limited to runners only for discus throw area.
- Other users must be removed from the field during rest and repair period.
2. Maintenance program shifts to preventative -
This field, because of its purpose, will never be a pristine playing surface. However, to minimize bare areas and soil compaction, we will implement a more aggressive seeding program, modeled after heavily used fields at colleges and universities.
- Use Deep Tine aeration to break-up clay layer and allow better root depth and water penetration.
- Establish a monthly slice seeding and aeration program to continually introduce new seedlings into the field and fight compaction.
- Fertilize with high potash fertilizer types to establish strong root growth.
- Irrigate using shorter, more frequent cycles to get better soil penetration.
- Minimize early morning use as much as possible.
- An additional 400 man hours are required to stay on top of this field.
Seed:
Rye (Nomad) 400 lbs @2.50 lb for 8 applications = $8000
Fertilizer:
16-16-16 500 lbs @ $0.40 for 5 applications = $1000
25-5-16 500 lbs @ $0.40 for 5 applications = $1000
Top Dressing and amendments as needed = $2000
If, after additional research and discussion, the District decides to sprig this field with a hybrid bermuda instead of the initial seeding, there would not be any significant additional expense.
Please note that program initialization involves mostly sprigging, whereas program maintenance involves mostly over seeding of rye grass, and then, mostly on the High School field.
Recent core sample studies have shed some light on a particularly elusive problem with the High School Football Field. This field is exceptionally difficult to "dry out". The crown of the field can be bone dry while the sideline areas are standing in water. The core samples taken show an unusual clay layer approximately 12"(on average) running throughout the field. Couple this with the base for the surrounding track and you essentially have a "bowl" that is impenetrable by water. The only way to combat this particular effect is to use "deep tine" aeration coupled with sand and gypsum to penetrate the clay layer and break it up so that water may percolate through.
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Annual-
Seed (and sprigging): $14,000 Program initialization -
Fertilizer: $ 3,920 Sprigging, fert., etc. - $14,700
Amendments $ 3,600 Slice Seeder - $7,800
PGR Application $ 300
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Total Annual $21,820 Or $0.1813 sq.ft.
Most professional Stadiums spend $1.08 per sq.ft.; colleges/universities $0.52 pr sq.ft..
1. As a general rule, no more than three (3) events should be held on a District field in a given week and no more than two (2) events should be held on a field on a given day. Waivers will be handled on a case by case basis and be determined by turf type, age, location, current use and priority.
2. War Memorial Stadium will not be used for events within 48 hours of measurable rainfall or while in a "wet" condition as determined by the District Grounds Department. The only exception to this rule are High School Athletic games. In this case, the exception will be made by a joint decision between the Athletic Director and the Director of Business Operations. The High School football field will normally be the designated rain alternative. This field will be the rain alternative for all school-sponsored events that have expected turnouts of less than 1000 spectators and all other non-district sponsored events. In the event that all fields are "wet", youth sports programs may be denied use of any district field facilities until the fields are sufficiently dry to support an event.
War Memorial Field will be reseeded and repaired on an annual basis with the primary purpose of establishing an aged, bermuda base protected by a perennial rye.
a.) The field will be reseeded and initial repairs performed in late February or early March, whichever is appropriate based on weather, athletic schedule, and material availability.
High School Field will be reseeded monthly during the growth season to provide a continual source of new plants to replace those damaged by the excessive use of this field.
a.) The field should be taken out of service in late March, early April for initial repairs, reseeding and smoothing of the turf. Only limited use will be allowed during this time and all waivers will be handled on a case by case basis.
It is important to remember that the plan outlined in this document is a triad program. Each part must be present at a given level for the entire plan to have a positive effect. Proper maintenance, proper turf and proper use have to be present in order for the fields to be successfully used in accordance to their stated purpose. Like a three-legged stool, if one leg is removed or simply shortened, the entire stool falls to the ground. If all three legs are shortened proportionately, the stool remains standing, but at a lower level.
War Memorial Stadium and the High School Football field can both be well maintained. Since the decision has been made to move graduation back to War Memorial, the exposure of the field is greater than ever. War Memorial has the potential to be a showpiece for the District and for the community by only limiting use and modifying maintenance practices slightly. The High School field will never be a pristine field, but it can be kept in a safe and playable condition. Again, it will take adherence to very specific use guidelines and additional maintenance assets.
We in Support Services have the experience, knowledge and passion to make the ideas and solutions set forth in this plan a reality. But all of the desire in the world can not offset lack of support at the administrative level. If the status quo of the fields is sufficient, than no more attention needs to be paid to this issue. However, that is not our understanding and if given the administrative and financial support, we will give the District the play and game fields it needs and desires.
Jim Culley - Stover Seed Company, B.S. in Botany.
Gary Stair - Owner, Mowtown Landscapes, B.S. Ornamental Horticulture
Casey Patterson - CJP Consulting, Landscape Architect
Steve Abella - Consultant, Delta Bluegrass Company; Member, Sports Turf Managers Association
Janice Hallanan - Lead Groundsman, B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture, Cal Poly
Donn Clickard - Athletic Director and Stadium Coordinator, Atascadero Unified
Garry Robertson - Supervisor of Grounds and Maintenance, PRPS
Keeping Football fields in Top Condition Through Fall Play, by Mike Schiller
Overseeding Bermudagrass Turf, by Richard L. Duble, Aug. 1996
Overseeding with PGR's, by Brian Delgado
Aeration and Topdressing Strategies, by Jim Puhalla, June 1997
Sports Turf Industry Fact Sheet, by the Sports Turf Manager's Association
California Turfgrass: Its Use, Water Requirement and Irrigation, by V.A. Gibeault, S. Cockerham, J. M. Henry, and J. Meyer, 1989
A Simulator for Cleated Shoe Sports Traffic on Turfgrass Research Plots, by S. Cockerham, D. J. Brinkman
Cleated Shoe Traffic Concentration on a Football Field, by S. Cockerham
Tolerance of Cool Season Turfgrasses to Sports Traffic, by V.A. Gibeault, S. Cockerham, J. Van Dam, M. K. Leonard
Memo to Director of Plant Operations From Manager of Fresno State Grounds Department, Sal Genito, 1984