Great fields promote great pride.

There are several things that will give all athletic fields success in keeping adequate turf cover on the field. Simply put, you must grow grass, avoid wearing it out and don’t have a mud pit.

1. Rapid drainage. Playing surfaces should be graded or crowned (1%-2% slope) to provide rapid removal of surface water from heavy rains. Fields with reverse crowns (depression) in the center should have soil added to reestablish proper draining grade.

Subsurface drainage also is necessary to prevent saturated anaerobic conditions (lack of air) in the root zone. Even when drainage is adequate for plant growth, turf on soil with a low water infiltration rate may be severely damaged when athletic activities are held during or shortly after heavy rain. Sandy soil or sand modified soil fields that have infiltration rates between 2 and 4 inches per hour offer the best means of removing water from the surface and reducing the chance of severe field damage without the difficultly of managing a sand based field. Where internal drainage is poor, surface drainage must be excellent.

2. Irrigation. There is no substitute for adequate irrigation. It should be a high priority in upgrading athletic fields. Irrigation will do more for the potential to establish and keep turf than any amount of seed, sod, fertilizer, pesticide or cultivation unless we are having a wet (80+ inch) year.

The best solution is a permanent, and preferably automatic, irrigation system that evenly supplies a minimum of 1/2 inch of water every 2-3 days, if needed, to each field. Commercial traveling gun sprinklers have been used successfully to irrigate athletic fields. They are portable for multifield use but usually require 8 to 10 hours to irrigate a single field. Home lawn sprinklers, even traveling models, are not adequate for athletic fields.

3. Traffic control. Assess nontraffic areas of the field, such as beyond the end zone. If the current level of management is providing acceptable turf in the nontraffic areas, try to change the pattern and amount of traffic, rather than changing the field. Remember, anything used to its maximum potential will break. Even million dollar ball fields are limited in use so they won't wear out.

Management of athletic fields requires coordination among administrators, coaches and groundskeepers. Administrators should keep in mind that proper traffic control costs nothing and at the same time offers the most effective means of reducing dangerously worn areas on game and practice fields. The coach must take an active interest in scheduling activities and preventing excessive turf wear. The coach and the grounds superintendent can work together to develop improved gra

Do it right the first time.

ss areas specifically for drills that are conducted off of the game and practice fields.

As much as possible, reserve the athletic game fields for games only. Hold scrimmages on practice fields. Practice drills should be held in areas off the game fields, and even drill areas should be rotated to allow for turf recovery.

Band practice on the game field should be limited to once or twice a season and only when the soil is dry enough to resist compaction in marching paths. Yard lines can be painted on parking lots or other turf areas for daily band practice.

4. Spring and summer fertility. Soils should be tested yearly in winter for nutrient status and proper adjustment should be made for pH, phosphorus and potassium. We grow bermudagrass from mid spring through August. If it is not there by then, then it waits for next summer. A pound of N for every 1,000 square feet can be applied every 3-4 weeks along with half as much K₂O (potassium potash)and adequate phosphorus as determined by the soil test.

In addition to a general nitrogen schedule, it may be necessary to force growth and recovery of turf in high traffic areas of athletic fields. In these special areas, apply nitrogen each month from March or April through September (especially on highly leachable, sandy soils). Do not exceed 1 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per 2 weeks. Forcing growth in this manner will require additional irrigation and mowing.

If these basic fertility requirements have not been met, then these heavy feeding grasses have not been given a fair chance to grow.

5. Mowing. W

Core cultivator.

ith good growth comes extra mowing, which must be done properly to minimize foliage loss stress. Proper mowing maintains deep roots and turf density. Never mow so much off or so infrequently that you are removing more than the top 1/3 of the green stuff (verdure). This can easily require mowing 2 or 3 times each week during times of strong growth. Mow at the correct height range for that cultivar. Don't cut common bermuda as though it were a hybrid; mow it at 1 1/2 inch.

6. Cultivation. Core cultivation needs to be a regular practice for any athletic field program. In areas receiving little traffic, core cultivation may be needed only once or twice during the year to prevent thatch and increase water infiltration. In heavily worn and compacted areas; however, cultivation may be needed monthly  (April-September) to break up hard ground and allow for spread of established grasses. Few athletic fields exist that would not greatly benefit from core cultivation.