Sports Fields

JAMES C. PUHALLA is a former design-build contractor who has designed and/or built new sports fields and developed plans to restore existing ones throughout the US and Canada. Currently, Jim reviews design and construction documents to identify errors or suggest improvements. With almost 50 years of experience in sports field design, construction, and maintenance, he has coauthored five books alongside Dr. Jeffrey Krans and Dr. Michael Goatley Jr. Through seminars and speaking engagements, he shares insights to help others develop safer and more functional sports facilities. JEFFREY V. KRANS is a former Professor of Agronomy at Mississippi State University in the Golf and Sports Turf Management program. He received his PhD from Michigan State University in 1975, an MS degree from the University of Arizona in 1973, and his BS degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1970. Jeff taught and advised students and conducted research in turfgrass breeding and physiology from 1975 to 2002. Jeff remains an avid supporter of high-quality natural turfgrass for safe sports for participants and spectators. J. MICHAEL GOATLEY, JR is Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech. He taught and advised students in the Golf and Sports Turf Management program at Mississippi State from 1988 to 2003 before moving to Virginia Tech. Mike serves as the outreach coordinator for agronomic turfgrass sciences in Virginia, and his research interests focus on turfgrass selection and management strategies that promote environmental stewardship. He has been engaged in teaching, research, and outreach in turfgrass science for almost four decades and is a Past-President of SFMA.

• About the Authors xiAbout the SFMA xiiPreface xiiiPart 1 Turfgrass Field Management 11 Turfgrasses 31.1 Introduction 31.2 Biology and Identification 41.3 Turfgrass Types 171.4 Turfgrass Selection 241.5 Using the Two-Map System to Select Turfgrass 271.6 Planting Times and Rates 301.7 Soil Preparation 331.8 Planting Techniques 351.9 Establishment 411.10 Overseeding Warm-Season Fields 441.11 Expanding the Boundaries of Bermudagrass in the Transition Zone 51Notes 532 Soils and Soil Science 552.1 Introduction 552.2 Soil as a Medium for Turfgrass 553 Fertility and Fertilizers 693.1 Introduction 693.2 Fertility Testing and Nutrient Requirements 693.3 Nutrient Uptake 723.4 Soil Reaction 733.5 Fertilizer Analysis 753.6 Fertilizer Sources 763.7 Application Rates and Frequencies 803.8 Micronutrients 853.9 Biostimulants 864 Mowing 894.1 Introduction 894.2 Types of Mowers 914.3 Turfgrass Response 944.4 Height and Frequency 944.5 Pattern 964.6 Clipping Removal 984.7 Equipment and Safety 984.8 Chemical Growth Regulators 985 Irrigation 1035.1 Introduction 1035.2 General Principles of Turfgrass Irrigation 1045.3 Installed Irrigation Systems 1045.4 Wireless Sensor Technology 1185.5 The Use of Nonpotable Water for Sports Field Irrigation 1195.6 Know Your Water Source 119Note 1206 Drainage 1216.1 Introduction 1216.2 Surface Drainage 1216.3 Internal Drainage 1246.4 Installed Drain Systems 1276.5 Other Drain System Practices 1377 Aeration and Topdressing 1397.1 Introduction 1397.2 Aerating for Optimal Turf Responses 1407.3 Aeration Equipment 1437.4 Topdressing 1528 Thatch 1578.1 Introduction 1578.2 Definition of Thatch 1578.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Thatch in Sports Fields 1588.4 How Thatch Develops 1608.5 Maintaining a Managed Thatch Layer 1628.6 Reducing Excessive Thatch Buildup 1639 Abiotic Turfgrass Stresses and Remedies 1699.1 Introduction 1699.2 Mechanical Stresses 1699.3 Environmental Stresses 1739.4 Summary 17610 The Most Problematic Pests of Sports Fields 17710.1 Introduction 17710.2 Weeds 17810.3 Diseases 19110.4 Insects 21210.5 Burrowing Rodents as Sports Field Pests 23210.6 Choosing Pesticides 23311 Wise Use of Chemicals 23511.1 Introduction 23511.2 The Label is the Law 23511.3 Planning and Performing Applications 23911.4 Record Keeping 251Note 25212 Organic Field Management 25312.1 Introduction 25312.2 Definitions and Principles of Organic Field Management 25412.3 Principles and Concepts of Organic Field Management 25412.4 Making an Adjustment to Organic Field Management 25612.5 Timing and Site Conditions for Organic Field Management 25612.6 Organic Field Management Inputs 25712.7 Compost and Composting 27212.8 Compost Applications on Sports Fields 273Part 2 Natural Grass Sports Fields 27713 Baseball and Softball Fields 28113.1 Introduction 28113.2 Design 28113.3 Construction 30313.4 Renovation 30913.5 Maintenance and Management Procedures 31313.6 Rules and Regulations 31714 Football and Rugby Fields 33114.1 Introduction 33114.2 Design 33214.3 Construction 34114.4 Renovation 34314.5 Maintenance and Management Procedures 34614.6 Rules and Regulations 35214.7 Rugby 35414.8 Rugby Governing and Sanctioning Bodies 35515 Soccer, Lacrosse, and Field Hockey Fields 36315.1 Introduction 36315.2 Design 36415.3 Construction 36915.4 Renovation 37015.5 Maintenance and Management Procedures 37215.6 Rules and Regulations 37516 Cricket Fields 38516.1 Introduction 38516.2 The Game 38516.3 The Pitch 38616.4 The Outfield 39516.5 Design 39616.6 Rules and Regulations 403Note 405Additional Reading 406Part 3 Other Sports Surfaces 40717 Tennis and Pickleball Courts 40917.1 Introduction 40917.2 Design 40917.3 Construction 41117.4 Renovation 41217.5 Maintenance 41317.6 Rules and Regulations 41417.7 Pickleball Courts 41517.8 Pickleball Governing and Sanctioning Bodies 41718 Track and Field Facilities 41918.1 Introduction 41918.2 Design 42018.3 Track Construction 42618.4 Track Renovation 42718.5 Track Maintenance 42818.6 Rules and Regulations 42819 Beach Volleyball Courts 43119.1 Introduction 43119.2 Beach Volleyball Court Design 43119.3 Construction and Reconstruction 43419.4 Renovation 43519.5 Maintenance and Management Procedures 43619.6 Rules and Regulations 43620 Synthetic Turf 43920.1 Introduction 43920.2 History of Synthetic Turf 44020.3 Choosing the Right Manufacturer and Installer 44120.4 Care and Maintenance 44221 Hybrid Systems – Natural Plus Synthetic 45321.1 Introduction 45321.2 Evolution of Hybrid Turf 45421.3 The New Generation Hybrid System 45421.4 Other Uses for Hybrid Systems 45821.5 Conclusion 458Part 4 Ancillary Information 45922 Surveying 46122.1 Introduction 46122.2 Surveying Equipment 46222.3 Establishing Elevations 46522.4 Percent of Slope 46823 Sand-Based Rootzones 46923.1 Introduction 46923.2 Considerations When Selecting a Sand-Based Rootzone 47123.3 Sand-Based Rootzone Requirements 47423.4 Maintenance 483Notes 48924 Weather Information 49124.1 Introduction 49124.2 Weather Components 49124.3 Benefits of Weather-Based Management 49424.4 Collecting and Using Weather Data 49524.5 Conclusion 50125 Robotic Technology 50325.1 Introduction 50325.2 Robotic Mowers 50325.3 Robotic Painters 50925.4 Conclusion 51126 Innovations Designed to Promote Natural Grass Fields 51326.1 Introduction 51326.2 Lighting 51326.3 Enhanced Turfgrass Performance 51526.4 Instant Field Replacement 51726.5 Wireless Technology, Remote Sensing, Predictive Models, and Artificial Intelligence 51926.6 Conclusion 52427 Paints and Covers 52727.1 Introduction 52727.2 Paints 52827.3 Covers 535Notes 54128 Safety 54328.1 Introduction 54328.2 Player Safety and Performance 54328.3 Spectator Safety 54428.4 Designing for Safety 54628.5 Safety Concerns During Construction and Renovation 54728.6 Maintaining a Safe Facility 54729 SFMA – Promoting Safe Fields and Sound Management 55129.1 Introduction 55129.2 Organization 55229.3 Programs 55329.4 Safe 55929.5 So, Why SFMA? 560Appendix 561Glossary 573Index 584