FindItMore | On match day, the first thing fans are going to comment on once they take their seats is the condition the field is in. For them, this is an important matter, so clubs and field owners should hire excellent groundsmen who will keep the playing field in excellent shape. At times, this can prove to be a real challenge as severe weather conditions and a tight game schedule can make this job nearly impossible. In order to preserve the green’s green; there are several tips that will prove valuable.
Maintain the grass
Unless you have artificial turf, which would make things a lot easier, you have to be sure to cut down the grass throughout the year. Of course, the height of grass blades will not be constant every month, as in summer, it should be 1 to 2 inches tall and in winter time an additional inch higher. You are going to need to apply weed control as well. Herbicides prevent the weed from growing and destroying the healthy grass, so consult experts in order to get the chemical mixture right. Finally, proper maintenance of the grass surface requires you to use fertilizers to aid the growth of grass. These include Potassium, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus that all enrich the soil but just be cautious to use them indiscriminately as they are highly toxic.
Irrigation
Another important aspect of maintaining a football field is the irrigation. This is especially important if your field is located in a tropical region that receives a lot of rain. All this water has to go somewhere so a solid drainage system is a must unless you want to have a pool form on the center of the field. The type of the system you choose depends on the individual needs and the type of your field, as well as the budget at your disposal. There are both mobile and in-ground irrigation systems that you have probably seen on TV in the form of those sprinklers that go on before or after the match. Whichever system you choose, the issues of irrigation and drainage should be resolved early on.
Goalposts
Whether we are talking about soccer, rugby of Australian rules football, you are going to need good-quality goal posts. Compared to the entire sports complex, they are not that big but don’t be fooled by their size. They are an essential part of every sport that you are responsible for providing. That is why you should buy from trusted companies, like Pila Group whose portfolio speaks volumes. You are looking for durability and stability in a typical goal post that is made from various materials, including aluminium. They should be built to meet the standards of all the competitions that take place on the football field you are in charge of.
Lighting
There are hardly any sporting competitions that aren’t played at night, so you are going to need good lighting. Four poles at each corner of the field should get the job done, provided that the strength of their light is sufficient. Floodlights are nice but the best type of lighting are LED lights that use up to 40% less energy. Not only will you save money on electricity but they are far easier to operate and require almost no maintenance. They turn instantly on because they don’t need to warm up before emitting light. This can come in handy during a power outage that creates an awkward pause for disgruntled fans.
Securing enough parking space
If your field will host at least amateur league matches, one thing that it needs to have in its vicinity is sufficient parking space. No sports arena is complete without a parking lot for the fans to leave their vehicles at. The minimum number of parking spots should be around 100 and they should be located near the field, ideally, right next to it. If your grounds are large enough, the parking lot could be built on your property, making it easier to properly maintain it. Then you could afford the luxury of not charging it to make your fans really happy. Finally, if there is no fencing or wall around the field, you should have at least some netting protecting the spectators and their property.
Fencing
Speaking of fencing, it ought to be present around your football field. No need for a brick wall or a stadium but a standard mashed steel fencing to enclose the space of the field. It will keep the intruders out and the ball in. Fans will feel safer when they are protected by a fence and athletes won’t have to run out into the street every time the ball gets kicked too strong. Also, the fencing behind the goal posts should normally be raised by a few meters because most kicks are aimed at this direction.
Maintaining a well-constructed football field is not that hard. The key is to perform all the tasks listed here regularly so the filed will shine each game day.