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571 School Safety: Exterior Facilities
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Sports Field Maintenance

Wet conditions only add to the deterioration of turf on an athletic field. Coordinate watering practices with the scheduled use of the playing field to minimize problems.

  • The field surface must be dry when the field is in use to prevent injuries.
Proper watering is a part of athletic field maintenance.
  • When supplemental watering is needed, schedule it for at least 24 hours before the field will be used.
  • As water is needed, wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches on a weekly basis.
  • You can follow with some light watering as needed.

Field Renovation

Renovation of athletic fields are necessary, especially for fields that are used quite a bit, to help reduce injuries.

Field renovation.

The renovation of an extensively used football field, for example, is an annual requirement. This would involve aeration, weed control, fertilization, and, in extreme cases, replanting.

The first step in renovation is to correct the conditions that caused the field to deteriorate in the first place, such as poor drainage, weeds or excessive use.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-3. As watering is needed, wet the athletic field soil _____.