Tool Shed: Athletic Fields and Sport Facilities

Athletic Fields and Sport Facilities

Benefits of turf within a park system are well documented and include recreational health, erosion control, increased water infiltration, reduced nutrient leaching, aesthetics, carbon sequestration, and mediation of the ‘heat-island’ effect. This area contains resources applicable to the maintenance of natural and constructed athletic turf and sports facilities.

8 Steps to an Easy Athletic Field Facelift

Penn State Extension, 2020

This article by Jeff Fowler, serves a friendly reminder to the basics to athletic field maintenance techniques.

7 Habits of Poor Sports Turf Managers

Penn State Extension, 2017

This article by Jeff Fowler will talk about 7 things that people do poorly in the turf business and will give you action steps to correct them.

How to Repair and Restore Grass Destroyed by Insects

Penn State Extension, 2017

Readers will learn do's and don'ts to restore grass destroyed on athletic fields by insects.

How to Best Maintain Football Fields During and After the Season

Penn State Extension, 2017

This article by Jeff Fowler will give readers do's and don't to maintain football fields after the season

How to Protect and Maintain Athletic Fields in the Heat of Summer

Penn State Extension, 2017

This article by Jeff Fowler will give the reader do's and don'ts to protect athletic fields in the heat of summer.

Snow Removal from Synthetic In-Filled Systems

Penn State Extension, 2016

This article by Peter Landschoot, highlights a couple of options that can be used to successfully remove snow from synthetic turf depending on the situation.

Late Fall Fertilization of Athletic Fields

Penn State Extension, 2016

This article will help you learn how late fall fertilizer applications influence turf performance, when to make your applications, as well as the types of fertilizers and rates which provide the best turf response.

Evaluation of Playing Surface Characteristics of Various In-Filled Systems

Penn State Extension, 2016

This article by Andrew S. McNitt and Dianne Petrunak from The Pennsylvania State University, outlines a study that was designed to evaluate the playing surface quality of various synthetic infill systems over time.

Earthworms In Sports Turf: Making A Mess In Fall

Penn State Extension, 2016

This article by Peter Landschoot, Ph.D. explains how earthworms play an important role in turfgrass ecosystems through their burrowing activities and by breaking down thatch and organic matter.

Managing and Maintaining the Perfect Baseball Field

Penn State Extension, 2015

This article by Jeff Fowler will help you to ensure that you maintain the best soil, greenest grass, and nicest looking outfield, by following these dos and don'ts.

How to Ensure Your Soccer Field is Always In Its Best Condition

Penn State Extension, 2017

This article will give the reader Do's and Don't to always ensure a soccer field is in its best condition.

Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on Synthetic Turf

Penn State Extension, 2016

This article investigates staphylococcus aureus, which is a common bacterium, but is capable of causing diseases ranging from minor soft tissue infections and food poisoning to serious medical problems such as toxic shock syndrome. How can we manage this on synthetic turf?

Integrating Assessments Into a Municipal or School Grounds Management Program

Sports Turf Managers Association, 2020

Victoria Wallace covers the basics of assessments before delving into how they can benefit your fields, parks and programs as a whole.

Maintenance Standards For Soil Base Soccer Fields

Tom Cook

This article highlights guidelines for maintenance of fields at levels ranging from professional quality fields to unirrigated youth soccer league fields.

Field Maintenance - A Basic Guide for Baseball & Softball Fields of All Levels

Baseball Tomorrow Fund

The information in this document is provided as a general referenceguide for the maintenance of a baseball or softball field or facility.Professional and international baseball and softball federations andorganizations follow similar guidelines pertaining to the dimensions andneeds for field development.